Neurasmus cohort 2017-2019

My name is Ahmed Fath, from Egypt. I have a bachelor degree in Medicine since 2013. I worked as a neurosurgery resident for 2 years then for one year as a radiology resident. I had an interest in neuroscience during my study then during my career, especially neuroimaging and image guided intervention like invasive and non- invasive brain stimulation. It is my pleasure to be part of Neurasmus, and I am thankful for giving this great opportunity to pursue my career in Neuroscience. I am now one of a Track 4 first year students who started at Charite university Berlin .

I realise that there are no limits to possibilities, and I want to keep rediscovering myself.Being a part of the Neurasmus programme (track 2) is a life transforming experience. I have improved academically and otherwise.

Y1: Bordeaux - Y2: Amsterdam

Before joining Neurasmus, I was working as pharmacology lecturer at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. With strong inclination in neuroscience and the vision to be part of this young field of science, I had to put persistent hard work and series of trials before I get privileged to join Neurasmus. With a background in pharmacology, I chose “Track 2 Neuropharmacology” in Universite de Bordeaux as my first year track. As a matter of fact, the first semester was intensive. But I witness that the courses are delivered by professors and researchers who demonstrate excellence in their specialty. At the end of the semester, I have gotten the entirety of the wide range of domains in neuroscience where it made it possible to imagine myself in my future academic career. For the five month internship the university avails a list of projects from which I joined the lab of Pascal Branchereau to study chloride homeostasis using electrophysiological, biochemical and imaging techniques. My plan for second year is to follow advanced courses in medical neuroscience in Berlin. Indeed Neurasmus is a prestigious family and truly international that provides the platform for flexible mobility and tremendously supports me to live my dreams. After completion of Neurasmus, I will pursue doctoral studies in neuropharmacology.

My name is Biniam Melese. i am a medical doctor educated and trained in Ethiopia. i have been working as a general practitioner for about two years and i have always been curious regarding neurology. with my background education and some experience with patients, i was able to see the complex interconnections of neurons defining the very existence of every animal. we can attribute almost all that we are to the nervous system. The neurasmus program is providing me with a chance to explore the research world, something i was not so familiar with. and i have the chance to see how every knowledge we have in the book has a series of experiments behind it. i aspire to join my past and my present and work in translational medicine. i would like to work on curing diseases by using the basic science knowledge.

I am an adventurous, very curious and enthusiastic person. I love traveling, the arts, science and most of all: taking challenges. I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in food science, nutrition and metabolism, and I am currently completing the first year of Neurasmus track 4 at Charité universitätmedizin Berlin. One of my career goals is to contribute to society by creating new knowledge in order to find new and effective treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression or addictions. Neurasmus has undoubtedly broaden my knowledge in neuroscience, it has given me the opportunity to build great relationships, and meet recognized scientists that have helped me shape my interests in the research field. Furthermore, living in Berlin has been an exciting journey, the diverse population in the city, its fascination for the arts and a strong concern for health and society are some of its distinctive characteristics.

I would consider myself a student with an international mindset due to my double cultural background: Albanian and Italian. I hope that the Neurasmus Program will broaden my horizon even further culturally and scientifically, and allow me to lead a career in neuroscience.My journey with Neurasmus started with the Orientation days in Bordeaux where I got to know amazing people from all over the world and very hardworking organizers. Now it continues in Göttingen where I am studying Imaging and Electrophysiology.Neurasmus Program has offered me the possibility to explore Europe while having a Master in one if the excellence centers for Neuroscience.

I am a self professed Neuroscience geek from the UK who loves rock climbing and anything outdoors. I have started my journey in Amsterdam on Track 1, meeting inspiring scientists, learning lots of new things and making life long friendships. Neurasmus is a fantastic program which I would highly recommend! It has given me a a once in a life time opportunity to study abroad in two incredible countries, diversify my knowledge and gain international experience which employers love.

