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Why did you choose KI?

The summer before my final bachelor year, I participated in iGEM, a synthetic biology competition. One of the participants from the team was headed to Sweden to attend KI. I learned then that the  is one of the oldest in Europe, with a broad and complete program including lab toxicity, a human epidemiological perspective, and more. I was convinced it was something for me! 

Describe your experience as master's student at KI.  

The most important thing I learned was to communicate in a multicultural environment. The 28 students in my class represented more than 20 different countries.  

I chose KI for the reputation and program, but the strongest skill I achieved was the capacity to work and establish relationships across cultures – To all students, I say “practice and master that early in your career; you cannot learn this from books!”  

Another thing I learned was the importance of finding a balance between work and personal time. The KI programmes fit in study time within a given schedule. This allows you as a student to explore other career paths and interests in parallel to your studies. Being a student at KI also exposes you to fascinating and inspiring professionals. For example, you get the chance to attend the Nobel lectures and meet scientists driven by passion and curiosity. It’s contagious! 

After you graduated from KI, what was your next step?  

Ha ha – There's something that happens to many of the master’s students. When you first arrive and suddenly face the cold and dark winters, you spend months comparing your own country with Sweden. Then, after two years of experiencing a Swedish summer, everyone falls in love with Stockholm. Several of my classmates during the master’s got “Stockholm Syndrome” from Stockholm itself and decided to stay! 

Following graduation, I wanted to continue in academia. My mind was set on an academic career, with a strong interest in teaching – I am really passionate to eventually pass on knowledge to the next generation. I applied to PhD positions at KI and found one in the same department, within a different research unit than where I did my master thesis. To my surprise, when I wrote the motivation letter to the lab, I learned they were looking for a Spanish speaker! You never know what skills will come in handy.