Erasmus Exchange: Göttingen
Ella O’Keeffe's Erasmus Journey - Study, Research and Cultural Insights
Göttingen is a small university city in Germany which has been coined “The City of Science” by many, for good reason. There’s rich history around every corner of the city and with alumni like Einstein, The Brothers Grimm, and Oppenheimer to name a few, the university never ceased to surprise me, but the most surprising part about Göttingen was how quickly it became home. When sending in my Erasmus research project application, I hadn’t even heard of the small city in Lower Saxony, but within a couple of weeks, I knew I would grow to love it.
Sixteen weeks of scientific research in a world-renowned institution is not an opportunity that comes by frequently, so spending time on an application was worth the extra brain power needed over the Christmas break. From September until December 2024, I spent 5-7 days a week culturing wild type, and patient-derived, iPSCs into various neural cell types involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, and evaluating the use of co-cultures to model the phagocytosis of immune cells, specifically microglia, in an inflammatory in vitro environment. Sixteen weeks gives you enough time to become an actual member of a team of PhD students, post docs, MDs and more, and to make a genuine contribution to their area of research. By the end of the experience, I had discovered the aspects of research that I enjoyed, and definitely the ones I didn’t enjoy, which has massively benefited me when researching different plans for the future. I found the research to be highly rewarding, but it can be challenging at times.
The beauty of an Erasmus in Germany, is a travel ticket included in your semester fees, so after a long stressful week in the lab, you can travel anywhere around Germany, for free! Myself and the other Erasmus girls recharged by visiting iconic cities such as Munich for Oktoberfest, experiencing Berlin nightlife, or our personal favourites, the gorgeous Christmas markets all around Germany. Göttingen is located in the centre of Germany, so no city is too far to visit in one weekend! Even so, Göttingen is a city run by students, for students, so there’s never a dull moment here. There is a constant stream of extracurricular activities and events, all at a low cost too. From German beer tastings, to campus parties, to free language courses, there’s something for everyone!
Living away from home has its ups and downs, but with the support of the girls I’m here with, new friends I have made, my family facetime calls, and the staff of UCD exchange, I never felt lonely and have always had someone to reach out to. I was lucky enough to be here with 3 other girls from Pharmacology/Neuroscience, who before I knew it, have become friends for life. I have experienced things, academically and personally, that I never would have if I hadn’t begrudgingly submitted my application form only a few hours from the deadline!
Participating in the Erasmus Research Project Program gives you the opportunity to have a unique Stage 4 experience, one that makes you appreciate the education you’ve received up until now, and the education you can receive from other institutions in Europe. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the four months I’ve spent in Göttingen and would highly recommend it to any incoming Stage 4 student, as I’m sure it will be your favourite semester in UCD, as it was mine. – Ella O’Keeffe