My journey with Neurasmus started quite simply, I was searching for master programs to apply for and I just googled “best master programme in neuroscience in Europe” and I found Neurasmus. The diversity of choices for tracks, for countries and for labs is the best thing of Neurasmus for me. I have already done my first semester in Bordeaux, which was quite intense and complex and sometimes stressful, but it gave me the opportunity to get familiar with all main branches of neuroscience and the most important one, it helped me to find my favourite - cognitive neuroscience, in which I want to continue my future career. Additionally, Erasmus scholarships are very helpful, we can concentrate on the study instead of thinking e.g. how to pay house rent. So, I think google was right and Neurasmus is really one of the best programmes in neurosciences to apply for.

As a self-motivated and curious person I like to always challenge myself and continue learning. Contributing to the neuroscientific field, especially in a translational way, while simultaneously travelling and meeting like-minded people is delightful and engaging. The opportunity afforded to me by Neurasmus is incredible, and the Neurogenomics track in which I am participating makes great effort to bring people from many different backgrounds together to create a multidisciplinary, diverse, and cutting-edge environment.

Y1: Amsterdam - Y2: Berlin

I have long been holding the belief that in science, it is not "special talent" but to be "passionately curious" that matters, thus, I took my steps forward to join Neurasmus as an indulgence of my curiosity for the science of the brain. With a view to unraveling the secrets behind own behaviours and emotions, I had a determination to go deep into the nervous systems with even the most fundamental structure, or the tiniest compartments of the brain. Difficult as it might seem at the beginning, Neurasmus on the other hand, has opened my eyes to so many different aspects, to an extent that is far more than what I expected. Besides that, it would not have been a great adventure without the new friends that I made here. Up until now, I am happy that I have made the choice to join the program, which has brought me great experience in terms of academy, culture as well as friendship.

Halfway through my undergraduate career, I attended a seminar where I heard an amazing (and horrifying) story about a neurodegenerative disease told by someone who would later become a mentor. A few courses in neuroscience later, I knew I was going to spend my life untangling the puzzles of these fatal diseases, some of which have genetic origins.Naturally, the next step was to find a graduate program that would give me the most freedom to explore my research interests while giving me a solid theoretical background in neuroscience. That is where Neurasmus came in. I've made friends (and future colleagues) from all over the world and discovered parts of me I never met before. Someday, I hope to discover something else that will help me leave my mark in the field of neuroscience.

Regarding academia, I’m something like an interdisciplinarity-obsessed statistics nerd with special interests in computational neuroscience, imaging techniques, psychopharmacology and the philosophy of neuroscience.In non-lab life, I’m an enthusiastic rock climber, yoga practitioner, and can likely be found exploring the outdoors in awe of any sort of mountain or rock.My current Neurasmus journey takes me from coursework in rainy-grey Amsterdam to a technical microscopy internship in Bordeaux to soon the cold winters of French Canada.The close contact with the board of education, the informal, but highly professional atmosphere of interaction between students and professors, and the possibility to experience different universities with unique approaches to neuroscientific research make the Neurasmus program feel like a perfect preparation for an academic career.

I am a currently a year 1 student following Track 1, and have been studying at the VU, Amsterdam for the past 6 months. The courses here are interesting and challenging and one always finds themselves surrounded by like-minded and enthusiastic peers. The faculty trains us to become wholesome scientists. We also get an opportunity to do a five month laboratory rotation. I am grateful to Neurasmsus for the financial support and the opportunity to learn and work at these high end research universities and centres.

I am part of the 2017-2019 batch of Neurasmus and from Lahore, Pakistan. My primary research interest is neurodegenerative and polyglutamine diseases like Huntington's disease. Besides the work stuff, I enjoy travelling and playing/watching football. I'm generally an easy going person who likes helping people out. So far, the journey within Neurasmus has been amazing. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine being in Europe and getting to see all the famous cities like Berlin, Amsterdam etc. Additionally to be able to study Neuroscience;something I have wanted to study since I was 16 and the ability to spend a year each in different cities is a privilege which sometimes seems too good to be true!

Y1: Berlin - Y2: Amsterdam

A physician and an aspiring neuroscientist, interested in neurotechnology and its clinical application. Halfway through the journey, Neurasmus is helping me define my research interests and career goals within the field of neuroscience. It has been life changing, on both academic and personal levels.

