The Masters of Biochemistry program at the Freie Universität Berlin involves multiple research projects allowing students to become familiar with academic research in different groups and fields. These projects can be carried out in one of the research groups across the vast Berlin research landscape but also in institutions across Germany or abroad. I had already completed one of these mandatory research projects in a group in Berlin and was excited to experience research abroad and especially in the USA with its world-renowned universities.

During my previous studies and research experiences, I developed an interest in structural and synthetic biology. I therefore searched for groups in these fields and quickly came across the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington, Seattle. Research groups at this institute work on computationally designing proteins which are not found in nature to help solve problems of the modern time. I applied directly to the Baker lab with my CV and a motivational letter and was invited for a research stay after talking to two graduate students in the lab over Zoom.

The ERASMUS office was very helpful in planning the internship and in assisting me with my questions regarding the forms applying for financial support. If you can integrate a research stay abroad into the curriculum of your studies, the ERASMUS funding is a great opportunity to help in this.
Work in the Baker lab was quite different from the groups I had previously worked in in Berlin. People worked considerably longer hours and even on the weekends, there were always multiple people doing experiments in the lab. As time went on, I had started to somewhat adapt this work ethic as my own. With over 100 researchers, this group belongs to the largest labs in the world, but the cooperation and attitude of helping one another was sought after and specifically encouraged. After each of the two weekly group meetings, the whole lab met for a happy hour, where you could talk about your research in an informal setting. Additionally, there were independently organized subgroup meetings every other week, where new literature or problems in your own research work could be discussed. My internship in this extraordinary research environment has greatly contributed to the development of my theoretical knowledge and my computational and experimental skills. It has also confirmed my desire to pursue a PhD in biochemistry after completion of my Masters.

In addition to my great research experience, Seattle was a great place to live. It is a comparatively big city in the Pacific Northwest and nestled between multiple mountain ranges and the Pacific Ocean. The city is known for its rainy weather, but I have to say that the weather is quite comparable to Berlin, with milder summers and sunnier winters. All in all, I would even prefer the Seattle year-round weather to Berlin. For a North American city, Seattle has a well-developed bicycle infrastructure and I bought a bike in the first days after my arrival. This investment has proven itself useful, since the public transportation network is very limited with only one light-rail line running north to south. Fittingly, this train line is known as “the one line”. I used a combination of the one line and my bike to explore Seattle throughout my time there. Seattle’s neighborhoods each offer a unique charm and character. Capitol Hill is an urban district, vibrant and artsy, known for its lively nightlife. Ballard combines maritime heritage with trendy restaurants, while the University District is full of student bars and countless inexpensive dining opportunities. There is a big Asian community in Seattle which is also visible in its food scene, with great Japanese, Korean and Chinese restaurants.

For me one of the biggest qualities of Seattle was the surrounding nature. There are three easily accessible National Parks and multiple State Parks around the city and during the summer I went hiking almost every weekend with friends I had made in the lab. There is the diverse Olympic peninsula featuring rugged coastlines, towering mountain peaks and the world’s most northern rain forest. Mount Rainier National Park is dominated by the iconic, snow-capped Mount Rainier, and offers diverse hiking opportunities with wildflower meadows, alpine lakes, and glaciers. To the north is the North Cascades National Park with rocky mountain panoramas, turquoise glacial lakes, and abundant wildlife.
All in all, I can only recommend Seattle as a city for a stay abroad. You will have the opportunity to explore wonderful nature, improve your scientific skills, and deepen you understanding of the English language in both a professional and personal context. Also definitely consider the US for a research stay as the experience there will be quite different from European labs.

Tips for other Interns

Visa Application

I had a lot of assistance from the exchange visitor’s office at the University of Washington. You are required to fill out quite a lot of forms and also have a short interview at the embassy. With this in mind, you should start this process at least 2 months before your start date.

Internship Search

I applied directly to the group and was accepted after an interview with two graduate students from the lab.

Apartment Search

Through help from members of the lab, I was able to rent a room in a house shared with other students. Other possibilities for finding housing are platforms like craigslist or Facebook-Marketplace.

Insurance

For my visa and the registration at the University I needed to get a health care plan that was offered from a provider in cooperation with the University.

Other

This was a great experience that is easily to integrate into the Master’s of Biochemistry program.

Formalities on site

Telephone-/Internetconnection

I did some research for the cheapest providers. I paid 15$ a month for a plan with Mint mobile.

Bank/Accountopening

To easily pay the rent I got a student account at Chase. This was free and not connected to any monthly payments.

Going-Out Activities

There is a lot of great nature and national parks around Seattle. I went on a lot of hiking trips over the summer and wouldn’t want to miss that opportunity. Seattle is also a vibrant city with a lot of cafes, restaurants and bars. Especially the area around the University is exciting to explore.