A Global Research Journey: Teodora's Research Journey in a New Light

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), ViroiDoc is inviting its doctoral candidates to share their mobility experiences in a special blog series throughout 2026.

My journey abroad began at eighteen, when I left my home country North Macedonia and moved to Slovenia to study Biotechnology at the University of Ljubljana. I completed both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees there, with my Master's thesis research focusing on the fungus Verticillium nonalfalfae and its interaction with hop (Humulus lupulus).

Slovenia was a truly formative time for me: it gave me countless experiences, a solid foundation in science and a lasting love for plants. And importantly, it's also where I came across ViroiDoc. When I got the position as a doctoral candidate in ViroiDoc, I moved to Valencia, Spain and with it came a completely new research topic and a completely new life.

I switched from fungi and hops to viroids and tobacco cells, entering an entirely new pathosystem. Starting over in a different lab meant I had a lot to learn. In the beginning almost every day brought something new: a new protocol, a lab trick from a colleague, a different way of analysing data or yet another shortcut through the IBMCP's maze of corridors. One thing I especially like about my lab is our perspective.

In the ViroiDoc network, we're all fascinated by viroids, but my group looks at the infection from the plant's point of view: how the plant responds and defends itself. I find that angle interesting and it has shaped how I think about my own project.

I've been lucky to be surrounded by such warm and open people. Everyone here really gave me a chance and making friends came so naturally. My lab mates have been my biggest support. They're the ones who keep my spirits up when an experiment is not working, whether with advice or a very good laugh.

There always seems to be something to celebrate in Valencia and the city seems to have a tradition or festivity for every occasion. From the way you eat the gildas with friends at the bar to the thundering fireworks for Fallas. This year was especially memorable: I witnessed celebrations across the country following Spain's FIFA World Cup triumph, and just a few weeks later, a total solar eclipse darkened the sky over Valencia. Witnessing both was something I'll never forget.

Of course, no story about moving to Spain is complete without the bureaucracy. Let's just say it has turned me into an expert in patience. Luckily, there have been small victories along the way too, like watching my Spanish grow from rehearsed sentences into flowing conversations. And on the harder days, there is the sun which shines almost all year round and the beach which is just a short ride away from the institute.

If I had to choose one song to describe my experience here, it would be Taylor Swift's "Mirrorball": Something that sparkles because it's made of many small pieces, each reflecting the light around it. Living abroad has felt like that a bit. You collect pieces of a new place, a new language and a new version of yourself and you don't always know how they fit together. Valencia gave me plenty of light to reflect and is still teaching me how to find my own.

Teodora Stojkovska is an MSCA fellow in the ViroiDoc Network, where he is conducting the research project “Development of novel antiviroidal strategies: towards drug discovery” at UPV where she is also pursuing a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Purificación Lisón.