“I met researchers coming from all over the world”
Prof. Dr. Télesphore Benoît Nguelefack, pharmacologist at the Department of Animal Physiology at the University of Dschang, Dschang/Cameroon
Several Research Stays (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation) at Medical Faculty Mannheim, Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM), from 2011 till 2013
When, how long and in what position did you stay at Heidelberg University?
I had the opportunity to visit Heidelberg University as an experienced Humboldt fellow researcher. I then spent in total 16 months divided in three periods: the first, including a language course, from 1 July 2011 till 5 December 2011, the second from 3 March 2012 till 5 August 2012 and the last from 3 March 2013 till 31 August 2013.
Why did you decide to come to Heidelberg University?
I had visited Germany before as a DAAD fellow and I had a lot of pleasure working in a German laboratory as well as with my collaborator at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Technical University of Munich. I promised to come back but in the meantime, I wanted to gain more experience in the domain of pain, as pain pharmacology was my second domain of interest. Unfortunately or fortunately it was not in the research field of my collaborator from Munich. I had to look for another collaborator and this is where Heidelberg University comes in. I had heard many good things about Heidelberg University and its classification as one of the most reputed German University directed my choice. In addition, I realized that many and outstanding research work in the field of pain were published from the University of Heidelberg.
What were your experiences in Heidelberg?
The first interesting point for me was the setup of laboratories. I had the opportunity to work in this nice scientific environment and to evaluate many aspect of the pharmacology of pain. We had many seminars at the level of the laboratory, Symposiums and conferences in Heidelberg and other universities. As a humboldtian, I also attended two scientific meetings organized by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. In the social point of view, it was marvelous. In addition to wonderful German colleagues, I met many researchers coming from all over the world and we are still in touch with warm friendship as if we separated yesterday.
How did your career continue after your time in Heidelberg?
After my stay at the University of Heidelberg, many events happened in my career. I was first appointed as the Head of Department of Animal Biology and later, cumulatively as the Head of Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Phytopharmacology. In scientific aspect, I gained large experience and skill in cell culture and this is now introduced in different domains of research in our laboratory.
Do you recommend a research visit to Heidelberg University to your students or to colleagues in your scientific network?
I am personally ready and will be happy to visit the University of Heidelberg as many times as possible. So, it is obvious that I will recommend it to students and colleagues. In fact I am already doing this job as Heidelberg University Ambassador. I have pasted (??) advertising posters at my home university and I usually exchange with students and colleagues about the opportunities offered by University of Heidelberg and my personal experience. At least one lecturer and one student from University of Dschang in Cameroon are now carrying out research at Heidelberg University.
How do you rate the opportunities offered by Heidelberg Alumni International and the Research Alumni Network?
These are very good tools. They are very good facilitators for new visitors and they help to keep alumni informed about the University and to remain connected both with other visiting colleagues and with collaborators from Heidelberg.
