Laura Hildebrand

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Ansbach University of Applied Sciences?
Family atmosphere, small learning and laboratory groups, good availability of contact persons (professors, laboratory supervisors, etc.), wide range of university sports courses, good learning opportunities in the library.

What was the best experience at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences that you remember?
Graduation ceremony, 20th anniversary, summer parties...

You can't have studied in Ansbach without...
...having a barbecue on campus in the summer.

What motivations determined your choice of study and career?
I am fascinated by the complex interrelationships and processes in biological systems that are almost impossible to imitate artificially. I am particularly interested in understanding these systems and making them usable for industry and medicine.

Why did you choose Ansbach University of Applied Sciences?
Manageable size, good laboratory equipment, practically oriented education, practical semester.

What influence did your studies at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences have on your life? Is there anything that has remained particularly memorable for you?
The manageable size of the courses enables a lively exchange between lecturers and students. This not only facilitates the teaching of professional competence, but also enables the development of an individual career path.

What were you able to take away from your studies for your professional future?
From the beginning, the combination of theoretical courses and laboratory practicals required a high degree of organisation. This competence benefits me in my everyday professional life, especially when planning and carrying out complex and elaborate experiments.

If you could study again today, would you do anything differently?
No.

Looking back on your time as a student: What advice would you give to (prospective) students?
Better done than perfect.

To what extent do you still feel connected to the university today? Do you still have contact with fellow students?
The contacts with former fellow students whose professional paths have developed in various directions continue to enrich my professional and especially my private network.

What were important stages in your career?
Practical semester in industry, Master's thesis at the University Hospital Würzburg.

What do you particularly like about your job today?
Independent research work, independent planning and execution of experiments and working on research questions, mixture of practical laboratory work and evaluation/publication of the generated data.

What are the three most important skills in your everyday work?
Self-organisation, perseverance, broad knowledge of different methods.

In your opinion, how do you make a good career start in your sector (entry routes, application tips)?
Take the opportunity to build up a network already during your studies (excursions, job fairs, internships, etc.).