Tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to CERN?
My name is Lorenzo Bistoni, I’m 23 years old, and I’m a mechanical engineering student with a management curriculum. I’ve always lived with my family, my volleyball team, and my hobbies in Perugia, a small and beautiful town in the green heart of Italy.
Now my life has changed, along with my goals and the people I spend most of my time with – CERN is truly a life-changing experience!

What do you do at CERN today?
At CERN, I work as a technical student for the CMS Tracker Upgrade in the Experimental Physics (EP) department. My main task is performing thermal quality control on TBPS, a very specific part of the tracker. In practical terms, my goal is to check the cooling efficiency of this component.
Additionally, I’m part of the team ensuring the supply of cooling fluid in the clean room where the tracker will be assembled: time management and wrenches, that’s all you need!

What is working at CERN like for you?
Working at CERN is an honor for me. Contributing to the deep understanding of our nature and its fundamental building blocks is what motivates me every day to improve myself and my skills.
Moreover, being surrounded by other young and motivated people is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

What inspired you to pursue a career in science/engineering?
I’ve never had a deep passion for science and technical activities, and no one in my family works in this field. When I was choosing my university, I asked myself: what can I do for society? What path should I follow to contribute to its progress? I still believe that engineering, especially combined with management, is the best answer.

What skills have you developed since joining CERN?
First of all, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of thermodynamics, particularly regarding how different materials and shapes affect heat exchange between objects.
Secondly, I’ve developed a strong focus on "making things work," which I believe is crucial for any type of engineering.
Last but not least, this experience is teaching me to be humble and to always be open to being wrong – there’s nothing better than making a mistake to truly understand something!

What have been the main hurdles or challenges you encountered along the way?
Living in another country is always a challenge, especially when it’s your first time away from your parents’ home. Having someone to help with bureaucracy and non-work-related matters was really helpful.

Any favourite memories from your time at CERN so far?
This experience is full of “firsts” – the first climb, the first time I moved to another city, and the first job are all moments I’ll cherish forever.

What advice would you give potential applicants?
Be ready to have fun and take part of something truly amazing. The concept of collaboration at CERN is unique, and this experience can be a gateway to anything you want to pursue.
I suggest to be yourself during the interview, because ethics and personality can be just as important as hard skills.