„It’s normal to walk around and hear English“

A conversation about being a PhD student in Tübingen.

Nasser, originally from Portugal and currently a PhD student at the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH) in Tübingen, first came to Baden-Württemberg in 2017 to do a Masters in cellular and molecular neurosciences. In an interview with career start bw, he tells us what his educational and research path have looked like so far and what he appreciates about living, studying and working in the German Southwest.

Hi Nasser, what brought you to the German Southwest?

I chose to do my Masters in cellular and molecular neurosciences at the University of Tübingen because I was applying to research-oriented programs in neurosciences and saw that  the program in Tübingen was very international and part of an International Max Planck Research School. I knew that the Max Planck Society was a very prestigious research organization.

How did you end up doing a PhD in Tübingen?

After finishing my first Masters in 2019, I was looking for a specialization in computer science. The Masters in Bioinformatics at the University of Tübingen perfectly matched my needs. I was lucky to get into the program, it is rare that Bioinformaticians take you on board if you lack a background in informatics but this program had a special variant for students with a background in the life sciences. Nevertheless, I had to catch up quickly and learn a lot of computer science within a short ime. Being a student assistant in „Data-Driven Performance Analysis in Football“ at the sports institute in Tübingen helped me finance my studies and the practice I gained there accellerated my learning progress. As a student assistant I also made new contacts which was very positive because networking is important in research. In 2021, I decided not to continue the program because I had learnt what I wanted and I started a PhD instead.

Why did you decide to stay in Tübingen for your PhD?

I was already settled in Tübingen and it’s a good place to live. I also thought about my long-term future and in my opinion it‘s a good place to be for families. Besides that, I found a good PhD opportunity at the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research with funding.

What is the topic of your PhD?

In my group, we are studying the interaction between a cell type in the brain called oligodendrocyte and neurons. The basic idea is that oligodendrocytes produce something called myelin which is very important for the neuron and also for higher brain function, learning and memory formation. It's also what gets degenerated in many diseases, mainly in multiple scleorosis (MS) but also in Alzeimers for example. 

How are you funding your PhD?

My PhD is funded by my supervisor and the grants he receives. I am enrolled in the Graduate Centre of Neuroscience (GTC) currently. It’s the same graduate centre in which I was when I did my first Masters. It’s nice to continue with the same people. In fact, some friends I made earlier are still around in the Hertie research building.

Could you describe your work environment a bit? Is it international, do you see differences between the German and the international researchers and students?

In general, the researchers I meet here are all very motivated and eager to seek knowledge.

Concerning work ethics, I’d say the supervisor usually dictates how much you have to work. I feel like the students here don’t overwork and they are looking to have a good work-life balance. Tübingen is surrounded by nature and young people love to spend time outside.

If you compare German group leaders with group leaders from abroad, German group leaders tend to be more formal in how they approach students. In labs in Portgual and the U.S. for example, everything is on first name basis. I also noticed that exchange between different research groups is limited. However, younger group leaders are more enthusiastic about collaboration.

It can be tough if you don’t speak German at all because the bureaucracy is in German such as order forms. The administrative staff often sticks to German as well. You have to consider though that German colleagues can help out. If you are the first international student to join a lab group, it’s a bit hard at the beginning, but if you have more than one person from outside of Germany, the lab group usually changes everything to English.

What do you like about living and working in Baden-Württemberg in general, and more specifically in Tübingen?

Life in Tübingen is calm and it feels like everyone is here to do something with their life. Everyone is driven to work or study.

Also, nature is nice and the air quality is really good. It’s a very international town, a lot of Erasmus exchange students keep coming and science brings a lot of international people in as well.  Actually, it’s normal to walk around and hear English.

I have a life quality here which I wouldn’t get anywhere else. By the way, since Tübingen is ruled by the Green Party, I feel a bit like I am on the right side of history: Investment in public transport, hybrid buses, being conscious about what you are consuming…

About Baden-Württemberg: The state is really big, it goes all the way down to the Lake of Constance and still you can visit many places  as a day trip. Historical monuments, beautiful castles, the Black Forest or salth baths and thermes – there’s a bit of everything for everyone. I am taking advantage of the nine euro ticket for the sommer months in 2022 and I am exploring more and more of the German Southwest.

What is important to consider when you want to do your PhD here and you’re still abroad somewhere?

1. Figure out accomodation in time: Be ready to start looking once you’re still there and be prepared that you might not have a  fix place once you come here.
2. Learn German before you come here in order to avoid a cultural shock. This well help to integrate much better.
3. Check out the study and research destination in advance: Are there support networks? Are there people from your own country?

How do you imagine your future?

I have four more years to go with my PhD. I would stay in the area, if I get a good job. This in turn also depends whether I stay in science: Postdoc options might be limited. If I decide for a job in pharma industry, then the area gets interesting. There are a lot of start-ups and companies in the region. I would have to get a better proficiency in German though.

Further Info: Learn more about Nasser’s time back in 2020 as a Master student of Bioinformatics in Tübingen in our video.

Author: Leonie Rörich