College Student Turns Curiosity into Opportunities

In a few months, Bianca Zavadisk will pack her bags to embark on an experience that, until recently, seemed unlikely. The 19-year-old student is setting off on a exchange program at Beihang University in China, where she will take courses related to the bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Technology, and Innovation. What she didn’t realize was that this opportunity had begun to take shape years earlier, in a classroom in Curitiba (PR), when she decided to join a math group simply for the pleasure of tackling logical reasoning problems. Learn more about this young woman’s journey at #BeyondEquations.

It was back in the 6th grade of elementary school that Bianca discovered science competitions and went on to win medals at the Brazilian Public School Mathematics Olympiad (OBMEP): one silver and one bronze. Today, as a student at IMPA Tech thanks to those achievements, she sees a direct connection between her early experiences and the opportunities that arose during her undergraduate studies in Rio de Janeiro.

“I was always encouraged at home to study, be curious, and pursue my interests. In school, I was a good student; I always excelled in math and science and had strong logical reasoning skills,” she said.

At Escola Atuação, he participated in a math group that brought students together after school to solve math Olympiad problems and prepare for academic competitions. It was there that he learned about and studied for the OBMEP and the Paraná Math Olympiad (OPRM).

But math wasn’t the only subject that sparked her interest. For Bianca, science competitions offered something she didn’t always find in her school routine. “I even ventured into other areas and took tests in history, physics, chemistry, geography… It was fun—a different way to apply my reasoning skills. I felt a little limited at school, doing exercises that only required memorized material,” she says.

Even though I knew I would continue in the field of exact sciences, I still hadn’t decided which undergraduate program to pursue after graduating from high school at the Paraná Military Police High School. My interest in computer science developed gradually, spurred by programming courses offered by the state Department of Education.

The student was even accepted into the Computer Science program at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) and the Computer Engineering program at the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR). Nevertheless, she decided to pursue a path that was relatively unknown at the time and became part of the inaugural class of IMPA’s first undergraduate program.

“I applied to IMPA Tech without many expectations, but I was curious about the program. I had already been accepted into federal universities in Paraná, but I went ahead and went through the admissions process anyway,” she recalled.

This decision meant leaving Curitiba, my family, and my familiar routine to live in Rio de Janeiro. “Given IMPA Tech’s offer, this move is worth it. I left the comfort of home, I’m far from my family, but I came here. The opportunities and benefits offered are attractive, such as housing and financial assistance that allow us to focus on our studies.”

With an interdisciplinary curriculum and a focus on mathematics, computer science, data science, and physics, IMPA Tech offers students benefits such as on-campus housing, meal allowances, and financial aid, as well as airfare for accepted applicants who live outside Rio.

Today, as a student majoring in Computer Science, Bianca says the decision was the right one. “IMPA Tech has opened many doors, both in the scientific field and in terms of direct contact with companies and industries. I came here with certain expectations, and it was a choice that paid off. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

The interdisciplinary nature of the undergraduate program is another aspect that catches her attention. “Interdisciplinarity is fascinating because we take a variety of different courses, but then we come to understand how they all fit together. Every little bit we study makes sense, and I see the importance of these different fields working side by side.”

Even before graduating, Bianca had already participated in PIBIC Júnior (Institutional Program for Scientific Initiation Scholarships for High School Students), developing science outreach projects related to machine learning. At IMPA Tech, she began to experience new opportunities to engage with the job market through the Industrial Challenges: hackathon-style activities in which undergraduate students work to solve real-world problems faced by companies using mathematical tools.

In one of the sessions, held in partnership with Inoa—a company specializing in critical systems for the capital markets—the student put her programming skills into practice. “The Challenge gives us exposure to the business environment, where we work in groups with different people and divide tasks among different departments. It was an enriching experience,” she said.

Now, Bianca is preparing for a new international challenge. In China, she’ll take more specialized computer science courses and will be staying in the dormitory for international students. “My expectations are high. I’m excited to study there because we’ll have different courses—more specialized content that we wouldn’t have here. I’m sure it’ll be worth it.”

Expected to graduate in the summer of 2028, Bianca is also preparing to start her internships. “I want to be an exceptional intern. I want to be someone who comes from an institution with a unique educational approach and who can implement solutions to help the company in its day-to-day operations,” she says.

Looking back on her own journey, she believes that initiatives like the IMPA Tech admissions process help expand opportunities for engaged students. “It’s great to have our performance throughout our school years taken into account when applying to college. The quota for women is important and makes a difference, but we need this incentive before college as well,” she added.

The selection process for the bachelor’s degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation takes into account the candidate’s track record in scientific olympiads, such as medals won in the OBMEP (Brazilian Public School Mathematics Olympiad) or the score in the ENEM (National High School Exam) mathematics test. The process is annual and also includes group activities and individual interviews.