Again this year it was a pleasure to speak to students from the five universities who participated in the Summer School on Advanced Biotechnology.

Nadiya Abulimiti

BSc Bioanalytics and Cell Biology, entering 3^rd year, FHNW School of Life Sciences

Tell me about the Bachelor program at your school.

I had started a Bachelor at the University of Zurich in biomedicine but found it too theoretical for my interests. Then I heard about the FHNW, about the practicum possibilities, hands-on work in the lab, and strong connections to employers, so I decided to go there for a Bachelor of Science in Bioanalytics and Cell Biology.

What are your study and research interests?

I really like being in the lab and working with living cells. It’s exciting to see things moving under the microscope, things that you can’t see with the naked eye. Tissue engineering appeals to me, diagnostics too. In life sciences, many concepts and disciplines are interconnected and I like understanding how they relate to each other.

Why did you decide to attend the summer school?

The other summer schools offered by the FHNW take place in Muttenz. When I saw that the Advanced biotechnology summer school was taking place in Sion, with students from other universities and countries, my choice was made! Here I can meet new people. The atmosphere is friendly, open, and there are no barriers to approaching students or lecturers. Especially for a shy person like me it’s a great opportunity, and I would highly recommend it to others.

Do you have a favourite talk or session so far?

The talk about Zebrafish models was very interesting, because I already had the chance to work on them as part of my practicum, so I could relate to the topic. The in vivo model of the brain for studying Alzheimer’s, with many different cell types and complex interactions, was another highlight, seeing as I’m interested in tissue engineering.

What are your plans after you complete your bachelor’s degree?

I’m considering a master’s, probably the part-time program at the FHNW, so that I can work at the same time. After my master’s, I’ll see how I feel before deciding if I do a PhD.

What kind of company would you like to work at later and why?

Right now, I mostly know the big names: Roche, Novartis…but working at a start-up could also be an option. Because of the small company size, I could gain a lot of direct experience.