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

Why did you decide to do a Voluntary Scientific Year?

I hoped that this year would give me guidance for my future. I had long realised that I wanted to do something in the natural sciences and I had also toyed with the idea of "going into research" - but I wasn't really sure what exactly that would mean. Now I have a clearer picture of what positions in clinical research can look like, e.g. clinician scientist or "researching doctor" or PhD and post-doc positions.

Where are you employed and what are your areas of responsibility?

I work at the Department of Neurology. My tasks are varied and will certainly not be the ones you will do as the next FWJ student, but here is a little insight: Primarily, I am currently carrying out the measurements for two studies.

The PANGÄA study is investigating the pupillary response to deviant auditory stimuli in people with Parkinson's and the Tap&Release study, which is passed on from volunteer to volunteer, is looking at the reaction time when tapping and releasing a key in people with Parkinson's. I'm also recruiting test subjects. I'm also recruiting test subjects for these two studies, taking on small programming tasks (which I wouldn't have dared to do at first, but which I now really enjoy), working on a so-called meta-analysis on vagus nerve stimulation and lots of other smaller things here and there.

What challenges have you had to face so far?

Getting used to the working hours, combined with the commute, was difficult for me at first - but it gets easier as it gets lighter. It was also a challenge for me to come to an unfamiliar environment and find my way around. But you have to remember that everyone around you is only human and doesn't mean you any harm. I've become a much more open person here and now have almost no problems calling someone (yippee!).

What surprised you in a positive way?

I was positively surprised by how much I enjoy working with test subjects. Once I had established a certain routine, I really enjoyed the measurements. And how much I was welcomed with open arms and supported in various endeavours, e.g. submitting an abstract to a congress or any work shadowing in the clinic.

What do you think this year will bring you?

Above all, this year has given me orientation, as I can get a taste of many areas and see what the reality of everyday working life can look like. At the same time, I've realised that it's okay not to have a perfectly concrete plan for the future. This realisation takes the pressure off me and is just as valuable to me.

What have you learnt so far during your voluntary service?

I think I've learnt more in this year than in any other. On the one hand, there are the content-related aspects (including: how do I carry out the MoCA test? How does a meta-analysis work? What influence does the locus coeruleus have on the pupil? How does this differ in people with Parkinson's and can vagus nerve stimulation influence this?) and, on the other hand, dealing with test subjects and patients, organising myself and taking responsibility - both in terms of content and organisation.

What advice would you give to future volunteers?

Make the most of the time you have here - and make the most of it. The FWJ is a unique experience, and you are offered an extremely wide range of opportunities and support, especially in this working group. In neurology, you will be working in a very interesting, relevant specialist area and will be in great hands with a friendly, helpful team!

Why did you decide to do a Voluntary Scientific Year?

I always knew that I wanted to go into the natural sciences as an academic appointment. I wasn't sure whether biology or medicine was the right subject for me. In order to be able to make a decision and get a better idea of what my future career would be like, I wanted to gain an insight into research and clinical work during the FWJ. It was also nice not to be stuck in stressful learning and exam phases for a year after leaving school and to generally get a taste of working life ;)

Where are you working and what are your areas of responsibility?

During my FWJ at the Department of Neurology, I was involved in many different projects in order to gain as much insight as possible into medical research and the scientific world. After a short familiarisation phase, I worked on several projects on "Healthy ageing of the cerebellum". The cerebellum is a part of the brain that is particularly responsible for (fine) motor skills and coordination, but according to new findings is also responsible for higher brain functions, e.g. decision-making. The study of healthy ageing is therefore taking on an increasingly central role - also in view of demographic change. My tasks initially involved compiling data in Excel spreadsheets and familiarising myself with the topic, but I was also repeatedly involved in data analysis. I am now even involved in the development of a "Systematic Review" - an overview of the latest research in this field. After a few months, I was also allowed to take on my own clinical research project. The aim of the project is to examine the reaction times of Parkinson's patients when tapping on a screen and releasing a screen in comparison to healthy control subjects. Parkinson's disease has three cardinal symptoms: tremor (trembling), rigor (stiffness) and bradycardia (slowness of movement), of which the slowness of movement in particular also leads to slower reaction times. Starting with an ethics application and the formal preparation of the study, I am currently in the middle of the data collection process and regularly test patients and control subjects using an app, so I can also gain a lot of clinical experience and experience the stages of a research project up close.

Why are you doing your voluntary service at the University of Oldenburg of all places?

The FWJ is currently only offered at Hannover Medical School and the University of Oldenburg. At the University of Oldenburg, the group of FWJ volunteers is much smaller, which makes it easier to get to know each other at the seminars. The medical degree programme at the University of Oldenburg is also a model degree programme, which is different from other universities, so you get a different perspective on the degree programme in addition to the typical standard degree programme. In general, I also liked the fact that Oldenburg is a green city close to the coast and therefore offers many opportunities for activities. :)

What challenges have you had to face so far?

One of the biggest challenges so far has been adjusting to working life. At school, every day is always precisely timetabled. At work, you have much more freedom to organise your day, which gives you lots of opportunities to work individually - but is a bit unusual and demanding at first. At the same time, you have a lot more responsibility and have to face up to it.

What surprised you positively?

I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I was involved in a lot of processes and projects from day one, that my questions were always answered and that everything was always explained to me in detail. This gave me a very good insight into research in neurological fields. It was also surprising that I was able to work in the clinic so often and experience clinical research at first hand. Both have strengthened and consolidated my interests in this direction.

What have you learnt so far during your voluntary service?

During the Voluntary Scientific Year, I have gained an incredible amount of great experience and developed personally in many areas. At the beginning of my FWJ, I was a little unsure of how to deal with patients, especially patients with neurodegenerative diseases. However, because I spent a whole month in the clinic, I quickly realised that I really enjoyed working with patients in this area. I also learnt a lot about neurology in general, as I was able to attend several lectures and often read scientific articles and books. I was also familiarised with statistical topics and the Python programming language and attended an English course at the university.

What do you think this year will bring you?

The year will definitely help me decide where to study. Thanks to the many positive experiences I was able to gain during the FWJ, I am now certain that I want to study medicine. I also developed myself in every respect, was able to consolidate my interests and also gained a lot of scientific and clinical experience (e.g. working with patients). Thanks to the many practical experiences and the insights into the scientific world, I also feel very well prepared for my future studies.

What advice would you give to future volunteers?

Believe in yourself and show interest and motivation in your work! The FWJ really is a unique experience that you should definitely make the most of!