11.08.2021
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program offers undergraduate students from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom the opportunity to complete a summer research internship at top German universities and research institutions.
DAAD accepted U.S. student Christina Webster into the RISE program to intern at ZALF. Christina began her 10 weeklong internship in June 2021 with the working group “Fungal Interactions” of Research Area 1 “Landscape Functioning.”
Christina is a fourth-year student at Washington State University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering. Her interest in plant diseases and previous research on citrus greening disease led to her applying for this internship at the ZALF. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Christina plans to apply to a master’s program in plant pathology to continue working in agricultural research.
During her stay, Christina will participate in the BioMove project and prepare wheat samples for a metabarcoding approach under the supervision of Annika Hoffmann. She will also assist the Fungal Interactions group with field sampling, laboratory processing, and phytopathogenic fungi identification.
“Through this internship, I have learned so much about fungi and gained invaluable knowledge to help me become a good researcher. Working at the ZALF has helped deepen my interest in plant pathology, and I hope I can return to Germany continue my graduate education in this area. “
