Returning to Salzburg has been a dream for me after I left this magical city in 2019. During my internship in 2024, I had the opportunity to gain academic progress, enjoy Austria, and visit good friends. Living in Austria is an amazing experience. Salzburg brings together wonderful people, lush landscapes, fascinating cultural festivals, architecture, and art. I can say that Salzburg is unique. Anyone who has ever immersed themselves in the world-famous City of Mozart can never escape it again.
I particularly liked my time at the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Allergy Diagnosis and Therapy at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg. My stay in Salzburg enabled me to extend my research beyond the initial goals of my current project. I am working on the characterization of polyphenols from Bactris guineensis (L.) H.E.Moore, a potential economically exploitable palm from the Colombian Caribbean, which produces antioxidant-rich edible fruits with a high content of polyphenols. This palm is found only in Central America, Colombia, and Venezuela. Fruit pulp processing generates agro-industrial wastes. However, these wastes can be used to develop new products or to add value to the original products. Fruit peels contain bioactive ingredients such as polyphenols, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities as well as many other health benefits. Therefore, B. guineensis (L.) H.E.Moore fruit peels can be used as low-cost raw material to extract polyphenols for the formulation and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, functional foods, and cosmetics. During my internship, I studied the effects of B. guineensis (L.) H.E.Moore fruit polyphenols in a humanized rat basophil leukemia (huRBL) cell assay. huRBL cell line serves as a model to study components that can cause allergenic reactions in vitro. An important step to ensure product safety of individual ingredients before a final formulation.
In Salzburg I enjoyed the magic of a round walk. The Salzach River is among the most beautiful natural places in Salzburg. I could stroll along the river and enjoy the Old Town, the Schloss Mirabell and its flower gardens, and the serene beauty of Volksgarten on a casual walk, without losing sight of the imposing Fortress Hohensalzburg, one of the largest castles in Europe.
During my stay in Salzburg, I expanded my horizons and immersed myself in creative work, prioritizing activities of my project. The work in the laboratory was productive. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with the cell lines during calm and serene days. One of the most significant benefits of an international workplace is the diversity of thought it fosters, resulting in innovative perspectives. This is a game changer that allowed me to grow as an independent researcher. I had excellent conditions for research and networking. I feel deep admiration and gratitude for my supervisors, who opened the doors of their laboratory and supported my work. I am fulfilled with the access I had to world-class facilities led by committed scientists dedicated to exploring the secrets behind the study of allergens on a molecular level.
My advice to new scholars would be to take advantage of the time. Time flies, and time to go comes very soon, but no matter how quickly time passes and how busy you are, you must enjoy every second of your stay in Austria.
Last but not least, being an OeAD scholar is a source of pride. It opens many doors not only on an academic but also on a personal level. There are many unexpected benefits that help to increase self-confidence. In short, personal growth is exponential.
About Velky Ahumada:
Velky Ahumada was awarded an Ernst Mach Follow-up Grant by the OeAD – Austria´s Agency for Education and Internatonalisaton, Mobility Programmes and Cooperation, financed by the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF), Republic of Austria in the summer term 2024. She was granted a postdoctoral fellowship to be conducted at the Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic and Food Technology Research Group (Gitfca) by The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MinCiencias), Republic of Colombia; “Call for proposals 2024: Orchids women in science”. Her project contributes to the development of the innovation routes proposed in the Mission of “Bioeconomy and Territory”.