I am a Medical Doctor from Georgia. As I developed my interest in neurology and psychiatry during my education, I knew if I were to continue my career in healthcare, it would definitely involve the nervous system. Neurasmus gave me an amazing experience not only academically, but personally as well, and helped me get inspired about new ways I want to move forward into the future, hopefully, one day contributing to understanding and finding treatments for mental health disorders. I paint in my free time and keep myself informed about the newest developments in psychedelic research and altered states of consciousness.

Tony Carricarte
I greatly enjoy listening to music from the epic and emotional Thomas Bergersen tracks to the hot Latin American songs (depending on my mood).When I began my Neurasmus journey, I remember I was feeling really exciting and nervous at the mean time. It was not easy for me to get used to the new culture but thanks to the friendly and pleasant environment that was created among the students, professors and coordinators, the adaptation was quite fast. I consider Neurasmus as a great opportunity to achieve my scientific goals and to meet part of the Neuroscience community in Europe.

After studying Pharmacology and briefly working as research assistant in Indonesia, I decided to get a graduate degree in Neuroscience. I joined Neurasmus because of the option to focus on Neuropharmacology and its international mobility scheme. My first year in Neurasmus has given me the opportunity to grow both as a person and student/researcher. Now I can't wait to start my second year in Berlin for new experiences and opportunities.

I am Aarcha from India, a young dreamer who found her first flight through the NEURASMUS program. Equipped with the essential tools, now I yearn to unravel the mysteries surrounding neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. I found my calling through the 2 years of the NEURASMUS Masters to continue my path in research in this ever mystical field. Besides the education, the mobility also helped me discover new cultures and languages, and meet amazing people along the way. Despite the pandemic that struck mid-way I still found snippets of the NEURASMUS experience and learnt so much more than I could have imagined. It has been a formative and life-changing experience.

As double degree graduate in biomedical sciences and psychology, neuroscience was the ideal overlap of my different interests. Having chosen Track 2 I first went to Bordeaux and then Berlin for the second year, delving further into experimental psychiatry research. My Neurasmus experience has fundamentally shaped my relationship to research and has helped me recognise, define and plan my options and ambitions for my scientific career. A fantastic, highly recommendable program with an inspiring, international and close-knit community!

I am from India and have been in the path of pursuing my studies in Biology for the past 7 years at this point. In the beginning my masters' subject was one of the many I had applied for on fluke with many others but this changed as I arrived in Amsterdam for the Neurogenomics track. The value of this course and the opportunity to pursue it are underrated. I realised so many things about myself and my interests through the Neurasmus experience and for that I will always be grateful. Now I am a recent graduate hunting for PhDs and projects on neural control of metabolism. On a good day, you would probably find me either in the local pool or trying to locate it while being able to name good places and things to eat and drink like the back of my hand.

The human brain is one of the most fascinating organs of the body which has the power to control our every action; from breathing, to thinking and moreover living. It was thus this complexity of the brain and its unmeasurable potential that had me intrigued for the longest time, and so, after completing my Bachelor’s in Biotechnology, I decided to pursue the Neurasmus programme. In my attempt to study the brain and its functioning, I travelled to various places, from the canals of Amsterdam to the streets of Bordeaux and interacted with some of the greatest and inspiring minds in today’s world of neuroscience. Neurasmus for me was all about setting out to find myself and understand my passion for neuroscience amidst the divine cultures and experiences the world has to offer. The journey so far has made me discover the true potential of science and has given me the opportunity to make memories and friendships that will last for a lifetime.

I am from Hyderabad, Pakistan and did an undergraduate in biotechnology. During my studies, I was attracted to the science of neurons. I found the way our brain works so fascinating and amazing. This is when I decided to go for Neuroscience. I had never imagined that this passion to dig into the brain to find out secrets of memory formation, learning, sleeping and vision would take me to Europe. I still remember the day and time when I heard that I got selected, and couldn't believe that this journey of Neursamus has ended. However, the journey of neuroscience will never end. During this time I travelled and met people from a variety of backgrounds. I worked with great scientists and gained a lot of experience. My primary research area is a neurodegenerative disease, specifically Alzheimer's. Besides, I am also interested in understanding the concept of regenerative capabilities of neurons and plasticity.

