#thinkswiss

I was only nine years old when I first visited Switzerland. At that time, I was overwhelmed by what every travel guide will tell you - come to Switzerland for its grandiose landscape. However, what I didn’t realize is that however jaw-dropping Mount Titlis or Lake Geneva can be, the real beauty of Switzerland comes from its people, its schools and its cultures. 

Over the summer, I worked in Campus Biotech of the Federal Institute of Technology of Switzerland (EPFL), which is right between lake Geneva and the UN. Starting from the first time I stepped into my host lab, the Defitech Chair in Brain Machine Interface (CNBI), I was immediately shocked by the incredible international backgrounds of our lab: as a lab with around 20 members, we come from over 10 different countries. Thus, every coffee break and lunch became a mesmerizing cultural experience. One day we could talk about Serbia's school system, the next day France’s music festival or Austria’s traditional cuisine. Indeed, as of 2017, over 40% of Geneva’s population is not Swiss citizens (or at least so I heard). As a result, living in Geneva, it doesn’t take long for me to feel like I truly belonged, for I know being international there is almost more of a norm than exception. Indeed, if you think about it, it is incredible how every person comes from a distinctive background, and yet in a sense we are all the same. I believe there are few cities in this world that could rival Switzerland’s cultural tolerance. And such cultural exposure is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

Moreover, I was also amazed by the autonomy I enjoyed in my research experience. My project was on using Brain Machine Interface to assist in the symbolic control of drones, with a specific focus on developing a classification algorithm to improve workload-level detection. And starting from day one, my advisors did a fantastic job introducing the background of the project, but they also made sure to give me great autonomy in defining the end goal, milestones and timeline of my research. Therefore, I was able to choose a research focus that best fit my background and my interests. What’s more, I also had great autonomy in choosing how to get help. In other words, there was never any supervisor for my research to keep an eye on my every progress. Instead, I was responsible for getting the help I need, actively discussing my research with other lab members for inspiration, and presenting my research to the general lab meeting. This experience really helped me to understand that, as a researcher, I need to take full ownership of my project and should always be prepared to be proactive. And I also believe that this experience has indeed helped me to hone the communication skills necessary for such a career. 

Last but not least, I very much appreciated the community of the ThinkSwiss awardees. For the two-day trip we took together in Bern and Mount Titlis, I quite enjoyed learning about each other’s research and experience in Switzerland, and I felt very bonded with such a closed-knit community. Going on scooter tours, walking around Bern with beers, and chatting until 4AM  over a bottle of wine, I felt I connected deeply with my fellow awardees. Indeed, we all chose to embark on an adventure to pursue knowledge in a completely foreign country, to embrace life with energy and optimism. With such a shared passion, we were really the perfect travel companions. 

When I wrote down this post, two months had already passed since the conclusion of my stay in Geneva. Even tram stops that I memorized so well had begun to slip away from my memory. Nonetheless, I know that if you told me that I had to move to Geneva now, I would not hesitate, not even for a second, to call it my home one more time. 

Sheer beauty!

I remember the 28th of February. It’s 5pm, the end of the day, and I haven’t heard back from the Swiss Embassy about my selection to ThinkSwiss. I anxiously sent an email inquiring about what’s happening. Lost hope and went back to work, then 50 minutes later, I received: “Congratulations! You have been awarded a ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship 2018!”. I was at the UIC Daley Library, I called my best friend and started screaming. I totally forgot that I was in a library! I did not know what to expect from this program only that this was going to be the best Summer of my life!

Winning ThinkSwiss Scholarship along with the Provost Award from the UIC Graduate College was a wonderful blessing. I had the chance to work at the world’s top French-speaking institution, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. From the first day at the Laboratory of Life Sciences Electronics, professor Guiducci and her students made me feel welcomed and respected. Throughout the Summer, my work focused on using the site-binding model for biosensing together with quantum-corrected approach for electronic transport to simulate important characteristics of Silicon nanowire ISFETs (Ion-sensitive Field Effect Transistors) to validate the fabricated devices. We were working closely with CEA-Leti (Laboratoire d'électronique des technologies de l'information) in Grenoble, France, one of the world’s largest organizations for applied research in nanotechnology.

During my first days in ThinkSwiss, I still did not know exactly what I would see in Lausanne, other Swiss cities, and other European countries, how much time I would have available and how I would organize myself. Lausanne with its enchanting Chateau d’Ouchy, Olympic Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and its bright colors, is a must during a visit to Switzerland. It’s also the city for nightlife. You can wander it comfortably on foot or by bike and it is also very pleasant, albeit challenging, for its steep, mountainous topography. Lausanne’s bounds along Lake Geneva have incredible views of the Swiss countryside; the French Alps in the distance are a stupefying site.

