Every Summer Semester, Ecotox Master students do a 2-month internship or AMEO (Applied Module at an External Organization). Today, Krishna Venugopalan Variyer tells us about her AMEO experience in the Aquatic Department at the BASF Agricultural Center in Limburgerhof.

I am Krishna Venugopalan Variyer. As part of my second semester, I had the opportunity to complete an eight-week internship at the BASF Agricultural Center in Limburgerhof. I was placed in the Aquatic Department, where the focus was on a non-GLP method development for shrimp studies using a flow-through system.

The first week mainly involved safety training and getting familiar with the system. Later, I conducted two acute studies to better understand both the organism and the setup. The longest study I worked on lasted 34 days and included tasks such as setting up the system, performing daily checks, monitoring water quality parameters, and recording observations on the organisms. Alongside this, I also got insights into other ongoing projects involving chironomids, bees, and daphnids, which gave me a broader perspective on the diversity of ecotoxicological studies.

Towards the end of my internship, I had the opportunity to present my results in front of scientists at the center. This was a very enriching experience, as it assisted me in building confidence in communicating scientific work. I feel especially grateful to my supervisor, who was always approachable and supportive in answering my questions and guiding me throughout the internship.

Outside of the lab, I enjoyed the calm surroundings of Limburgerhof, a small town with nearby forests that made the place peaceful and beautiful. The commute from Landau took about an hour by train, which became part of my daily routine.

Overall, this internship has been a valuable step in my academic journey. It not only gave me hands-on experience with experimental systems but also inspired me for future research opportunities in Ecotoxicology. I am truly thankful for this opportunity.