How long have you been at LSE and how did you come to join the European Institute?
I joined the EI in September 2020 to begin my PhD in European Studies. We entered lockdown a month after I began and the office was the only place where we were still allowed to go, so it became a bit of a second home very quickly…
How has the European Institute changed during your time here?
The difference between my first and second year has been astonishing. Having started at the height of Covid, seeing the EI come to life this year –with in-person seminars and events, and students and academics everywhere – has been a delight. Doing a PhD in such a lively atmosphere makes a massive difference.
What has been the most memorable moment during your time at the EI?
This is not a very high-brow reference, but following the UEFA Euro 2020 in an office full of PhD students from all around Europe made for a very exciting spring term… I would also pick the day of my interview for the PhD, as I hadn’t quite yet decided which university I wanted to go to and made up my mind there and then when I met my supervisors and visited the place.
What is your favourite thing about working at the European Institute?
The fact that it is such an interdisciplinary place, meaning you get exposed to research on so many diverse fields. I think this enriches each of us in our own discipline, encouraging us to think more creatively about our own subjects. Also the fact that the department attracts students from all around the world who come to do visiting exchanges here, so we get to meet great new people every term.
What makes the EI a special place?
The collegial atmosphere. I think almost everybody who has been interviewed for these anniversary questionnaires has said the same thing, which is really telling. I’m a firm believer that great ideas thrive off collaboration and encouragement, and the EI is a living testament to that. Not to mention it makes for a much happier academic experience too…
What excites you about the future of the EI?
The fact that it will continue to provide excellent research on Europe from a slightly outsider perspective, perhaps providing more original insights as a result.
What’s your favourite place on LSE campus?
Our terrace on the sixth floor of the Central Building, with its incredible views of central London – it’s such a luxury.
What is your favourite place to visit in Europe and why?
Definitely Rome. That city transports me like nowhere else, and the wealth of art and architecture to marvel at is (in my opinion) unparalleled – though my hometown of Madrid is a close second!