Adventures Abroad: Student Perspectives on International Research Experiences

For many STEM majors, research is an opportunity to explore interests, build skills, make connections, and develop a resume. But what happens when research is paired with unique opportunities to travel the world? What can a student gain from pairing professional growth with exposure to different cultures in their research experiences?

For Smith student Abigail Coleman ‘26, summer research abroad was an invaluable experience. Abigail spent 12 weeks this past summer at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in London, working in the molecular genomics lab. There, she studied the genetic diversity of the rare English orchid known as the red helleborine (Cephalonthera rubra), cataloging DNA samples and doing bioinformatic analysis.

As an aspiring plant scientist, she shared that “meeting new people who had the same interests [as me] was really helpful to get that perspective on, okay, is this the career path I want? How do I get there? How do I form connections with people now that will help me out in the future?” She also described her newfound, cliché love for the iconic double-decker buses of London.

Coleman '26 (left). Photo courtesy of Abigail Coleman

Annika Houge ’26 also discovered her love for European public transport in Sweden while commuting on the Tunnelbana, or metro, everyday to her classes and Research Assistantship. Annika studied at DIS Stockholm, working 20 hours a week, alongside taking classes, researching serotonin receptors for potential anti-nausea drug targets. Houge learned difficult techniques such as two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology and microinjections. She was able to present her research at both the DIS Festival and a conference at Harvard.

Her experience wasn’t all down to business though. “People maintain a good work-life balance over there [in Sweden], and it's very much reflected in the work culture” Houge ’26 said. In Sweden, there is a tradition called “fika” where people take a break from work to have coffee or tea with a pastry and socialise with friends. In her lab, “everyone would take turns baking some sort of cake or pastry [...],” Houge said, “so then every Friday afternoon we would go into the kitchen [and] have our fika together.” The experience also clarified her career goals to pursue medicine. “I had the most perfect research group in Stockholm,” Houge said. For Houge, the study abroad experience allowed her to gain valuable research experience, form connections, and clarify her career goals.

Hogue ’27 taking electrophysiological recordings of oocytes. Photo courtesy of Annika Hogue

Thousands of miles away in Santiago, Chile, Chemistry and Spanish major Catherine Collins ‘27 did her own research in Dr. Christian Espinoza-Bustos' bioorganic chemistry lab this past summer. As a lab focused on developing bioactive molecules for neurodegenerative diseases, Collins worked on reactions, purifications, and NMR analysis, all in Spanish. She found that the lab culture was very close, and described having breakfast and coffee daily with fellow researchers. She also had the opportunity to live with a host mom and travel to see the desert of San Pedro de Atacama and the Villarrica volcano of Pucón. Collins shares that in her choice for study abroad, she valued “the freedom of being able to go where I wanted and not have to be on a program.”

Collins '27. Photo courtesy of Catherine Collins

For Catherine, Annika, and Abigail, research abroad was a life-changing experience that exposed them to new perspectives and helped them shape their future aspirations. So, the next time you ponder what to do next summer or school year, take their words to heart and consider what research abroad could mean for you.

By Eliza Connors & Maya Hruskar