In Albania, more and more young people are choosing to study abroad at universities in Europe and the United States. By the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, around 14,000 young Albanians studied abroad, with more than 1,000 of them attending American universities. This is the story of a young man who, after excelling in his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, is now preparing to pursue a Ph.D. at Harvard Medical School.

For Albanian students studying in Europe and America, the summer holidays at home are drawing to a close, and soon they will return to their studies. Arbri Kopliku, a young man from Shkodra, will soon travel to the U.S. to continue his studies. Over the past four years, he completed his studies in Bioengineering with top-tier results at MIT, and in early September, he will begin his Ph.D. at Harvard University.

“I will return to America, back to Boston, to start my Ph.D. studies in a joint program between Harvard Medical School and MIT, where I completed my bachelor’s degree. I will study medical engineering, specifically working in a lab developing new personalized treatments on a nanoscale, particularly for cancer, but which could be adapted to treat various types of cancers using the same technology” he told Voice of America.

Arbri says that the experience he gained at MIT was unique for him as a student, as studying at one of the world’s best universities provided him with the opportunity to stay updated with the latest developments in scientific research, choose his courses, and interact with professors who were at the forefront of immunology and the fight against COVID-19. Above all, it allowed him to engage in hands-on learning in labs and world-renowned companies.

“It was the post-COVID period,” he says, “and this influenced the direction of scientific focus. The fastest-growing labs were those producing antibodies and vaccines and making significant advancements in scientific research, especially concerning infectious diseases.”

This helped him to get involved in scientific research and apply theoretical knowledge through major projects with some of America’s most well-known companies, where he completed his internships.

“The first time was with Moderna, the company that produced the COVID-19 vaccine and many other things. My work involved testing various RNA combinations, which were the components of the vaccine, to make them more stable at high temperatures and easier to produce. Then, the following summer, I entered a completely different field, surprisingly fitting with my education, but focused on biomedical devices. The company produced devices for diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer” he says.

A large Albanian community lives in Boston, including young people from Albanian-speaking regions who study at Boston’s universities. This, Arbri says, was a great opportunity to establish the Albanian Student Association at MIT, through which they participate in fairs, exhibitions, Balkan and European cultural festivals, and interact with the “Besa” association and St. George’s Church in Boston.

A year ago, along with a young Albanian studying in Canada, they founded the nonprofit organization “Albanian Trailblazers” which offers mentoring and support to young Albanians who wish to study abroad.

“We managed to create an organization called ‘Albanian Trailblazers,’ which has expanded significantly over the past year. We have created a group for workshops where successful Albanians around the world can come and share their professional experiences or passions. We have also created a group to connect Albanians with the aim of forming special groups such as Albanians in Boston, London, or Austria, and making it possible to meet not just virtually but also physically” he says.

Doctoral studies at Harvard University are expected to last nearly six years—a long and challenging journey for the young man from Shkodra, Arbri Kopliku. However, he remains optimistic that he will overcome these challenges, driven by his aspirations for the future.

“A Ph.D. in America takes about 5-6 years, but thinking beyond that, I have the desire to deepen my knowledge during the Ph.D. and package my discoveries in a way that could become a company in the future. I want to start a company and, why not, involve Albania as much as it can offer in developing technologies for curing various diseases and producing biopharmaceutical products.”/VOA