"I went back to Chile with many new ideas and projects"
Dr Carmen Gloria Feijoo, Immunologist at the Universidad Andrés Bello in Santiago de Chile, Chile
2016-2017 and 2019-2020 Humboldt Fellow at the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS)
When, how long and in what position did you stay at Heidelberg University?
I have already been to Heidelberg University twice as a visiting scientist, both times in the laboratory of Prof. Dr Jochen Wittbrodt at the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS). The first time was from October 2016 to March 2017 and the second time was from August 2019 to February 2020.
Why did you decide in favour of Heidelberg University?
Actually, I chose Prof. Wittbrodt's lab! He runs what I dare say is the best lab in the world that focuses on research in developmental biology using the medaka fish as a model animal.
What did you like best about being in Heidelberg? What suggestions would you have for improvements?
Heidelberg is a wonderful, beautiful city - not only because of the castle, but also because of the old town, the Neckar, the Königstuhl, and the forests. You can enjoy the city especially well in sunny weather; in winter it is a bit more difficult with small children, but still beautiful.
How did your career continue after your time in Heidelberg?
I went back to Chile with many new ideas and projects, both for research and for our personal lives - for example, my husband now no longer uses a car, only a bicycle, even though Santiago is a very big city. In my lab, we continue to work on research questions that arose during my stay in Heidelberg. These are complementary to the lab's line of research, but we hadn't worked on them yet.
What is your view of the German scientific system in comparison to that of your home country or to that of other countries where you may have conducted research?
In my opinion, the German scientific system works well, and that it is transparent and clear. Of course, compared to Chile, many more projects are supported, also with larger amounts of money. What I find best is that there are many more different institutions than in Chile that offer research funding, and that even in individual projects the amounts pledged allow for the purchase of expensive equipment. That's not possible in Chile with individual projects—the amounts of money involved don't allow that.
In your opinion, what is the importance of international exchanges for researchers?
For scientists from South America, this is very important. I would go so far as to say that it is central to the formation of researchers. It allows one to see science from a different point of view, one where everything is possible, and the limiting factor is the ideas and not the available money or equipment. This is something very important that we should try to achieve in South America. Maybe my generation of scientists won't be able to do it, but the next generation will. You should have the goal of thinking big.
Do you recommend a research visit to Heidelberg University to your students or to colleagues in your scientific network?
Absolutely. In fact, I currently have a joint project with the lab I worked on at Heidelberg University, and the idea is that my students can do some experiments there. Also, as a scientific representative of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Chile, I have told many students and young scientists what great opportunities Heidelberg University offers, and how fascinating this city is.
