Transatlantic Chemistry Exchange Successful study across borders: TU Braunschweig and the University of Utah
For many years, the Chemistry degree programme at Technische Universität Braunschweig has been working closely with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Utah. Whilst initially it was mainly students from Braunschweig who travelled to Salt Lake City, the exchange has since developed dynamically in both directions. Thanks to the tireless commitment of the professors involved, interest amongst transatlantic students in spending time in Braunschweig is growing just as much as interest in spending a semester in Utah. And in one case, the journey led from Salt Lake City via Braunschweig to Stanford.
TU Braunschweig students spend a semester at the University of Utah. There, they take PhD-level courses and engage in cutting-edge research projects. All credits are fully recognised by TU Braunschweig, ensuring that the semester abroad is seamlessly integrated into their degree programme.
In return, students from Salt Lake City are given the opportunity to play an active role in Braunschweig research groups for eleven weeks. Here, they take on a research-oriented role, comparable to that of doctoral students, and work on current projects under the supervision of a group leader. In doing so, they benefit from state-of-the-art laboratories, contribute their own ideas and – depending on their progress – can even be listed as co-authors on scientific publications.
From TU Braunschweig to Stanford University
Julia Clista Galecki took part as a University of Utah student in the exchange programme and shares her impressions: “Joining Professor Jomo Walla’s biophysical chemistry lab provided me with extensive, hands-on research experience right from the start. I acquired many new techniques and adapted to new challenges in a new field. The project I worked on focused on how plants capture sunlight and use it to develop artificial molecular and nanoparticle light-harvesting systems designed to improve photovoltaic efficiency.”
Julia Clista Galecki. Picture Credit: Julia Clista Galecki
“My experiences in Braunschweig were truly unforgettable and opened doors to opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
She is now a doctoral student at Stanford University and is convinced that her research placement at TU Braunschweig gave her a decisive boost:
“The exceptional mentorship and guidance from Jomo and my other lab members at Technische Universität Braunschweig helped me integrate an international perspective with my local one, giving me a more distinctive perspective and understanding when applying to Stanford and the U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP). I truly believe that my research experience at Technische Universität Braunschweig was a major factor in my being awarded the NSF-GRFP and in my acceptance to Stanford University. My experiences in Braunschweig were truly unforgettable and opened doors to opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Networking and personal experiences
“As well as my research, I made friends for life,” Clista continues.
Together with colleagues from the Braunschweig laboratory, she explored the Brocken in the Harz Mountains, tried the best ice cream in the ‘City of Lions’, learnt to play tamburello and went on a trip to the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. Experiences like these foster intercultural understanding and build networks that extend far beyond one’s studies.
The exchange programme between the TU Braunschweig and the University of Utah has developed into a vibrant, bilateral initiative. Interested students can already submit applications for the 2027 academic year – because this will remain true in the future too: mutual exchange in research and teaching brings people together and inspires them.