Kristina Mazharovska-Simak, a master’s student from Masaryk University currently completing her fifth year in Pharmacy, recently joined the Numecan Laboratory at the University of Rennes for a two-month research internship as part of the EDUC European University opportunities and under the supervision of her tutor, Professor Latifa Bousarghin.
Unit focus: Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cancer
The goal of the Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cancer unit is to study how dietary, behavioral, environmental, and metabolic factors affect health and chronic diseases in target organs such as the liver, digestive system, and brain.
Internship activities and learning
During her internship, Kristina worked extensively on gut microbiota bacteria by culturing on blood agar the bacterial strain Alistipe Shahii gaining hands-on experience in microbiology techniques and laboratory manipulations.
“This internship elevated my knowledge in microbiology and laboratory work, while also allowing me to practice French,” Kristina explains. “I discovered new experimental techniques, learned to perform experiments more effectively, and enhanced my ability to work in a team.”
Research internship program benefits
Professor Latifa Bousarghin emphasizes the program’s dual benefit: “It enables motivated students from other countries to discover research, exchange ideas, and engage in scientific dialogue, while also fostering an improvement in English communication within the laboratory.”
Student Life in Rennes
Kristina also praised the city of Rennes for its vibrant student life, rich cultural heritage, and numerous activities, making it a fantastic environment for learning and research.
Why this matters
This internship illustrates the exciting international opportunities available for students, providing a platform for skill development, cross-cultural exchange, and early research experience.
Get involved
Students
- Students interested in gaining hands-on research experience across diverse disciplines are encouraged to apply and explore the opportunities available within the EDUC Alliance.
- Visit the EDUC Catalogue and select “Internship” under the “Type of learning opportunity” section. Research internships are listed as “Research internship.”
Researchers
- Host EDUC interns in your laboratory to gain fresh perspectives, enhance international collaboration, and support the next generation of researchers.
Contact your local EDUC office to get started.