Accepting a studentship at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Poland, was a crucial step for my training. But in order to take advantage of it, I've entered what I call my ‘commuting matrix’. As a student without any real income, I can't afford to rent a flat in the capital, so I have chosen to live in my home town of Lodz and travel to and from Warsaw every weekday to save money.

The 120-km train trip takes two hours each way. To make the most of this time, I read scientific articles on the train. And even though I work in the high-tech field of bioinformatics, I use low-tech pen and paper to scribble down scientific problems, and to plan my day and work out longer-term goals.

When I get to Warsaw, it all seems worthwhile. Working with a leading team of researchers is not only a test but also great fun. There is a friendly atmosphere and I am surrounded by helpful people and have a boss who believes in giving young scientists a chance.

I wish that more students could work with such helpful teams and supervisors, who see that the future lies in the hands of young people like me — and who are prepared to make an effort to break down the barriers that stand in our way.