Hi, my name is...
…Marius. I am a PhD student in neuropsychology and come from Magdeburg, in the north-east of Germany. One of the key methods in my research is measuring electrical brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). I am most passionate about connecting with other researchers and learning from them, so I was happy to get the chance to join Roche in March for a 9-month Roche Internship for Scientific Exchange (RiSE), in which I am investigating relationships between EEG and clinical symptoms in neurodevelopmental disorders. The RiSE program offers internships specifically for doctoral students within the Roche research department. Getting to know this applied research environment is exciting for me, even though juggling my internship at Roche and my ongoing PhD research projects is sometimes stressful. At weekends, I use every opportunity to go hiking in Switzerland’s beautiful outdoors, which is a great way to relieve stress.
My typical day at work is…
...full of data analysis. We receive patient EEG datasets as well as different clinical tests and questionnaires from collaborating companies and universities. I spend much of my time at work building statistical analyses and models to understand these datasets and establish relationships between them. Every 2-3 days, I meet with my supervisor or other colleagues to discuss the latest results, plan the next steps and get help with any problems. Besides working on my own research project, I have opportunities for networking, attending talks and seminars, and getting insights into other projects.
The location I am working at is…
…an open-space office on the 16th floor of the Roche Tower in Basel. This is a cool place to work – and definitely the best view out of an office window that I have ever had. For phone calls or meetings, there are separate, quiet rooms. There’s also the studio, a combined two-floor break room and communication space including a terrace, which is a neat place for coffee breaks or one-on-one meetings. I live in a flat that is a comfortable, five-minute bike ride from work.