*Guest Post* Life of a Visiting Research Assistant

We all know that Research Assistants are the bedrock of the science system - so much important mahi happens because of the work that Research Assistants do across a research lab. Plus - being a Research Assistant is how many postgraduates start off in research, and how they can earn extra funds to help support costs they face during their studies.

Further - many Research Assistants use this chance to visit a new lab - or even a new country - for a time, learning new lab skills, expanding their network, and returning home with a new interest in research.

So - let's hear from a former Research Assistant - Sonja, who visited Aotearoa NZ from Germany - on what the experience was like and lessons learned along the way:

How did you first hear about the research opportunity in New Zealand?

I wanted to gain international experience as part of my studies. Since I was particularly interested in the neurological field, I asked my teacher if she could recommend someone with whom I could complete a semester abroad. My teacher then connected me with an academic in Christchurch.

Were there any challenges or tips you would share about applying? 

I was fortunate that the application process in New Zealand was relatively informal and straightforward at the time. However, I also applied in the USA, where the hurdles were significantly higher, especially with respect to working in a hospital setting. Therefore, I would recommend reaching out to various universities and not giving up if the first opportunity does not work out.

How did you decide to pursue research in New Zealand specifically? 

The academic I worked with is a well-known researcher in the field. I was hoping to benefit from their long-term experience, which fortunately turned out to be the case. Additionally, New Zealand was a country I had always wanted to visit. The opportunity to live there for half a year and get to know it more intensively than just as a tourist was incredible for me.

What was your daily life like as a Research Assistant? 

On weekdays, I would usually spend most of my days in the lab staying until late afternoon. I also attended lectures and lab meetings. I was lucky to have a very nice research group and enjoyed the exchange with my colleagues. In my free time outside of the lab, I tried to explore this beautiful country as much as possible together with my friends. Additionally, I was fortunate to stay with a very kind host family, who also took me out into New Zealand’s astonishing landscape a lot on the weekends.

Did your research shape your career in a specific way? Did it open up any new opportunities? 

Definitely. Prior to my stay abroad in New Zealand, I wanted to specialize in speech disorders. Through the scientific work in the area, it became clear to me that I also wanted to work in this field in Germany. Therefore, I specialized clinically in this area and even today, more than 10 years later, I still benefit from the scientific foundations I acquired back in New Zealand. In the future, I will work more in teaching and hope to inspire my students for this field through my experiences. I am glad to still be in contact with former collegues and also with my professor.

What advice would you give to someone considering a similar research opportunity abroad? 

I can only recommend such an international experience to everyone. Especially in my field, many countries are scientifically further advanced than we are. However, studying abroad are also associated with significant costs. Therefore, I successfully applied for a scholarship back then, which covered part of the expenses I recommend that everyone not be deterred by the costs, as there are more financial support options than one might think.

Thank you to Sonja for sharing her experience. Have you been a research assistant before? Let me know thoughts on your experience and any lessons learned.