Program
I participated as 1 of 10 students in an exchange program between Michigan State University and Heinrich Heine Universität in Dusseldorf, Germany from May – July 2022.
The Molecular Biology Research Exchange Program at MSU (directed by Dr. Susanne Hoffmann-Benning) offered the opportunity to study abroad for 10 weeks.
In addition, I received the prestigious Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst – Research Internships in Science and Engineering (DAAD-RISE) internship. As one of 320 students awarded the internship from the US, Canada, and the UK, I was honored to represent MSU globally. My DAAD-RISE internship was fully funded by the American Chemical Society IRES program, allowing me to research without a financial burden.
Research: Feldbrugge Lab
For 10 weeks at Heinrich Heine Universität I researched with the Feldbrugge Laboratory with mentor Nina Stoffel. My research project focused on RNA-protein interaction in vivo: Endosomal mRNA transport in Ustilago maydis. I mainly performed microscopy on Ustilago maydis cells, resulting in the figures below.
International Experience
Alongside Michigan State, Purdue, University Virginia Amherst, and Brown peers and cohort members, I had many adventures! We explored Germany (Dusseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Hamburg, Berlin, and Frankfurt), Spain (Valencia), and Belgium (Bruges and Brussels). After researching all week in the lab, we’d travel on the weekends and enjoy the experiences. Oh, to be 21 in Europe…