Neurasmus opened my mind to look at the vast horizon of neuroscience research. I’ve developed tremendously - both personally and professionally - over the course of my time in Göttingen & Bordeaux. As a medical graduate from Sudan, it was a perfect chance to slowly integrate into scientific academic life and cultural life in Europe. I found great quality of science, joy in immersion within two different cultures and languages, and friendships I’m glad to have. I’m more walking towards my passions to understand the neural processing of emotions and their interaction with memory. The overlapping networks within normal or what we call a normal and diseased brain. How cognitive deficits change the path of some diseases like schizophrenia and affect its sufferers. Such passions change with time, and time changes and we change with it. Curiosities follow each other and the questions keep on increasing searching for some answers, and with the opportunity that Neurasmus offered me and helped me through, I can keep on searching and feeding the curiosities of my childish brain”

A psychology enthusiast since high school and a molecular biology major in college, I strongly believed neuroscience was the intersection of both my interests. With the support of my PI from the Philippines, I applied to neuroscience grad school programs with Neurasmus as my #1 choice. To this day, I thank my lucky stars that I chose Neurasmus and Neurasmus chose me. Joining this program has given me so many opportunities and pushed me to grow far beyond my comfort zone. Not only has it grown my CV by exposing me to great science and even greater mentors, but it has also given me many international friendships that I know will transcend time and space. Right now, I'm taking some time to figure out where I want to go next, but I know wherever I go, the things I've learned from my years in Neurasmus will have played a big role in that decision.

I am an Australian student, passionate about curiosity and discovery. I complete my BSc at the University of Melbourne in Human Physiology and Marine Biology where I first came across neuroscience and was deeply intrigued, after all we have the power of mind control. To me, nothing could be more interesting that to investigate our inescapable state of being. The Neurasmus program has been an incredible opportunity connecting me to international communities which I will continue to work with in as I complete my PhD.

In general, I am interested in human behavior, psychology, science, and data science. I would love to pursue a career that combines neurology and computational neuroscience. And I am aspired to answer some of my critical questions, like what it means to be a human being and what exactly is consciousness using the methods of scientific inquiry.

I come from Serbia with a background in molecular biology and physiology, which I obtained at the University of Belgrade. As a Neurasmus student, I was a part of the Neurogenomics track, which involved completing my first year in Amsterdam, and second in Berlin. Currently, I am excited to be starting my PhD also in Berlin and delving into microglial and interneuron electrophysiology.
In my free time I am an incessant reader, a filmophile, as well as a music connoisseur, with a song recommendation for every occasion.
Ever since the day I received my Neurasmus acceptance letter, my life has turned into the wildest journey towards physical and mental places I would never have imagined visiting. That being said, I cannot thank the Neurasmus program and everybody involved enough for making this journey possible in the first place.

With a background in medical biotechnology and 1 year experience working in a lab, I applied to Neurasmus in 2019 with little knowledge about the brain, and was extremely lucky to be admitted and sent to study in France and The Netherlands. Over the course of the programme, I became interested in fundamental neuroscience with a focus on synapse physiology and pathology. During my Neurasmus experience I also fell in love with microscopes and hope to continue discovering imaging during my PhD, which I will be starting very soon. Outside of science, I find joy in biking, meeting my friends and seeing them succeed.

Neurasmus program helped me to grow as a scientist and as a person. During the past two years, I have developed essential skills for being a researcher and collaborated with great scientists in the neuroscience field. I am very grateful to have experienced this and my future career will be deeply influenced by this opportunity.

I'm a science enthusiast who loves the night as much as she enjoys the day. I like to experience new cultures and I love to laugh. I enrolled in the Neurasmus program after my Bachelor's in Biotechnology. My path as a Neuroscience student opened a floodgate to knowledge and scientific breakthroughs where I was given the opportunity to meet inspiring scientists from around the globe. My time in this international environment has taught me that we all need a good balance between trying hard, friendships and enjoyment. Our presents may not go as planned even with well thought of choices. So try not to stress . Overall my journey has been a delight and a challenge and I'm grateful for the experiences I've gained

I'm a Brazilian biologist passionate about music and traveling. As an undergraduate student I was fascinated by the complexity of the brain and developed an interest in neurodegenerative diseases. Neurasmus helped me acquire more knowledge in neuroscience, across all its subfields, and expand my research experience in my main area of interest. The program not only offered me great academic and professional opportunities, but also the possibility to get to know people from all over the world and experience different cultures. As an alumna, I continue to research the molecular mechanisms driving neurodegeneration and dementia and aspire to contribute to the development of better treatments and prevention for these diseases. Long-term, I aim to help bridge the gap in access to high-quality education and research, helping other students from developing countries to achieve their goals in science, as I did mainly through Neurasmus.

