During my time in Germany, I was able to gain many valuable skills and insights while interning at the Hamann lab at Heinrich-Heine University (HHU) in Düsseldorf. This professional experience was a great addition to my resume and my network of faculty members and professionals in my area of study. I expanded my knowledge in my field of study and enjoyed learning about the research at HHU.

Aside from the academic experience, living in a foreign country for 3 months definitely progressed some of my personal development. Facing challenges like language barriers and traveling independently helped me to become a more decisive and resourceful person. I feel I am now better able to manage when things don’t go as planned and I learned to minimize overplanning and over-worrying when preparing for things like trips or entering a new environment.

I learned a lot about various cultures and perspectives. German culture has many little quirks, for example, after presentations rather than clapping everyone knocks on the tables.

During my time there, I was also able to travel to France, Italy, and the Netherlands. I got to see so many different cultures since people from all over Europe also come to visit the same cities. Comparing the interactions, food, and landscapes of each place was so fascinating. There are so many cities in Europe that have an abundance of history and beautiful buildings. Some sites I got to visit included old castles, museums, stained-glass churches, ancient ruins, and so much more. My favorite was seeing the colorful streets of Nice, France. The view from Castel Hill and the glistening sea is a memory I will never forget.

We also got to enjoy the excitement of the Eurocup. The students in my program went to a public viewing and we all had so much fun together cheering Germany on in the big games.

I also really enjoyed traveling with the other students in my program. We had so many adventures together and got to know one another as we explored new places. I am so glad to have these new friends entering our next years at State.

Name: Katharina Scott
Status: Junior
Major: Environmental/Plant Biology
Hometown: Walled Lake, Michigan
Program: Molecular Biology Research in Dusseldorf (HHUD)