Testimonials

During my studies, I had the extraordinary privilege of completing an internship at the Technion, supported by the German Technion Society and the Life Science Network. Over a period of three months, I had the unique opportunity to get to know new techniques, working methods and structures in the laboratory in Israel. I was particularly fascinated by the opportunity to devote myself fully to research and immerse myself in the subject matter.
During this time, I grew beyond myself and gained valuable experience in terms of personal responsibility and self-organization. I am firmly convinced that the best way to learn in life is to throw yourself into the unknown. This is exactly the opportunity I was given, and it will be invaluable to me in my future career.
Israel, as an extremely progressive country, offers the perfect breeding ground for budding scientists. My time in Israel broadened my perspectives and gave me valuable insights into research and intercultural exchange. I am extremely grateful for this experience and look forward to applying the knowledge and skills I have gained to my future scientific career.

What was going on in 1966? The following year after diplomatic relations were established between Israel and Germany, former German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer visited Israel in May. He was received as "Chancellor of Reparation" by Levi Eschkol, the Prime Minister at the time, who told him at a banquet "that the Germans of today have to prove their changed attitude and their new trustworthiness every day. The Jewish people are waiting for further signs and evidence that the German people are recognizing the terrible burden of the past and are seeking a new path in the family of nations."
That was the mood at the time and that year I decided to go to Israel for 3 months.
Full of shame and guilt, knowing far too little about Judaism and Zionism, full of the anti-Semitic statements that accompanied me in my youth, not really understanding the horror of the Holocaust, but with admiration for the pioneering work of the young state, which was threatened in its existence and for which many publicists in Europe did not see much of a future. I wanted to get to know the country myself ... Read more here

I think I benefited a lot from spending two months at the Technion - on several levels. On the one hand, I was able to broaden my horizons in terms of research and learn more about science education. So far, I have mainly approached science communication research from a journalistic perspective and it was beneficial to get to know new perspectives and to explore the interfaces. On a professional level, I was impressed by the team and how comradely the cooperation is organized. You don't find something like that everywhere and I still think back fondly today - and of course hope to be able to take a lot from it. Culturally, I found it extremely interesting to see what everyday university life is like in Israel, but also what it feels like to live in this country.
The stay has definitely strengthened my desire to become a professor myself. I actually found the laboratory to be a showcase model here.
I will definitely visit my colleagues at the Technion again. We have also launched a number of projects that we are continuing to pursue. We are currently in the field with a survey on artificial intelligence and scientific information search - the study involves Israel and Germany as well as other countries. None of this would have been possible without my research stay.

With the help of the Deutschen Technion Gesellschaft and the Life Science Network, I was able to gain one of the most valuable experiences of my studies: I broke out of my comfort zone and got to know qualitative work of the highest standards, which not only encouraged me in my desire to pursue a scientific career, but also spurred me on. I have also become aware of the importance of international exchange and the advantages of being aware of other ways of working and perspectives.

In Prof. Levenberg's laboratory, I experienced tissue engineering up close for the first time and was able to develop a passion for this field of research. I never knew in which direction I wanted to develop in my scientific career. The internship at the Technion has awakened a new pioneering passion in me. I couldn't have imagined a more fascinating stay. Stem cell-based tissue engineering combines several disciplines and goes beyond the scope of biology with the mechanical-physical component. I learned how to integrate creativity into everyday laboratory work and how to think out of the box. I have gained self-confidence in my own work and got to know wonderful people who act as absolute role models for me, but are also equally valuable guides who I can always ask for advice.

With the help of my experience and the insights I gained in the Israeli lab, I was able to get a Master's thesis position very quickly and was able to assert myself without any problems based on my experience alone, despite a lot of competition. I am very grateful for that.