It was not possible for me to pursue this internship without the Dutch2USA grant. The team also helps with other things and if you have questions.
Elena Vázquez Alférez
MSc Medicine
Meet Elena Vasquez, a Medicine student at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Originally from Mexico, Elena had already experienced the value of an international journey when she moved to the Netherlands for her studies. Motivated by her ambition to build an international career in global mental health, she set her sights on the United States for her internship.
Elena chose Boston for her internship, joining the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, one of the world's leading research institutions. Her goal was to focus on global mental health research, and Harvard offered the perfect opportunity to do so. “Harvard is very well known, and I wanted to do research on global mental health. So, I was looking at places where I could work on this topic. I decided to try, and I got in!”
For Elena, going abroad again felt like the natural next step: “Moving to the Netherlands already brought me so much. I wanted to have that experience again.”
During her internship, Elena joined a research lab where she worked on her own thesis project while also contributing to other ongoing studies. Her research focused on trauma-related disorders, a topic that boosted her passion for the field.
Balancing research with life in Boston took some time, but Elena found her rhythm. She explored the city, built a social circle and connected with other international students through her scholarship. But the highlight of her internship was the recognition she received for her work. Through this experience, Elena discovered her love for research ang gained valuable insight into how the medical field operates internationally.
Elena's internship was made possible thanks to the Dutch2USA grant. She learned about the scholarship while searching for financial support.
The grant required a strong connection to the Netherlands, high academic achievement, and financial need. The application process consisted of two rounds, starting with the submission of all documents. Elena navigated the process mostly herself but later discovered that Erasmus University offered helpful information too.
The grant was provided in monthly instalments, with an upfront payment to cover major expenses like flights and visa costs. After her internship, Elena was asked to submit a report about her experience. It was not possible for me to pursue this internship without the Dutch2USA grant. The team also helps with other things and if you have questions.”
Looking back, Elena describes her time in Boston as a really nice experience and strongly encourages other students to consider an internship abroad.