by Nishelle Dsouza
Photo by: Nishelle Dsouza
Starting a PhD in a new country or laboratory can be an exciting as well as a daunting experience. As one is exposed to new experimental techniques and different working teams, new lab members need guidance and support, at least in the beginning months. As I started my PhD journey during the pandemic , it was quite difficult to socialize amidst the lockdowns and safety regulations. Within these times, my support system largely consisted of my laboratory colleagues and the Young Scientist Association that is made up of PhD students across different fields of the Medical University of Vienna. As we met on a monthly basis and even more often in preparation of the YSA Symposium, this group of people became my constant support and we were able to relate and give/ receive advice on many PhD struggles. It really made me realize that no one is alone in their setbacks and it is highly beneficial and comforting to talk to others who have also experienced similar situations. Through the YSA, I met Karina who worked in the same laboratory but our paths never crossed somehow until we joined this group. Together, along with Ines and Maria , we organized the YSA Symposium in 2023 and what a journey it’s been!
Organsiation of the YSA symposium
Not only did we build on our friendship but also learnt how to work together as a team and communicate more efficiently. The skills that we used, along with our YSA members, to organize the symposium also helped us appreciate team work and take up responsibility and initiative outside of our PhD projects. The two days of symposium itself was an adrenaline rush and we were proud of what we were able to accomplish as a team. It worked out so smoothly because we truly cared for the cause and for each other.
Throughout this dynamic movement, I always tried to arrange my luggage with only the necessary elements. Start a digital book collection to avoid travelling weight and commit to it 100%. I like to travel with my luggage while I am taking flights. As I have seen my colleagues to have a big concern while using delivery companies, I think it is better to take luggage with myself. For all the musicians, it is a good idea to talk to the representatives of the flight companies to ensure safe transport for the beloved musical instrument.
Longlasting friendships
As a board, we grew very fond of each other and shared many lovely experiences including celebrating birthdays, dancing the night away at the Vienna ball of Sciences and even just hanging out after work at the local bars and restaurants. I am fortunate to have been working and celebrating PhD life with this group of people over the past 2 years as they are so inspiring and have a natural curiosity for research and life in general. Together we have been able to get through the highs and lows of the journey and know that we got each other’s backs. Even though our time as the YSA board has come to an end , we still make time to catch up and participate in many YSA events and meetings, not only to support the future board, but also to foster the friendships that we have built.
Reasons to join the YSA
If you’re interested in expanding your PhD experience here at the MUW and would like to connect with your fellow doctoral students, become a member at the YSA and email us at ysa@meduniwien.ac.at.
Here’s some reasons to join the YSA:
- Be part of the organizational team and learn skills needed to organize a symposium. The members have the opportunity to learn various skills such as communicating with keynote speakers, negotiating with sponsors and working on abstract selection.
- Connect with students from different fields of the MedUni and form collaborations. Our members are from various research groups ranging from Medical Physics to Neuroscience.
- Contribute to the symposium tasks with your personal strengths. We have many sub groups including teams for website set up, social media, podcast and many more.
- Attend our social events and get to know the members. We host Christmas parties, barbecues and frequent meetings.