Can you tell us about yourself and the internship program you are currently undertaking?
Hello, I am Nevval Sena Altunsoy. While pursuing my medical education at Atlas University Faculty of Medicine, I am currently undertaking a two-month Erasmus+ internship at GIMM (Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine) at the University of Lisbon Faculty of Medicine in Portugal. For approximately a month, I have been working in the Maria Carmo-Fonseca Laboratory, where extensive research on RNA and gene editing is conducted. During this time, I have had the opportunity to go beyond theoretical knowledge and directly participate in the inner workings of scientific research. This experience, where theoretical knowledge is transformed into practice in an international research environment, is a concrete example of the global educational opportunities offered by our university.
What is your work pace like in the lab, and what practical experience have you gained so far?
My internship is proving to be very intense and fast-paced. So far, I've had the opportunity to observe and perform many critical procedures, such as cell culture and western blot. Frankly, I'm seeing, learning, and doing much more than I expected. This practical process in the lab allows me to fully experience the inner workings of scientific research.
How did this international internship experience affect your academic motivation and your perspective on medicine?
The biggest change I've noticed in myself over the past month is a significant increase in my motivation towards life and medical school. I think I wasn't fully aware of the practical implications of the theoretical knowledge we learned in classes. However, seeing my own knowledge being actively used in serious international research projects in a completely different country has incredibly excited me.
Atlas University aims to train us not only as good physicians, but also as healthcare professionals who produce science, conduct research, and participate in international academic platforms. Thanks to Erasmus+ mobility programs and international research collaborations, we have the opportunity to gain experience at leading universities and research centers around the world during our education.
What were the social and cultural contributions of your Erasmus+ internship?
Erasmus offered me the opportunity to learn many things academically and practically in a highly advanced laboratory, while also providing a wonderful cultural exchange opportunity. The institute I'm working at has researchers from all over the world. Thanks to this, I've had the chance to meet people from many different countries. While chatting with my friends during meal breaks, I learn new things about different cultures and feel that I can approach things from a much broader and newer perspective.
