Crossing Borders for Science: From Calgary to Muttenz, FHNW School of Life Sciences

Chemistry PhD student Katia McCallum spent three and a half months at the FHNW School of Life Sciences (HLS), combining membrane research with new friendships and life in Basel. For her, coming to Switzerland meant more than simply changing laboratories. It was a chance to discover how research works in another country, explore a new scientific field and experience everyday life in Europe for the first time.
Katia is studying Chemistry at the University of Calgary. Her main reason for choosing the HLS to do her research was clear: its expertise in membrane chemistry offered her the opportunity to develop skills in an area she wanted to explore further.

Experiencing science from a different perspective was another important motivation for Katia.
“I decided to go abroad to learn how scientific research is approached in a different country and academic environment.”
At the HLS, that international perspective quickly became part of her work. Katia spent most of her time in the lab, preparing membranes and conducting experiments. One difference stood out as particularly impressive: the equipment available to researchers, for example the on-site wastewater treatment facility at FHNW Campus Muttenz.

Just as important as the infrastructure, however, were the people. Her colleagues made her feel welcome, while events organised by the HLS helped her connect with other students.

Switzerland was Katia’s first experience of Europe, so preparing for the trip came with a few uncertainties. What should she pack? What would everyday life be like? And how difficult would it be to get around without speaking German?
Once she arrived in Basel, many of those concerns quickly disappeared.
“It was very easy to use public transport. My first few days went smoothly, and the language barrier was not a major challenge because most people were able to speak English.”
Being bilingual in English and French also helped Katia communicate with students from different backgrounds. German might be next on the list and she hopes to learn the language if she returns to Switzerland one day.

A typical weekday in Switzerland combined research with a very Basel way of winding down. After a day in the lab, Katia often spent the evening by the Rhine with friends.
She particularly enjoyed Basel’s architecture and the ease of travelling beyond Switzerland’s borders. A trip to Colmar in France with her best friend became one of the highlights of her stay.
She also discovered just how diverse Switzerland itself can be.
“What surprised me most about Switzerland was how distinct the cultures are across its different linguistic regions, despite the country being small.”
And of course there was time for some quintessentially Swiss experiences too, including a chocolate workshop at Camille Bloch.

For Katia, the experience abroad was not only about gaining new scientific skills. It was also about meeting people she might otherwise never have encountered. Her advice to other international students is therefore simple:
“Put yourself out there and make an effort to meet other international students, as these connections can make the experience even more enjoyable.”
After three and a half months at the HLS, Katia leaves with new research experience, new friendships and a new perspective on life and science beyond Canada.
“I had an amazing experience at the HLS. Everyone was welcoming and I learnt a lot of new skills.”