"I often ask myself: What do I take away from my studies? And where do I learn the most? When reflecting on these questions, it quickly becomes clear that I learn best through hands-on experience, such as laboratory internships. However, these typically focus on fundamental skills and are primarily aimed at learning methods, often without pursuing a larger overarching goal.

In contrast, participating in the iGEM competition gives me the opportunity to work together with others on a project that has the potential to make a real contribution. Actively conducting research within a multidisciplinary team and developing our own project is, for me, an especially valuable experience that will help me grow both academically and personally.

At the same time, connecting with other teams and exchanging ideas about their innovations broadens one’s perspective. This interaction provides a valuable opportunity to expand my academic horizon and gain new insights. I am very happy to be part of this year’s iGEM team and look forward to a constructive collaboration in which we can learn from one another and grow together through the project."

Professional experiences:

• Voluntary Social Year in Science (FWJ) at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, in the field of preclinical pharmacology and in vitro toxicology
• Student Assistant at the Medical Faculty (Med B), University Hospital Münster (UKM)