Hey, I’m Adam, and I started working on my master’s thesis at the Institute of Botany in April of 2025.

My subject came about from an existing cooperation with the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (USAC). My second examiner from Guatemala had sent some samples to the Institute in 2022 but over the years, the project had been abandoned. I was happy to pick up where they had left off! My thesis is about the phylogeny of species of Lactarius fungi in Guatemala. I was even asked if I would like to travel to Guatemala to take some samples myself, which is why I spent the summer of 2025 doing an internship at the USAC.

It turned out to be much more than a typical uni internship. My second examiner pulled together a dense web of local contacts, which made fieldwork and accommodations possible in places I never would have reached on my own. The first month I lived and worked in the Sierra de las Minas national park with a family of tomato farmers who rent out a roomy cypress hut. Staying there, I went on many field days of hiking up hills and trekking through dense jungle. Me and my guides were able to collect lots of well-preserved mushroom specimens. Midway through my stay my professor from Germany visited and we toured different sites across the country. During this trip, we saw many impressive tropical environments and also spent a night in the deep jungle of the Sierra. Taking in the silence of the forest after a long day of heavy rain gave me a profound feeling of peace and was probably my highlight of the trip.

Later I moved to an apartment in Guatemala City close to the university, which became my base for lab work. Working there I honed my microscopy skills, prepared and photographed tissue samples and collect microscopic features. Beyond the science, I loved the cultural side. I visited museums with ethnomycological exhibits, archaeological sites and indigenous communities where I learned local names and uses of fungi and their place in Maya cosmology. I’m also very happy that I was able to see so many unique landscapes and environments while searching or fungi.

Overall, the internship deepened my practical skills and motivated me to pursue a career in field mycology. I am grateful for the support I received and hold the memories made close to my heart.

Hey, I'm Pascal, and I've been a PhD student at the Institute of Botany in Hannover since early 2025.

During my master's thesis, I worked on gene expression analyses of the halophytic spiny shrub Strombocarpa strombulifera, which grows in Argentina. This research was part of a long-term cooperation with the University of Río Cuarto. I have already had the opportunity to collaborate with several Argentinian researchers during their stay in Hannover, which made me even more excited to visit the country, meet its people and see them all again.

In March 2025, I finally had the opportunity to take part in a short-term stay via Erasmus+ and spend almost two weeks in Río Cuarto and the region (Córdoba, San Luis). During this time, I was able to gain a wide range of experiences - both from a scientific and cultural perspective. Particularly valuable for my scientific career was the opportunity to give two lectures, which helped me to develop my presentation skills. My scientific highlight was the visit to the Salinas de Bebedero, where Strombocarpa strombulifera grows in its natural habitat. I also gained exciting insights into Argentinian agriculture: I visited a farm where soybean and maize are grown, got to know modern agricultural machinery and was able to visit a company that produces bioethanol for biofuels from maize.

Away from research, I gained a wonderful insight into Argentinian life. I was particularly impressed by the hospitality and warmth of the people I was able to spend time with. A particularly nice tradition for me was drinking and sharing mate together, which is part of everyday life and creates a strong sense of community. Culturally, it was a highlight to experience the Alfalfa-Festival and to visit churches and sights in Córdoba, Río Cuarto and Buenos Aires. In addition to all these experiences, I was able to make many new contacts and form valuable friendships - an experience that enriched me both personally and professionally.

Hey, my name is Veronica. I am a PhD student at the university of Rio Cuarto (Argentina) and participating in the Erasmus programme in Hannover was a transformative chapter in my academic and personal life.

The semester spent at Leibniz University Hannover offered me a unique blend of high-quality education, cultural immersion, and personal growth. My coursework combined lectures, interactive seminars, and hands-on lab work, strengthening both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Research opportunities allowed me to apply my learning in real-world contexts. During my stay at Leibniz University, I conducted salt stress tolerance tests on alfalfa plants inoculated with the bacterial strain Serratia ureilytica E8. I also performed several tests, including proline and total mineral content.

Additionally, my Erasmus stay significantly improved my English skills, while immersion in a German-speaking environment further enhanced my language proficiency. Living in Hannover offered a perfect mix of modernity and history, making cultural exploration truly enriching.

I visited historical sites like the Herrenhausen Gardens and the New Town Hall, gaining a deeper appreciation for the city's heritage. Museums such as the Sprengel Museum expanded my understanding of German art and culture. Additionally, attending local festivals like the Maschsee Lake Festival and a real beer festival gave me firsthand experience of German traditions and celebrations.