Program: Neuroscience. Cultural exchange. Entertaining life experience.
Me: Neuro-major. Travel-lover. Fun-seeker.
Result: Passionate & adventurous neuroscientist

On the non-academic level, I am an enthusiastic beer lover, (mediocre) guitar player and occasional hiker. On the academic level, I enjoy trying to figure out how biology can help artificial intelligence become more solid from an engineering point of view. A bit more specifically: as AI will play a crucial role in our daily lives, building autonomous agents capable of participating in cooperative social interactions with humans is one of the main challenges in AI. Many animals indeed use their conspecifics as vehicles for gathering information that can potentially help avoid harm and maximize rewards, by responding efficiently to challenges in the environment. For this reason, I am convinced that biological life can offer powerful insights on how to pursue the AI challenge. In this sense, the Neurasmus master's has been the perfect choice for me, because it provided me with a broad set of tools to understand the mechanisms of biological life from the perspective of different sub-disciplines. In these two years, I have studied neurogenomics, genetics and cell biology in Amsterdam, behavioural neuroscience, addiction and cognitive neuroscience in Bordeaux, as well as worked on computational neuroscience internships in Boston and Amsterdam. But at the end of the day, a crucial aspect of Neurasmus is that it also provided me with the opportunity to meet amazing people from opposite parts of the world - enhancing my appreciation for diversity of thought. Strongly recommended!

I believe that every choice we make is in pursuit of finding our purpose in life. I have been fascinated with science and the human brain ever since I had my first seizure at the age of 7. The excitement I experienced when I first learnt how nerve cells form finely tuned network that can abruptly lose balance, lit an endless fire in my heart for neuroscience.
After finishing my Doctorate in Pharmacy and working in the field, I knew that my calling in life is to become a neuroscientist which led me to this prestigious, challenging and culturally diverse program. Thus, this life-changing journey of Neurasmus began.Through Neurasmus, not only was I able to work with leading neuroscientists in the field of synapse biology and pathophysiology of memory (which is my core area of interest), but also the personal growth I have experienced by meeting incredible people throughout the globe has been impeccable. Most importantly, through my Neurasmus family, I have found a sense of community and belonging.
After graduation, I plan to start my PhD in Berlin investigating the postsynaptic endolysosomal system and molecular basis of synaptic memory through advance imaging and electrophysiological approaches.
Apart from neuroscience, I am an avid traveller and reader. I enjoy hiking, being lost in the mountains and learning about new cultures."

When I first started looking for a master’s degree in Europe, Neurasmus was on top priority, and getting into the course was the most exciting part. It was a new and beautiful journey with the perfect blending of the course across the continents. I started my first year at Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, and continued my master’s here. Neurasmus has supported me throughout my strange times and respected all my decision by doing best for me which I amvery grateful to. Being a part of Neurasmus gave me the opportunity to explore the various fields ofneuroscience while providing one of the best networks of alumni across the globe. For my scientific career, Neurasmus played a major role and I am very privileged to be a part of such a community.

The Neurasmus program and Track 1 "Neurogenomics" caught my attention because this was the perfect choice for me — a student with a deep background in genetics, a desire to change my way into neuroscience, and a lack of such programs in Ukrainian universities. Neurasmus gave me more than just practical skills, it gave me the ability to quickly adjust to a new topic and environment. I did two internships in the field of Computational Neurobiology in two countries, where I encountered many unusual tasks for a biologist, and now I’m able to quickly learn and apply any methods, especially if they are related to my areas of interest. I am going to continue my diverse path in Biology, making a PhD at the project at the intersection of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Neuroscience. In my free time, I like to read novels, go to the gym and play my guitar. Nature is the thing that gives me balance and calmness, so I am a big fan of camping. Choosing Neurasmus program was the best decision in my life, it was a two-year experience that changed me into a completely different person and gave me a chance to fulfill my dream to become a neuroscientist!