Originally from the Marche region in central Italy, Dr. Marco Marcozzi has been living in Lithuania for several years. At the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (VU MIF) of Vilnius University, he contributes to research in the field of quantum technologies. M. Marcozzi shares his experiences and impressions of life in Lithuania and is convinced that living abroad pushes you out of your comfort zone.
Marco Marcozzi. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius.
Always Wanted to Be a Scientist
“Science and technologies have been a passion and deep interest of mine since childhood,” says the Italian researcher. According to him, this passion only grew stronger during his teenage years, especially while watching science fiction movies and reading books. Quantum technologies are among the fastest-growing and most promising fields in IT. Together with his colleagues in Lithuania, he develops quantum algorithms that can be applied in areas such as pharmaceuticals and energy resources optimization.
M. Marcozzi’s choice to pursue a scientific career was no coincidence. Although he always knew he wanted to be a scientist, the specific direction of his work changed over time. His interest in quantum technologies was ultimately shaped by his background in physics – he originally trained as a physicist, and only during his PhD studies did mathematics and informatics become central to his work. Quantum technologies combine all these areas of the exact sciences.
First Impressions of Lithuania: The Cold and a Desire to Return
M. Marcozzi first came to Vilnius five years ago as a visiting researcher during his doctoral studies. Although he later had to return to Italy to defend his dissertation, he came back to Lithuania as soon as the opportunity arose.
He had no prior knowledge of the country and thus no specific expectations. “I was amazed by the amount of snow that there was already when I arrived. It was a fun and cozy first impression, since Vilnius is lovely during winter holidays: lights, decorations, warm beverages, and winter activities. For me it was interesting to experience for the first time walking in the streets when it’s –25°C outside, with little icicles growing on my beard – it was hilarious,” he says with a smile.
Marco with students from Italy. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius.
Impressed by Beautiful Nature and Warm Summers
According to the scientist, although it may sound a bit funny now, he would describe his experience of living in Lithuania as “exotic.” He notes that there’s a common stereotype in Lithuania that Italians are very extroverted and loud. While that may often be true, especially when compared to Lithuanians, M. Marcozzi says he doesn’t fit that mold himself. At first, it took him some time to adapt to different customs and people, but he found Lithuanians to be very friendly and open.
“It surprised me the most that here summertime is amazing! I really love the green spaces and lakes and forests, with plenty of outdoor activities and outdoor cooking. I believe that I did more outdoor activities since I came to Lithuania than in my whole life,” he admits.
Of course, there are also challenges – one of the biggest for him has been the Lithuanian language. While many people in the larger cities speak English, knowing Lithuanian would still be helpful for everyday life.
After living in Lithuania, the scientist says he sees several advantages compared to Italy. One of them is that in a small and dynamic country, graduates have many career opportunities. In his opinion, Lithuania is also a great place for entrepreneurial people, as there are many talented professionals and favorable conditions for business.
Lithuania – A Great Place to Work and Live
At VU MIF, Marcozzi values both the work environment and the motivation of the students. “The quality of science in Lithuania is high. The students are very motivated, many of them work during their studies, yet still manage to achieve excellent results,” he says. According to him, the faculty has a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere that helps him grow both as a scientist and as a person. He’s also full of praise for his colleagues: “All the people I had the pleasure to work and interact with in my professional environment are competent and talented.”
Marcozzi says he gladly invites family, friends, and colleagues to visit Lithuania – and all of them leave with great impressions of the country.
“Lithuania offers unexpected opportunities and can become one of the steps toward success – whatever the word ‘success’ may mean for each of us,” M. Marcozzi is convinced.
VU MIF is launching a video interview series featuring Italians who work or study at the faculty. The third interview, available in both English and Italian, features features Dr. Marco Marcozzi and can be found on the MIF YouTube channel.