Hi!  

I remember when I was just starting my bachelor’s degree in Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine (EIB) in August 2023, the program director told us that it would be a hard but also rewarding program for the effort one puts in. Now that I am already in my second year of the program, I have the experience and background to discuss the program and compare it with my expectations in the beginning. At the same time, I will give some useful information for those preparing to start the program.  

First off, there are compulsory elements and assignments in each course that require attendance, and students at EIB receive the schedule at the beginning of each semester. The schedule can undergo some changes as time progresses, but it helps to plan everything ahead of time, make sure to be up to date in the courses, and allocate time for personal interests.  

Secondly, it is no secret to Linköping University (LiU) students that many of the professors are researchers themselves at the university and are active experts in their respective fields. This should be taken advantage of by students looking for profound answers to questions within and beyond the scope of the courses. Since starting the program, I have already managed to explore several aspects of health and biomedical sciences, from pathology, analytical chemistry, and pharmacology to gene technologies and bioentrepreneurship. I believe that this program gives a wide range of professions and disciplines to choose from and, at the same time, helps young graduates understand the connections between multiple disciplines and fields. Throughout this journey, I have not only learnt to communicate in scientific language but also developed my laboratory performance, ability to work in a team, and critical thinking.  

My typical day as a student usually starts at 7 AM when I wake up, get ready, and have breakfast before starting any of my tasks. Most of the time, EIB classes are held in the morning (usually around 8:15-12:00), therefore, I usually arrive at the university early in the day. Here, I have a typical picture from my lecture in immunology from semester 3, when we were learning about vaccines, their production, and administration methods. One thing that inspires me is how my studies apply to everyday life; for example, learning about vaccines and diving deeper into their requirements and risks helps me to navigate the sectors of public health and well-being.  

The second picture is from the laboratory room in the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, where we performed an HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) analysis to identify the content of a Bamyl painkiller drug, commonly used in Sweden.  

 The third picture in the row below is from when my group and I were analyzing unknown data using the programming language R as part of our bioinformatics course, where we found a correlation between the human immunity response and cell survival rate.  

One of the most memorable courses so far was a project course in bioentrepreneurship, where students were assigned to brainstorm a business idea, generate a business plan, propose a product while overlooking stock markets, and, finally, secure funding during a Dragons Den-style presentation. My group came up with the company TestHome, which produces testing kits for germ-cell cancer by tracking the corresponding biomarker in the blood. This would then allow us to accurately examine the possible cancerogenic cells and check for potential recurrences. I had the privilege to present the 1-minute business pitch, which allowed me to develop a new skill in making concise and compelling presentations, while highlighting important details.   

One thing that surprised me the most was the amount of free time I have. I expect that full-time studies would mean having classes every day from 8 AM to 5PM, yet it is not the case at LiU. Now, I know that having free time during the week helps me to stay prepared for the upcoming course elements and helps me to spend time with my friends and on personal interests. The campus is a nice spot to spend your study sessions, where all the course material (books, websites, articles, etc) is available. If one would like to change the study environment, the city has some good cafes and coffee shops to look out for.  

Another way to enrich student life is through joining student associations. A student–driven association that is closely related to my major is Synapse Sweden, which aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry for the students in life sciences. As a member of the Synapse Linköping hub, I am responsible for the planning and managing of events, which gives me a huge platform to meet many people, create a big network, and dive deeper into my professional interests. One of the exciting events that the team and I managed to organize was a collaboration with one of the trade unions in Sweden, Naturvetarna, which supports young professionals when they start their careers in the field of natural sciences.  

Finally, this journey has already changed me and helped me to grow both personally and professionally, to see new heights. It can indeed be hard to manage things as a foreign student, especially if you have a long to-do list in your mind like I do, but it is good to remember that big achievements do take a lot of time, and nothing is impossible!  

With all this said, I hope my message reaches you, and I wish you the best of luck!  

 

Kind Regards,  

Sona H. from Armenia  

BSc Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine

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