Elizabeth Ghartey Summer in Paris and Berlin
"In summer 2026, I had the opportunity to spend the entire summer studying in Paris and Berlin. Through the French department, I spent five weeks as a part of the Arizona in Paris program, where I took two classes about French language and culture. In my downtime, I got to explore the city and surrounding areas with my classmates and newfound friends. Furthermore, while still in Paris, I was able to meet with a researcher and discuss what research is like at Parisian institutions.
Following the Paris program, I went to Berlin for an internship that I had organized independently. This had been made possible several months earlier at the Galileo Circle Scholar’s reception, where I’d met a retired immunologist who was interested in my work in tumor immunology and had connections with researchers in Europe. I spent the last months of the summer learning about the neuro-immunological basis of epilepsy treatment, where I gained new research techniques and witnessed the intricacies of experimental design and peer review.
When I was not in the lab, I explored Berlin’s most famous sites, such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Victory Column, and the Tiergarten. I also went to Prague for a weekend, and I took a solo trip to Munich by train, where I spent another weekend at the BMW Museum and the world-famous Viktualienmarkt, a food market and town square.
Studying abroad changed my personal trajectory for the better by inspiring me to find opportunities to pursue my research interests abroad. As both a biochemistry and French major, I am most enthused about applying grants and fellowships that would allow me to be a student researcher in France. Altogether, spending my summer studying and working in Europe made me a more confident, independent young adult." ~ Elizabeth
