For more than eight years, Masaryk University has been offering foreign students the opportunity to come for a paid research internship in the scientific laboratories of the Faculty of Science and, more recently, the Faculty of Pharmacy, where they can participate in various research projects and gain experience in working in science.
Three students from the United States and Canada applied for the summer 2024 internship: physics student Caroline Kamal from New York State; biochemistry and molecular biology student Thomas Breil from Pennsylvania, and Canadian pharmacology student Alexandrei Sabaten. They were attracted to the internship not only by the opportunity to get a few weeks of work experience in science during the summer, but also by the opportunity to live for a while in the heart of Europe and the rich cultural experience that Masaryk University prepares for foreign students on short-term summer programs.
Thanks to my summer internship, I now excel in lab classes
Caroline Kamal from Hobart and William Smith Colleges chose the Department of Condensed Matter Physics at the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University for her summer internship. There, she spent three months working on several projects that focused on the synthesis and analysis of noble metal nanoparticle colloids and surface Raman spectroscopy of nanoparticles.
“While we don't have internship as a requirement at our university, I wanted to spend the summer productively and get hands-on experience in the lab, so I started looking for a summer internship. I considered several options, but ultimately chose Masaryk University because of the interesting projects and the length of the internship. And I am very happy that I ended up in Brno, I enjoyed the internship immensely. It was also great that my daily tasks varied; sometimes I worked on chemical synthesis, sometimes I coded the results of analysis. Such alternation of activities is not typical for many laboratory internships. I also really enjoyed working in the spectroscopy lab, it was really interesting there,” Caroline explains.
During her internship, she learned a lot of skills that she believes can only be acquired through practical work in laboratories. Mainly due to several months and daily practice, she says she now excels in lab subjects at her home university. In addition, the internship showed her what area she enjoys most, which has helped her greatly to narrow down the field she wants to pursue in the future. In fact, she will be finishing her undergraduate degree in May, so the internship has made it easier for her to find graduate programs where she plans to go after graduation.
Of course, Kamal did not just spend three months in the laboratory. The summer internships organized by Masaryk University offer students, in addition to their internships in the field, afternoon and weekend cultural programmes with students from all over the world who have come to Brno for one of the summer schools.
“The summer in Brno will always be unforgettable for me. I had a lot of fun outside of work and I really enjoyed getting to know the Czech Republic, the local people, the language and especially the folk dances. I also managed to visit many places and cities in the Czech Republic, and I fell in love with trdelnik, I really miss this sweet pastry in the USA. Overall, I was very surprised by the Czech Republic – the incredible warmth and kindness of the people, as well as the very welcoming atmosphere in Brno and the strong university community made it feel like home for me during those few weeks. So, after returning to the USA, I recommend all my classmates to go to MU too,” says the student.
Masaryk University surprised me with its modern facilities
Thomas Breil pracuje na Pennsylvania State University v laboratoři molekulární biologie, vždy se ale taky zajímal o imunologii. A tak se vloni rozhodl vyzkoušet na vlastní kůži nový program pro výzkumníky na MUNI. I když nejsou stáže na jeho domovské univerzitě povinné, vyjel dobrovolně, aby si otestoval vlastní limity a rozšířil si nejen akademické, ale i osobní obzory: „Chtěl jsem si vyzkoušet práci v laboratoři mimo svůj hlavní obor a učit se vědě ze zahraniční perspektivy,“ vysvětluje.
Thomas Breil works at the molecular biology lab at Pennsylvania State University, but he has always been interested in immunology as well. So last year, he decided to try out a new programme for researchers at Masaryk University for himself. Although internships are not mandatory at his home university, he went voluntarily to test his own limits and broaden not only his academic but also his personal horizons. “I wanted to try working in a lab outside my major and learn science from a foreign perspective,” he explains.
During his three-month internship, he worked on a research project in immunology in which he investigated the effect of plasma-treated biomaterials on neutrophils and whether they trigger an inflammatory response. Through his work on the project, he gained many new laboratory skills and discovered his passion for immunology.
The second half of the internship was spent with the project supervisor. “I was really impressed by her commitment and willingness to pass on all the knowledge, teach me new techniques and look for new opportunities to develop in workshops in other labs. It is not often in the U.S. that a principal investigator is so actively involved and present in the work of the students. I was even able to spend a day in the facilities where plasma-treated biomaterials are directly produced, with a full presentation and demonstration of their creation. Overall, the internship gave me confidence in my research work, broadened my knowledge and skills and awakened my passion for exploratory research,” the enthusiastic researcher explains.
Thomas also took away a lot from the cultural part of the internship programme; from hiking in Brno to swimming at the Brno dam to watching a drone and fireworks show. “I will not forget the evening when we ate cherries straight from the tree under which we danced Czech folk dances. I really got to know Czech culture and traditions up close,” he recalls.
Thomas even rates the internship as one of the best periods of his life. “I learned a lot of new things, saw a lot of the world, made friends and found the direction I want to take in the future. It was the perfect combination of study and research with real cultural experiences. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I will never forget my summer in the Czech Republic.”
I did real research on my internship and travelled around Europe
Alexandrei Sabaten, a Canadian from the University of Toronto, joined a research programme in pharmacology at Masaryk University's Faculty of Pharmacy. Her first-choice project ultimately failed, but she still got the opportunity to participate in an alternative way. And it was this that allowed her to gain very valuable hands-on experience working in the lab.
The laboratory internship is not compulsory at her university, but it can be a valuable asset for pharmacology students in the future. Practical experience in the lab, she says, is a major competitive advantage – whether you are heading into academia or want to make it in the professional world. During her three-month placement in the lab, she worked on synthesising compounds that could help fight cancer. Specifically, she worked to find compounds capable of slowing the growth and spread of cancer cells.
The cultural aspect of her stay also left a big impression on her. “For the first time in my life I travelled outside of Canada, and it was wonderful. Being in Brno gave me the opportunity to visit other cities like Vienna, Prague and Budapest, which took the whole trip to the next level. Aside from traveling, I fully immersed myself in the local culture, attending interesting events and doing all sorts of activities that allowed me to better understand the history, traditions and vibrancy of the region. It was a journey that went beyond academics and helped me grow both personally and culturally. And Brno really excited me - the city has a special energy. Historical architecture blends with modern lifestyle and there is a friendly atmosphere everywhere,” the student says happily.
She was equally impressed by the modern research facilities and the friendly academic environment. Therefore, she recommends the internship at Masaryk University to her classmates. “It is a great opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, gain valuable academic and professional experience and discover a part of the world full of history and culture,” she says.
Students can apply for summer internships until 1 April
This summer, Masaryk University is opening three-month summer internships in its laboratories to international students from all over the world. Thanks to them, students can get involved in scientific projects and gain invaluable experience under the supervision of experienced scientists and mentors. The university’s scientists are attracting students to projects focused on pharmaceutics, chemistry, physics, nanotechnology, biochemistry or natural medicines. More information about specific research projects can be found on the website summeratmasaryk.cz. The deadline for applications is 1 April.