A Successful partnership with Charles University

Noemi Frigola Verhein, a PhD student at the Charles University in Prague, recently completed her research internship at the FHNW School of Life Sciences.

Her supervisor, Prof. Martin Kuentz, emphasizes the value of such exchange programs: “Our long-standing cooperation with Charles University, especially with the group of Prof. Barbora Vraníková, has contributed significantly to the success of this project. Noemi's work has enhanced our research on mesoporous silica formulations, especially in the context of polymeric precipitation inhibitors, which are a focus of our current research.”

Noemi decided to come to Switzerland because of the relationship between her home university and Kuentz's lab. “My supervisor in the Czech Republic had already worked here, and since Professor Kuentz has been my PhD advisor since I started, it felt natural to my internship here” she explained.

“International student exchanges not only bring obvious benefits for students, but also strengthen long-term relationships and cooperation between research groups at an international level.”

Her experience at the FHNW was both professionally and personally enriching. “The FHNW has very well-equipped labs, which have enabled me to carry out measurements that would been impossible in my current lab” she said. She also emphasized the benefits of working in an interdisciplinary environment: “Here at the FHNW I met people from different backgrounds, including biologists, chemists and engineers, which was fascinating.”

“A study or research stay abroad is an incredible experience that helps you both professionally and personally. Just do it!”