Here, participants in the Voluntary Scientific Year (FWJ) report on their experiences at the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Oldenburg.

Why did you decide to do a Voluntary Academic Year?

I decided to do the FWJ because, after finishing my Abitur, I was still unsure what I wanted to do next – as is probably the case for many people. At first, I thought about doing a FSJ to bridge the gap for a year. However, I never really saw myself in a social care role. When I then happened to hear about the FWJ, I immediately thought: ‘This is perfect for me.’
I’ve always been fascinated by psychology, biology, medicine and related fields. At the same time, for a long time I wasn’t sure which of these areas interested me the most. As I love delving deeply into topics and getting to the bottom of the ‘why’, the question eventually arose as to whether research might be just the right thing for me. So I finally decided to do the FWJ!
I also thought to myself: even if it turns out that research isn’t the right thing for me after all, I’d still learn a lot about myself and gain experience in a field that you rarely come into contact with outside university.

Where are you based and what are your responsibilities?

I’m based at the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. There, I’m helping with a study on loneliness that investigates how social contact in the form of massages affects people who feel lonely. This involves, amongst other things, collecting saliva and blood samples, carrying out MRI scans and analysing questionnaires on the participants’ well-being.
My main role within the research group is to organise the study. I coordinate appointments, handle standard administrative tasks and recruit study participants. I am also present during appointments, such as MRI scans, where I explain the procedures and ensure that the samples are properly sorted and documented. Alongside my main day-to-day duties, I’m regularly given additional tasks such as creating questionnaires, designing and distributing leaflets, and pipetting blood samples.

What has pleasantly surprised you?

I was particularly pleasantly surprised by the level of trust and responsibility placed in me. Although I’m a volunteer, I play a major part in organising the study and help to ensure that everything runs smoothly. It’s a great feeling to know that my work is, in some way, helping to generate scientific insights and advance research.

What have you learnt so far during your voluntary service?

Above all, I’ve learnt what research actually looks like in day-to-day life, and through my daily work on the computer I’ve definitely picked up some technical skills. I’ve also been able to apply a lot of the knowledge from the university lectures we’re allowed to attend alongside our normal working day.
Personally, I’ve become much more confident when engaging in contact with research participants and in my private life. I’ve learnt a lot about myself – about which topics interest me, what sort of work I enjoy, and which academic direction I’m drawn towards for the future.

What advice would you give to future volunteers?

I can only recommend giving research a go if you’re generally interested in it. It’s very worthwhile and offers the chance to gain valuable experience in science even before you start your degree, or quite independently of it.
And if you’ve already realised that a year of voluntary service might be right for you: don’t be put off by the application process or what comes next. Everyone here is very friendly and helpful, and they’re more than happy to support you if you’re feeling unsure or have any questions!

Why did you decide to do a voluntary research year?

I finished my Abitur in 2023 and needed another year to find my feet afterwards, as I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study. As I’ve always been very interested in the natural sciences and psychology, a Voluntary Academic Year seemed the ideal opportunity to experience scientific research first-hand and gain a better understanding of the day-to-day work of a scientist.

Where are you based and what are your responsibilities?

I’m based at the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and work in the research department (NEMO Lab). A wide range of studies are carried out here, including research aimed at improving treatment options for patients with depression or schizophrenia. I have the opportunity to gain an insight into each of these studies. At the moment, I’m mainly helping with two studies: one focuses on social interaction and the other on the effects of social touch on loneliness. My tasks include creating posters and writing text for the website to present the studies. I also arrange appointments with participants, conduct psychiatric interviews with them and assist with measurements in the MRI scanner. After these scans, there’s always a small amount of laboratory work involved, processing blood and saliva samples. It also involves transferring the data into Excel spreadsheets after the appointments. I’ve even been able to carry out my own analysis using this data over the last few weeks.

What challenges have you had to face so far?

The biggest challenge for me was definitely settling into the world of work. At school, everything was strictly prescribed and timed – in day-to-day working life, however, every day is a bit different and can’t be planned exactly in advance. Nevertheless, I have much more freedom to organise my day as I see fit, which felt very unfamiliar at first.

What has pleasantly surprised you?

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I’m actively involved in many processes and am allowed to take on a great deal of responsibility in my tasks. I also have the opportunity to help shape my daily work routine according to my preferences and to work very independently. At the same time, my colleagues offer me insights into various aspects of research work as well as working with patients, so that I can get to know different facets of working in psychiatry.

What do you think this year will bring you?

This year will definitely give me a multifaceted insight into research work, but also into university life. I’m taking an English course at university and regularly attending lectures to get an overview of the various degree programmes. The FWJ acts as a bridge between getting to know university life and the world of work. Thanks to this year, it’s already become a bit clearer to me which direction my studies will take and in what kind of environment I’d like to work later on. I hope that my decision will be firmly established by the end of this year.

What have you learnt so far during your voluntary service?

I’ve definitely learnt to work independently and take on responsibility. At the start, I read a great many scientific papers to learn more about my field of work. This has broadened my knowledge of neurobiology and psychology and, for example, taught me how certain hormones influence behaviour. I’ve also been able to familiarise myself with various software applications, such as the MATLAB programming language and the SPSS statistics software. Furthermore, I’ve become more confident in dealing with research participants and have learnt to stay calm in difficult situations and resolve them.

What advice would you give to future volunteers?

The FWJ offers incredibly valuable experiences and insights into the world of work and university life. Especially if you’re not yet sure what you want to do after school, use this year to gain hands-on experience of practical work. Don’t be put off if something doesn’t work out straight away or if you don’t understand something straight away – there’s always someone there who’ll be happy to answer your questions. And don’t be afraid to voice your preferences, to play an active part in shaping your FWJ, and to make the most of what the university has to offer (such as attending lectures or seminars).
You’ll learn a great deal and have some unique experiences during your FWJ!