UNIC student among 15 selected internationally for Lausanne research programme

University of Nicosia Medical School second-year student Natalya Loutzis has completed a seven-week research placement at the University of Lausanne through their competitive Summer Undergraduate Research Programme, working on neuroscience research that bridges laboratory science and clinical medicine.

Natalya was one of only 15 students selected internationally for the fully-funded programme, which covers accommodation, travel expenses, and living costs. The selection process required a GPA above 3.7, strong academic performance, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement demonstrating research motivation.

During her placement, Natalya worked on a computational neuroscience project titled ‘Spatiotemporal brain dynamics of auditory object discrimination in full-term and preterm schoolchildren’. The research involved analysing electroencephalogram (EEG) data to understand how the brain processes auditory information differently in these two groups. ‘The project analysis started from scratch using patient data collected two years ago. By the time the programme ended, I managed to finish the research, though they’ll continue with statistical analysis and other neuroscientific methods’, Natalya said.

The programme included academic visits with Nobel Prize winners from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), tours of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), and visits to the Agora Foundation for cancer research. ‘They arranged quite a few academic events to inspire us scientifically, but on weekends, we were free to explore Switzerland, make friends with other students, and travel around the country’, Natalya noted. Social activities included a hike in the Swiss Alps, allowing the international cohort to bond and share their research experiences.

What made the experience particularly enriching was the interdisciplinary nature of the research. Students were assigned to different laboratories across Switzerland, working on projects ranging from gene editing of tomatoes to bacterial research to computational neuroscience. ‘We all had different scientific questions, but we were all working towards the same goal. I really saw how science is the driving force of medicine, and how medicine can encourage new science in return’, said Natalya.

Originally from South Africa, Natalya moved to Cyprus specifically for her medical studies at the University of Nicosia. ‘I really don’t think I would have had the opportunities that I’ve had, including this research experience, without coming to UNIC. It’s a multicultural environment where we are prepared very early on to do things that some students only get to see later in medical school. Academically, our studies definitely prepare you for the challenges that a research experience can give you’ Natalya commented.

Natalya recommends the programme for motivated medical students interested in research. ‘You gain a deeper appreciation for the scientific community and their significant role in evidence-based medicine,’ she said.

Through experiences like these, University of Nicosia Medical School students continue to demonstrate their readiness to engage with medical research and contribute to healthcare advancement.