From April to June 2025, I had the great privilege of being a Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Amsterdam. This experience was truly special—not only did I get to work in a beautiful and inspiring environment, with views of the city and its canals, but I also had the chance to connect with brilliant researchers from around the world. Living in such a vibrant and welcoming city made the experience even more memorable.

During my time at IAS, I met researchers from many different fields and had fascinating conversations that opened new doors for me. I continued learning mathematical and computational tools to better understand the brain in both healthy individuals and people with neurological conditions. I also became deeply interested in the area of mental health, thanks to inspiring discussions with professors at the institute, especially fellow IAS researcher Prof. Igor Branchi.

I regularly attended the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena (DIEP) seminars in Amsterdam, which cover a wide range of topics, from biology and ecology to economics and social sciences. These events helped spark new ideas and led to exciting collaborations with Professors Fernando N. Santos, Clelia de Mulatier, and Rikkert Hindriks. Since then, we have been working together on research projects and organizing events. With the support of IAS seed funding and DIEP, I had the chance to organize a workshop on computational neuroscience. The event included seminars and hands-on tutorials, with invited speakers Carlos Coronel, Matteo Neri, and Ruben Herzog. It was also a great opportunity to work together with professors and students at IAS, which made the experience even more meaningful.

Many of the ideas I am now developing started as informal chats over coffee at IAS or during the workshop. Being an IAS Fellow has been an incredible experience, both personally and professionally. The warmth and support from the entire staff, the chance to share lunch by the canal with other Fellows, and the freedom to explore new ideas made this fellowship truly unique. It exceeded all my expectations and gave me motivation and direction for the next steps in my career.