Juliane Kuklik, PhD

What‘s your nicest memory of Braunschweig and do you have a favorite place?

All the moments with my biotech friends, whom I met during my Bachelor's programme. The fourth floor of the "Biozentrum" has become an established hangout for studying and exchanging ideas. The cafeteria parties were legendary. To relax, I liked to go to the municipal swimming pool "Wasserwelt" or the hidden Dowesee lake. For me, however, it's the get-togethers with my friends for cocktail, movie, or game nights in some shared apartment that I remember most fondly.

Reasons why the TU Braunschweig is a great place to study:

The university's good size and the fact that it offers a wide range of subjects, specializations, language classes, and sport activities. Braunschweig has a lot to offer as a city, and almost everything is accessible by bike. In addition to the university, there are many renowned institutes such as the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), the Julius Kühn Institute – Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants (JKI), and the Fraunhofer Institutes, all of which collaborate with the university and offer internships and thesis opportunities.

Which contents of your studies can you still use in your career today?

The technical and theoretical training in a wide range of areas: cell biology, virology, microbiology, genetics, etc. I still have to familiarize myself with new areas in my professional life and can build on my knowledge.
Apart from that: the ability to remain calm. Challenging and sometimes stressful times during my studies and in my career pass, and you can learn and grow from them.

Are you still in touch with former fellow students? Do you see each other and if so, how often?

I am still in touch with my old Biotech group and we regularly exchange messages via WhatsApp and organize (virtual) meetings.

What advice would you give current students for their personal career planning?

1. Think outside the box and pursue your own interests. In my experience, you are always most successful in the areas that interest you the most. It is always worthwhile to champion your own interests, organize your own internships, or spend a semester abroad—it is never a waste of time! 
2. Stay in touch with friends, fellow students, and professors. Networking is very important these days and can open doors to new fields of study, internships, or careers. 
3. Persevere and seize opportunities—it's worth it! Be flexible and resilient in today's world. Career paths are not linear and are sometimes influenced by circumstances beyond your control. Rely on your strengths, keep an open mind to new ideas, and pursue what you enjoy.