Nine months in Mexico, a Master’s thesis on a native medicinal plant and research in a completely new environment: Fabiola Costanzo used her studies at the FHNW School of Life Sciences (HLS) to take a conscious step into the unknown. Today, she works as a Quality Control (QC) Project Manager at CARBOGEN AMCIS. The experience she gained in Mexico continues to shape her life – both professionally and personally.
Stepping out
After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Bioanalytics and Cell Biology, Fabiola stayed at the HLS to do a Master’s in Life Sciences. For her MSc thesis in 2017, she spent nine months in Hermosillo in the Mexican state of Sonora. There, she investigated the anti-cancer effects of the plant Ibervillea sonorae in a breast cancer model.
Going to Mexico suited her perfectly: she had always been fascinated by other cultures and unfamiliar challenges. At the same time, she wanted to find out how research works outside Europe. "Without this opportunity, I would probably never have had the courage to go to Mexico for an extended period."
Alongside her scientific work, the stay also meant learning a new language, finding her feet in a different culture and organising her daily life far from familiar surroundings. Looking back, Fabiola describes this time as “incredibly rewarding”, both professionally and personally.
What Mexico has to do with her career
Fabiola is convinced that a period spent abroad is more than just an impressive entry on a CV. Anyone who lives and works in another country for an extended period develops skills that are in high demand in professional life: openness, flexibility, independence and the ability to adapt to new situations and people.
Her time in Mexico repeatedly came up later in job interviews and professional discussions. People were particularly interested in how research and working culture function in Mexico. In the process, Fabiola had an experience that put national borders into perspective: despite cultural differences, researchers worldwide are united by a curiosity to discover new things and solve problems.
When Spanish suddenly becomes part of everyday working life
Fabiola’s role as a Research Associate at IDEXX Technologies demonstrated just how useful an experience abroad can be in practical terms. There, she worked on the development and validation of ELISA tests, used to detect specific proteins or antibodies in samples, and was responsible for cell culture as well as the production and purification of antibodies. As part of an international team, she worked alongside colleagues from Brazil and Argentina. The language skills she’d acquired in Mexico suddenly became a professional asset, enabling Fabiola to communicate with them in Spanish. This made collaboration easier and ensured that meetings and technical discussions were more pleasant and efficient for everyone involved.
This is a good example of how a period abroad offers more than just specialist knowledge. Language skills, intercultural experience and the ability to adapt to different people can also make a difference in day-to-day working life years later.
From the laboratory to project management
After graduating, Fabiola went into research. She worked at Bern University in the field of oral microbiology and at the same time, on a research project at the University of Basel in collaboration with the HLS. She later moved to IDEXX Technologies as a Research Associate and subsequently joined vVARDIS.
She has been working at CARBOGEN AMCIS in Aarau since April 2025, starting as QC Expert in the chemical analysis laboratory. Just one year later, she took on the role of QC Project Manager. Today, she works in a team of six and helps to ensure product quality. She liaises with customers, optimises work instructions and processes, handles quality incidents and, as project manager, ensures that production receives the necessary in-process controls on time. She particularly enjoys the combination of scientific expertise, project management and collaboration with different specialist departments.
An experience that stays with you
Would Fabiola recommend a period abroad to students today? “Absolutely. Living and working abroad is an experience that goes far beyond the academic benefits” she replies.
After all, it’s not just memories of nine months in Mexico that have stayed with her. It also means making international contacts, building friendships and discovering that you can become comfortable in an environment that is initially unfamiliar.
“You learn to navigate new situations, approach people with an open mind and tackle challenges with confidence.”
Many of these experiences have a lasting impact, sometimes on a personal level, sometimes very specifically in your next job. For Fabiola, it is therefore clear that it is well worth taking the opportunity to spend time abroad whilst studying.
Take your chance to study abroad!
