Back to the Beginning - When is the Right Timing for an International Internship?
When should you start thinking about a stay abroad? When should you perform the internship? There is no definitive answer to these questions, but perhaps my experiences will help you with your planning.
Towards the end of my first year, I had a good idea of the direction of my PhD studies and had thought of 2–3 groups that would suit this plan. However, the corona pandemic started together with it a lot of uncertainties about the future. Thus, my internship plans were paused without an unclear restart date. This situation prolonged in time and performing this internship was no longer mandatory from RESOLV’s side. Nevertheless, I already had a clear idea about how to fit my internship in my thesis and I was convinced about the benefits it would bring. In the end, the regulations relaxed, and I was able to do the internship towards the end of my third year in the group of Prof. Rajca in Nebraska. Given the late point within my doctorate and the spontaneity caused by the unclear situation with the pandemic, the preparations for my arrival were quite stressful.
Overall, I believe a good time to do your internship would be between the middle and end of your second year. Consider that you will work in a new environment doing different science and it will be an intensive learning time. That may be useful earlier in your PhD to apply that achieved knowledge during your remaining studies. Of course, the ideal timing for the internship depends on many factors but even if you decide to start at a later stage, try to arrange your internship and paperwork in advance to avoid the struggles I had. Unexpected circumstances may always occur.
How to Choose the Right Location?
The most important decision about your internship is where to go. Three main scenarios could be considered.
Scenario 1: You may be involved in a project that you cannot perform to completion in your lab due to the need for extra equipment or expertise.
Scenario 2: You may be interested in working in a new area to expand your abilities. This may open a door to a new research line in the future.
Scenario 3: You have a clear idea of your future academic career and want to perform your RESOLV internship in a group that you are considering for a postdoc. Especially with groups that receive a lot of applicants, being able to join them with your own funding decreases the entry barrier dramatically. This is a great opportunity to show your value and become familiar with a potential future position.
For me scenario 1 applied, and I found Prof. Rajca's lab at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (USA) to be the perfect host lab to test my PhD project for potential applications.
What else should you think about in advance?
Another important aspect to consider is the accommodation. Given the length of your stay, your host university or landlords are likely to not be able to offer any solution for 2–3 months since they often require a minimum stay of 6–12 months. Moreover, public transportation may not be the most reliable and finding accommodation nearby the university may further hamper this process. Just to mention a personal example: After doing my internship in Lincoln, Nebraska, I was surprised by the pretty much mandatory need to have constant access to a car. Mundane tasks such as grocery shopping became a whole adventure. I had to organize with someone to be driven (10–15 minutes by car) to the next supermarket. Such things, and also potential barriers like language or culture, may be useful to consider before you move to a new location by means of checking your compatibility in that new environment and confronting potential problems in advance.
Conclusion
In summary, I enjoyed my internship stay as I grew scientifically and personally. I believe performing an internship at a different university and in a different country is a great opportunity for both your present and future. Preparing for the internship in advance allows you to select the (hopefully) perfect destination to get the most out of it. This can only be done once you have thought things through and have a clear list of your preferences and expectations for the internship. I am grateful to RESOLV for offering us this opportunity. In today’s job market where most people apply for their first job or postdoc with pretty much identical CVs (Bachelor, Master, PhD), this internship could make you stand out over your competitors for future applications as well as indeed improve your skills and knowledge.
Hence, choose your internship wisely and enjoy it!
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