It is a long way from Brazil to Cowra, especially when you have never traveled outside of your home country before.
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But that is what Giuliana Micai de Oliveira a PhD student from the University of Sao Paulo, Department of Animal Science Piracicaba, Brazil has done for the opportunity to work alongside some of Australia's best rural scientists.
Giuliana has been supported by a grant from Brazil and will spend six months at the Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, returning to Brazil in early 2020 with the task to complete her PhD by June 2020.
She said she has enjoyed her time in Cowra working at the Agricultural Research Station so far.
"Yeah it's nice, different but it's nice," she said.
"People here are more kind, have more patience, I come from a big city compared to Cowra and I think you hear more nature, it's more calm."
In Brazil, Giuliana has been studying the effect of different diets in ewes on the subsequent growth, carcase traits and meat quality of their progeny.
While at Cowra, Giuliana will work on a project with Dr Stephanie Fowler investigating the measurement of intramuscular fat (IMF) in lamb, using NIR (Near-infrared) probes.
Development of a method for measuring IMF is pivotal for lamb meat cuts to be eventually graded for eating quality, with the current grading restricted to a carcase.
Giuliana is the fifth PhD student from Brazil to spend time at Cowra working with the Meat Science team led by Professor David Hopkins.
Professor Hopkins said the numerous international students who have studied in Cowra have each brought a different culture and new ideas to the research station.
"They're all individuals so they're all different, some of their expectations are different to," he said.
"Hopefully for them it's a helpful learning experience."
Giuliana was motivated to spend time at Cowra after fellow PhD student Carolina Aroeira spent six months at Cowra. As part of her time here she will also gain valuable experience in the preparation of research papers.
During her time in Cowra, Giuliana is set to travel to Queensland and has been working alongside Masters student Hongbo Yang from China and PhD student Bridgette Logan.
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