Hiking in Switzerland is just as magical! With the sight of the cloud lifted there are spots of blue sky to be seen, with some of the mountain tops still hidden by the clouds. Crossing the valley, softly uphill at first, then more steeply as the path works its way up towards a group of cliffs through herds of cows. The next flat section will be at the top of these after which we stop to take pictures and enjoy a laugh. Then we ease across the lane to a forest and a lake, astonished by the difference in weather between the mountains and the valley. We could see Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall, all in one look.

I’ve never been in a more beautiful place than Switzerland. Although I have a slight affinity to Chicago but that’s an argument I love to have, having been lucky to live in both heavens. Each Swiss city must be explored with new eyes, and mind ready to be dazzled. I was overwhelmed when it was time go to the airport. Frankly, it’s hard to squeeze all the remarkable Swiss places in one Summer. However, it’s always exciting to leave somewhere hoping to return!

Dear ThinkSwiss,

Thanks to your support, I was able to attend the Lucerne Academy this summer. Undoubtedly, the Lucerne Academy program was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had academically. With a focus on human rights law, the academy brings together students of law from around the world to present courses focusing on the topic of the year. In 2017, our topic was business and human rights. Through the courses we took and the conversations we started, we learned about the discourse between modern corporate and transnational practices and human rights. What I learned, primarily, is the attention needed to be paid to indigenous people and groups in countries, because of the high risk they face of being extorted by companies and governments who wish to not honor certain territorial boundaries and natural resources that belong to those groups. I also learned how to give a close reading to John Ruggie’s General Principles on Business and Human Rights. As a class, we dissected Ruggie’s wording and structure to understand the flaws and strengths behind the documents, which has yet to have any sort of binding authority on States or businesses. The second half of the program involved a moot court competition. What was unique about the experience was that the students were divided into teams chosen by the directors of the program. We were encouraged to work with people from different parts of the world on a single human rights dialogue. This created a new sense of camaraderie between us. We started as students who huddled into groups based on borders and nationality. South American, African, European – everyone began on the first day by finding the people they seemed to have the closest territorial identity with. Thanks to the grouping system and encouragement, we were all intermingled by the end of the program, freely discussing policy with people from around the world. The system of groups, therefore, helped shatter our first-day comfort zones and made it easier to build global friendships. The moot court program itself challenged students to work with a new rule of law under the European Convention of Human Rights. As a system of stare decisis seemed to rule the writing and oral process, it gave me, an American student from a common-law country, an advantage. It also helped me assist my team mates who were from civil law countries to learn how to use precedent and case law to build arguments instead of a strict application of law. The oral arguments were possibly the most challenging portion of the program. Not dissimilar to the ones American students practice in our law schools, these dealt with a different system of law. Familiarizing myself with ECHR cases, down to the wording and legal weight was hard yet rewarding. Being able to bring my own understanding and apply it to a new system was incredible as a law student. Finally, all the formal parts of the program seemed to be unmatched to what happened after classes and university. As students, we all lived in one building together and shared kitchens in our own flats. The most unforgettable moments we had in Switzerland were the evening we spent together. We made friendships and ties that are still strong a month later. We gathered in kitchens, and made one dinner together, while talking and debating topics of interest. We united under one roof to create food and an environment that was our own. With formalities finished after a day of classes, we could unwind and gather together in one kitchen. It wasn’t long because people didn’t even have to ask whether or not they could come to one flat or the other. We simply intermingled. It only took by the end of the first week for us to feel that returning to the flats was like “coming home”. Considering all our different backgrounds, beliefs, and studies, that was possibly the most incredible and rewarding part of the program – the fact that I could go to any continent in the world right now and have a friend there. Thank you again for your support and for making this program a possibility.

“ It really is possible to be a great scientist and still have a life.“

When I arrived in Switzerland at the beginning of this summer and got my first glimpse of the Alps, I couldn’t believe that I was really there. Now that my summer has ended and I’ve returned to the United States, it’s still hard to believe that I got to spend three months working in my dream lab in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. In a way, the whole summer felt like one amazing dream.

To give you a bit of background, I’m currently a rising senior studying neuroscience and molecular genetics at the Ohio State University. I’ve always been fascinated by the field of epigenetics, which describes how our gene expression can be altered throughout our lifetimes. In particular, I wanted to understand how epigenetic changes affect our brains and whether they could be involved in neurodegenerative disease. While browsing PubMed one day, I stumbled upon the lab of Dr. Johannes Graff, who was doing exactly the kind of research I was interested in. To my dismay, his lab was located all the way in Switzerland at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL). How could I possibly meet and work for someone who lived nearly 4,000 miles away?