The Erasmus program in Hannover was well-organized, with the university's international office ensuring smooth social integration. Orientation week, with its social activities and city tours, helped me settle in and connect with fellow students. Regular Erasmus parties and gatherings created a strong sense of community, while student clubs and organizations provided further opportunities to engage with both local and international peers. Adjusting to cultural differences, such as German punctuality and direct communication, was initially challenging but ultimately enriched my intercultural competence. Similarly, adapting to the rigorous academic standards and different teaching methods required some time, but I gradually became more comfortable.

Homesickness was a natural part of the experience; however, the support from the Erasmus community and regular contact with my family helped me cope. At the same time, living independently in a foreign country strengthened my confidence and problem-solving skills. Engaging with students from diverse backgrounds further broadened my global perspective and deepened my cultural understanding. Most importantly, the friendships I built during my Erasmus stay became one of the most valuable aspects of my experience, creating a lasting international network. I am grateful for the experiences and skills gained during this semester, which will undoubtedly benefit me in my future endeavors.

Hi, I'm Romina, a PhD student at the University of Río Cuarto. The mobility period abroad wasn't mandatory for my PhD, but after a previous stay in Buenos Aires, I wanted to experience a new country.

My motivations were to explore different educational content, improve my English, develop adaptability and problem-solving skills and expand my professional network. I found the Erasmus+ opportunity through the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, aimed at PhD students in biological sciences and agricultural innovation, with a focus on plant biotechnology. Accommodation was arranged through the university’s international office. Five months before my stay, I applied online and received a single room in "Haus am Berggarten," shared with four others. The building’s facilities and its location near the Institute of Botany were excellent, and I quickly adapted.

Studying at Leibniz University was an incredible experience. My student card provided discounts at Mensa and on public transport, making it easy to explore Lower Saxony. Working in Professor Papenbrock’s lab at the Institute of Botany was a highlight—the lab was well-equipped with modern technology, clear research protocols, and readily available materials. Biosecurity was a top priority, which I greatly appreciated. Two master’s students assisted my colleague Veronica and me throughout our stay.

Additionally, I attended a course on plant evolution and physiology, which deepened my understanding of European environmental challenges and solutions. The proximity of “Haus am Berggarten” to Herrenhausen Garden allowed me to enjoy frequent walks. On weekends, I traveled to various German cities, including Bückeberg, Brunswick, Göttingen, Hamburg, Hamelin and Berlin. Although I couldn’t meet my study buddy due to scheduling conflicts, I spent quality time with my colleague’s study buddy. I also enjoyed socializing with other Erasmus students at the bar Extrakt.

I am very satisfied with my internship at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University and highly recommend it. The high-quality academic training greatly contributed to my PhD in biological sciences and the support I received was invaluable. Beyond academics, I explored new places, experienced different cultures and built personal and professional connections.

Hi, I’m Mariana Reginato, Professor and Researcher at the National University of Río Cuarto (UNRC, Argentina).

I've been working since more than 20 years on Plant physiology and biochemistry, especially in South American native halophytes. Since I was a bachelor student I was always interested on International scientific collaboration. For that reason, an important objective in my career was to develop strong and lasting collaborations with another Universities.  On 2016 I contacted to Prof. Jutta Papenbrock and I spend a 2 month at The Institute of Botany LUH (2017) by a Research stay financed by DAAD. During my first stay at Leibniz University, I conducted a salt stress tolerance experiment and really good scientific results were obtained.

During this 8 years of successful collaboration we obtained a Bilateral DAAD-CONICET Project, and Erasmus+ Mobility Program (Erasmus+ KA171 LUH-USAC-UNRC 2022-2025), we prepare postgraduation courses together (“Biosynthesis and analytics of secondary compounds from plants”, “Evolutionary and physiological adaptations to changes in environmental conditions” and “Field excursion along saline and arid environments in Argentina”) and also production of digital excursions: “Field excursion along saline depressions in Central Argentina (YouTube)”

At the moment we are working on a Project for a bilateral Career, a possible Master Program, which involve 2 Argentinian Universities (UNRC and University of Córdoba) and Leibniz University.

Until today I visited Hannover 5 times since 2017, 2 times with my family. The most important thing is that beyond academic activities, me and my family experienced a different culture, we explored very beautiful towns in Germany and in other European countries and built very fruitful personal and professional connections.

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