DocWalker 2025 student’s story - Aurora Rossi (Inria)

Interview

Meet Aurora ROSSI, a 3rd year PhD candidate at Inria, team COATI! She spent 2 months at the Institute of Science Tokyo in Japan, fully funded by the RISE Academy's DocWalker program.

2025, July 21

What is your area of research?

I am a third-year PhD student in Computer Science within the DS4H program, working in the COATI team at Inria. My research lies at the intersection of graph theory and machine learning, with a particular focus on graph neural networks and temporal graphs.

How did your international mobility project start?

At the time, I was working on a paper about graph neural networks. One of the members of my team was already in Japan for a research visit and happened to meet one of the  co-authors of the paper at the Institute of Science Tokyo. That unexpected encounter opened the door for me to be hosted there as well, to continue developing the paper collaboratively. It also aligned with a broader initiative to strengthen scientific collaborations between our French team and Japanese research institutions.

How did you prepare for your departure?

I started planning several months ahead. There were many logistics to manage, accommodation, registering at the Japanese university, and sorting out the funding and administrative paperwork. Being well-organized early on helped everything go smoothly.

What was your daily life like?

I was based in Professor Murata’s research lab at the Tokyo Institute of Science. My days typically included coding sessions, research discussions with local colleagues, and twice-weekly seminars. I also enrolled in Japanese language classes offered by the university. Outside the lab, I explored Tokyo’s neighborhoods, food, and culture. It was a rich and inspiring experience.

What do you take away from this doctoral stay abroad?

This experience broadened my research perspective and led to international collaborations that are still ongoing. I didn’t just learn new concepts, I also discovered new working styles. I particularly appreciated the kindness and precision I encountered in the Japanese academic environment. I’m deeply grateful to Professor Murata and his team for their warm welcome and support.

Do you have any advice for future mobility candidates?

Take the time to plan your stay well in advance. Set clear goals, but also remain open to unexpected opportunities and new directions.
 

Find out more