STYLE

A Student Fulfills Her Dream. From

Ostrava to Study Neuroscience in Germany.

Veronika Šigutová is studying for a doctorate specializing in Parkinson’s disease at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität in Germany, which is the third country she has studied in after graduating

from the 1st International School of Ostrava (ISO). She recently won the “Talent of the Year” award.

How did studying at 1st ISO affect her and how did it help her achieve success in life? That’s not all

she talked about in the interview below.

Why did you decide to study in Germany?

What study opportunities does this country

offer you?

I decided to go to Germany after it became

clear how the negative impact Brexit is

going to have on PhD funding for European

students. The conditions for postgraduate

students in the UK were already less than

ideal: as a PhD student you still have student

status, so your ‘income’ is just a scholarship

that you can barely get by with. What’s more is

that you don’t have the rights of an employee

that typically come with an employment

contract. In this regard, Germany is one of

the best countries for PhD students: I get

the same privileges as all employees (e.g.

holidays) and I can save up a little every

month. The quality of the research plays an

important role as well. Germany has a huge

neuroscience community at the top level and

even in our “small” lab I can collaborate with

researchers from all over the world.

Which university are you studying at? What

does it take for a Czech student to get into

such a University?

I am a PhD student in neuroscience at

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität in Erlangen.

Our lab specializes in understanding

neurodegenerative diseases and I personally

specialize in Parkinson’s disease, which is

the second most common neurodegenerative

disease after Alzheimer’s. What specifically

interests me about this disease, is how the

inflammatory environment in the body can

contribute to the triggering or exacerbation

of the disease.

At a master’s and doctoral level, admission

to German Universities is not that difficult.

Most courses are offered in English, so you

just need to provide proof of language skills,

previous diplomas and a list of courses,

including grades. The biggest advantage of

attending a German school is the free tuition.

You have recently received an important

award from the city of Ostrava. What does

this award mean to you?

I won the “Talent of the Year” award. This

award is given annually to University students

residing in Ostrava who have achieved

outstanding academic and research results,

such as scientific publications or placing

in competitions. The award carries with it

a monetary reward, but more importantly, it

not be where I am

“todayI would

without the 1 ISO.

”

st

shows me that I am on the right track with my

research, even if it doesn’t always feel like it in

my everyday laboratory life.

You are a graduate of the 1st ISO. How did

the school help you to achieve your success?

Studying at the 1st ISO was a major factor

leading to my decision to study abroad. Our

multicultural group has always made me

see the world from different perspectives,

and has definitely made me more tolerant

and open-minded. The International

Baccalaureate, with its flexibility in subject

choice and emphasis on independent, logical

and creative thinking, suited me perfectly

and prepared me very well for University

study in England. I have met some great

teachers during my studies who have always

supported my passions and pushed me to

strive higher. It is thanks to these teachers that

I owe part of my intense interest in science,

poetry and art. In short: I would not be

where I am today without the 1st ISO.

Veronika, thank you for the interview.

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