Flash forward more than a year, and thanks to a ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship, combined with additional funding from EPFL’s School of Life Sciences Summer Research Program, I found myself standing in that lab in Switzerland. I spent the summer researching how aging and Alzheimer’s disease can affect gene expression in the blood-brain barrier, and whether this could be altered by chemically-induced seizures. The experience really took me out of my comfort zone. Not only did I learn many new techniques that I had never been exposed to in my home lab, but I also met lots of fascinating people from all over the world. One of my favorite moments was the international food night that we held with all of the summer students. I’ve never eaten such a diverse array of delicious foods in one sitting.

The culture of research in Switzerland is very different from in the United States. People really seem to prioritize the enjoyment of life and spending time with others above their job. In contrast to the insane hours that many grad students and postdocs work in the U.S., the Swiss are able to maintain a reasonable work-life balance will still being just as passionate about their research. I think that Americans have a tendency to glorify workaholics, admiring those who frequently pull all-nighters in the lab or neglect their personal life for the sake of their work. In Switzerland, it was not like that at all. My labmates really seemed to enjoy each other’s company. We always ate lunch together and took our time chatting over coffee every day. People worked evenings and weekends when the need arose, but in general those times were meant for fun and relaxation. There was no shame in having a fulfilling personal life. I actually think that this made them better scientists. When they were in the lab, they were completely focused on their research, and by having clear heads they were able to save time by planning more effective experiments. I think that Americans could learn a thing or two form how the Swiss approach scientific research. It really is possible to be a great scientist and still have a life.

In addition to my experiences in the lab, I also go to travel to lots of amazing sites within Switzerland. These included a fantastic ThinkSwiss-sponsored trip to Bern, Luzern, and Mount Titlis, as well as the adventures I undertook with the other summer students to CERN, the Matterhorn, the Lavaux vineyards, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Gruyeres Cheese Factory, and more. I’ve made friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. I definitely plan to return to Switzerland some day. I’ve fallen absolutely in love with this beautiful country and its fascinating inhabitants. Thank you so much to ThinkSwiss and EPFL for giving me this amazing opportunity!

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This summer school at the University of Bern has easily been some of the best two weeks of my life. The combination of keynote lectures from leaders in their respective fields, guided work on a project relevant to my field of study, and a climate policy negotiation simulation allowed me to develop a far more well-rounded understanding of current climate change research. Coming from a natural sciences background, I had some prior understanding of the physical phenomenon of climate change but little about the law and policy surrounding it. This summer school allowed me to explore the problem from a whole array of new perspectives, which allowed me to appreciate the complexity of the problem. My favorite part of the summer school, however, was getting the opportunity to meet so many amazing people from all corners of the globe. It was shocking how quickly we were able to connect and form friendships and I am immensely grateful for that. I got to learn firsthand that anywhere you go across the world, there are kind, loving, and like-minded people with whom you can form deep connections with. Now I am happy to say I know people from all across the world that I can visit should I someday travel to their home country. I am grateful for the opportunity to see Switzerland’s beautiful countryside and mountains on our excursion to the Jungfraujoch high altitude research station, as well as to explore the beautiful city of Bern and experience some of its local culture. This trip will be one I will remember for a lifetime and allow me to take forward the things I learned here into my future academic, professional, and social life. 

David Pasternak

I’m a PhD student writing my dissertation on global health governance. This fall, the  ThinkSwiss Scholarship funded my research stay at the Graduate Institute of Geneva Global Health Center, where I worked with Dr. Ilona Kickbusch and Dr. Suerie Moon. This was my third research trip to Geneva, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to go back! From an academic perspective, there’s no better place in the world to be. Geneva has an incredible community of academics, policymakers, and practitioners. For the most part, I’ve found everyone to be really accessible, whether I’m asking to interview them for my research or just to grab coffee and chat about their work. The Graduate Institute itself is a particularly wonderful resource. Whereas a political science department in the US might have one or two faculty members who work on global governance and related topics, the Graduate Institute has four whole departments/centers. The school is also constantly hosting talks by visiting professors, UN officials, diplomats and other experts, which are a valuable opportunity to meet people and pick up ideas.  

From a personal perspective, I’ve fallen in love with the city. Though Geneva is small, it’s very dense, diverse, and cosmopolitan. There are all kinds of restaurants, shopping, music & film festivals, etc. My favorite annual event might be the Rally du Chocolat (basically, a walking tour of chocolate shops). It’s also absolutely gorgeous, so I love to just hang out by the lake or the Cathedral and take in the view. Even when I’m at the office, getting to look out window and see Mont Blanc never gets old. There’s also an amazing public transit system, so it’s easy to explore different neighborhoods or head out of town for the day. The only downside is that it is expensive, which is why I’m so grateful to the Swiss government for supporting the ThinkSwiss program!