'IMPA Tech is a unique opportunity', says student Mariana Yoshioka.

Mariana Yoshioka, 18, was accepted into seven universities, but chose IMPA's undergraduate program in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation to pursue her academic and professional future. In addition to IMPA Tech, she was accepted into Mathematics programs at USP, UNESP, UFSCar, UEAP, and UNIFAP, and into Medicine at UFPA. A student in the class of 2025, Mariana doesn't regret her choice. "IMPA Tech is a unique opportunity, both for the support it provides and for the network of contacts and the community we create here," she says.

Originally from Londrina (PR), the student grew up in Macapá (AP) from the age of 2, where she studied until the end of high school and became involved with initiatives in the field of exact sciences, such as OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools) and PIC (Junior Scientific Initiation Program). "I always liked Mathematics and thought about studying Engineering, but because of OBMEP I discovered new possibilities, such as Pure Mathematics and Data Science."

Even with other undergraduate options, Mariana chose IMPA Tech mainly because of IMPA's international renown and the excellence of its graduate programs. "When I started researching what a mathematician does on a daily basis, I had already decided that I wanted to do a graduate degree at IMPA, but then IMPA Tech came along and being accepted into the undergraduate program became my goal."

Mariana, who has been a student since March of this year, highlights the practical classes as a distinguishing feature of the bachelor's degree. "The course assistants help us a lot. Besides exchanging ideas with people who are already at a higher level than we want to reach, it's also good for better understanding the topics covered in class."

A multi-medalist at OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools), the student earned her place at IMPA Tech through the medals she obtained in the scientific competition. "I think the selection process is very good and has a wider reach, encompassing students from all over Brazil."

In addition to classes, Mariana actively participates in after-school activities, such as workshops at the NCE (Career and Internship Center) and events at the NAP (Psychopedagogical Support Center). “These events are great. It’s an opportunity to mature emotionally, network, and develop soft skills .”

In Rio de Janeiro, she lives in student housing provided in partnership with the city government, where she interacts with other young people from all over the country. "We learn about different cultures and form study groups to have more direct exchanges, especially during exam periods."

For the student, the financial and food assistance also makes a difference in her daily life. “We have many opportunities, we live right next door, and the assistance helps us a lot. IMPA Tech is a good network both for having a good quality of study and for making contacts in the STEM fields. In addition, there are companies located in the hub.”

Looking to the future, the student plans to pursue a specialization in Mathematics, but without abandoning interdisciplinarity. IMPA Tech has a basic one-year cycle, after which students choose from four specializations: Mathematics, Data Science, Physics, and Computer Science. In addition to the common subjects across the areas, the curriculum includes elective subjects and humanities courses, such as Language Skills, English, and a Chinese course offered in partnership with the Confucius Institute at PUC-Rio.

The undergraduate campus is located in Porto Maravalley, a technology hub in the port area of Rio de Janeiro, which houses 70 companies and 45 resident startups, creating an environment of innovation and collaboration between academia and the job market.