The scholarship and I

From the vibrant city of Yerevan, Armenia to the cutting-edge labs of Heidelberg, I think my journey is a testament to dreams, determination, and the transformative power of education. As a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship holder for the 2023/24 academic year, embarking on a path of daring to dream big and pursuing passions quickly became a reality.

Growing up in Yerevan, I was always fascinated by the natural world, especially the intricacies of genome biology. At the same time, I had a burgeoning interest in computer science, nurtured by my teachers, who convinced me it was the right path. It was not long before I realized how genetic encoding resonated with many computer science concepts I was learning. This intersection of interests sparked a pivotal question: how could these two disciplines be combined? The answer led me to the field of bioinformatics.

I firmly believe that the best way to learn something new is through direct, hands-on experience. So, in high school, I embarked on a bioinformatics project centered on protein engineering. To deepen my understanding and immerse myself in a scientific environment, I joined the Armenian Bioinformatics Institute in my final year of high school, where I could interact with scientists and experience the workings of a bioinformatics lab firsthand. Little did I know that this experience would open doors to an internship in one of Germany's leading research labs.

My dream was always to study at Heidelberg University, renowned for its pioneering research. Despite receiving offers from other great universities in Germany and the USA, Heidelberg was my ultimate goal. The Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship made this dream a reality, providing the financial support to pursue my studies and the freedom to explore different research avenues in bioinformatics.

A defining moment in my journey at Heidelberg was attending a lecture by Prof. Dr. Dominik Niopek. His enthusiasm for stem cells and CRISPR-Cas technology was infectious, igniting curiosity in me as well. Motivated by his passion, I applied for an internship in his lab and subsequently joined it in April 2024. 

At Niopek Lab, I am working on a fascinating project involving protein engineering and the development of machine-learning models for structural predictions. Just a year ago, such advanced research seemed beyond my reach.

Even though I have been in the lab for only about a month, I have already learned an incredible amount and met amazing people with promising futures in the field. All this to say, it is just the beginning of my academic journey, and I am excited about the inspiring opportunities that lie ahead.