When I chose to do a PhD project in computational biology, my supervisor baulked. “Do you really want to work for three years on a computer?” he asked. He'd made a valid point: I needed to assess the best way to shape my path. I decided a multidisciplinary preparation was a must. I was soon to learn that international organizations of students and researchers can provide a valuable network for PhD project needs.

Given that my project focuses on the structure–function relationship in proteins, I needed experience with the wet-lab stuff of biochemistry and X-ray crystallography. Ideally, this would help me attain a broader vision and a better understanding of the structures and functions of interest to me.

I started to explore the possibility of becoming a visiting scientist outside Italy, by looking through the usual job ads. I thought it would be easy to find something. I wasn't expecting a salary, only a place receptive to hosting an enthusiastic Italian trainee in protein biochemistry. But I sent out countless CV and referee letters with no result.

My quest changed dramatically when I started to consider it from another perspective: any boss would rather find an employee through a personal contact than by e-mail. Marco Quarta, chairman of the Young European Biotech Network (YEBN), of which I'm a member, advised me to send a message to members abroad, who would post it to their local networks.

I was intrigued. Although I chaired a task force for the YEBN, and recognized the value of its networking resources for teaching skills such as teamwork and project management, I hadn't thought of using it this way. Yet this group of professionals with different scientific backgrounds offered the potential for interesting collaborations.

Just one day after my posting I got an interesting proposal. If I had considered the 'network opportunity' earlier I would have saved some precious time.

I spent nine months at the University of Limerick in Ireland, in a biochemistry laboratory where the activities ranged from the identification and expression of promising genes encoding bacterial proteases and inhibitors, to the crystallization and computational work necessary to study proteins. Now I'm back in Milan in my home lab.

My time in Ireland was invaluable. I studied the practical issues behind protein structure determination and characterization. I know that my time there enriched my PhD experience and provided me with an additional skill set that will aid my career.