The Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station has welcomed a new member to the team who will bring a Brazilian flavour to the NSW Department of Primary Industries centre.
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Brazilian PhD student Douglas Roberto Guimares Silva has joined the Meat Science department at the NSW DPI Centre for Red meat and Sheep Development in Cowra.
Douglas said he hopes to take his new knowledge from working in Cowra and transfer it to his studies in Brazil.
“I’m doing part of my PhD because I start in Brazil and my idea, when I arrived in Cowra was learn new technologies,” he said.
“Because I believe when I come back to Brazil I can apply what I have learned in this place.”
Douglas is undertaking a PhD in Food Science at the Universidade Federal de Lavras in Lavras, Brazil and obtained CAPES funding from the Brazilian government to travel to Australia.
He is the second PhD student to spend time at Cowra from this University. Douglas said he has enjoyed his time in Cowra so far and everyone he has met has been incredibly welcoming and helpful.
“I like this place, I like all the people because I think all of the people help me all the time.”
Douglas will learn new techniques and benefit from mentoring in the design, analysis and writing of experimental work. In addition to this, he will work with Dr Benjamin Holman, a Research Scientist in the Cowra team.
I believe when I come back to Brazil I can apply what I have learned in this place.
- Douglas Roberto Guimares Silva
While his research in Brazil focused on radiation and it’s effect on microorganisms in ham, Douglas said his research in Cowra will be predominantly on beef.
“In Australia it’s (research) about monitoring beef dark-cutting. In Brazil I worked with ham and it’s different but in Cowra I will work with dark-cuts,” he said.
The experience will also allow Douglas the opportunity to improve his English and is a demonstration of the contribution NSW DPI scientists make to the global community.
Douglas said it’s the first time he has ever traveled to a different country and it can be difficult to break through the language barrier in Australia.
“This is different… when your language is different and this is the first time I live in another country but I like it here,” he said.
Douglas will be stationed at the DPI in Cowra for six months.
