July 21, 2025
Michaela Duran seized the opportunity to embrace Spanish culture and biotechnology this summer in Madrid.
Mizzou Engineering students are driven by curiosity. Here, they explore new paths to expand not only their technical knowledge but also their understanding of the world.
This summer, junior Michaela Duran has been taking part in an eight-week immersion program in Madrid.
“Studying abroad has been a dream of mine since high school,” she said. “This has been an opportunity for me to grow personally by learning to navigate a new city, live with people I haven’t met before and embrace a different culture.”
At Mizzou, Duran is deeply involved on campus. A biomedical engineering major, she is active in the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, the Society of Women Engineers and the Mizzou Engineering Student Council. She is an undergraduate research assistant in Susie Dai’s bio-environmental lab and edits research papers at the School of Medicine.
In Madrid, Duran is enrolled in two classes at Universidad Nebrija and interns at Altum Sequencing, a biotechnology company that uses next-generation sequencing to detect residual cancer cells through patient-specific genetic markers.
“This program offered the perfect combination: the chance to complete my Spanish minor while also gaining international internship experience,” she said.
Duran praised Mizzou Study Abroad for their support in selecting and planning for her program, while her Spanish instructors helped build up her confidence.
“Additionally, my lab experience and biomedical engineering class helped me feel more prepared for the technical aspects of my internship,” she said.
Outside her classes and work, Duran is immersing herself in Madrid’s neighborhoods and culture.
“I’ve been reflecting on the cultural differences between Spain and the U.S., which has been eye-opening,” she said. “It’s been great connecting with locals, other American students and international students from all over the world.”
Duran said she was initially intimidated by the challenges — living with new people, attending a local university, working at a bioengineering company — but that the experience proved to be transformative.
“These experiences helped shape my professional skills and will be valuable as I continue my education and prepare for a future career in biomedical engineering,” she said.
Duran encouraged other students to study abroad, whether for a week or a semester, and to reach out to her if they have any questions about her experience.
“I’m so glad I chose this path,” she said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.”
Want to explore the world beyond campus? Choose Mizzou Engineering!