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

Why did you decide to do a Voluntary Scientific Year?

After leaving school, I was still very unsure about what direction I wanted to take in my academic appointment. However, even while I was still at school, I had no doubts that I would like to go in a scientific/biological direction. However, I wanted to find out more about the different degree programmes and didn't want to make a hasty decision, which is why I decided to do a one-year voluntary service. While researching possible volunteer positions, I came across the FWJ and decided relatively quickly to apply there, as there was no alternative with a scientific focus in the region.

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

I work together with another FWJ student at the University Department of Urology in the Department of Medicine and Health Sciences. My working group mainly deals with prostate carcinomas and conducts various urological studies. Most of my tasks consist of assisting in the operating theatre. In the operating theatre, we help to dissect and document lymph nodes. We also maintain various Excel spreadsheets independently and occasionally support doctoral students in finding data and researching for their doctoral thesis.

What surprised you positively?

I was most positively surprised by the people I work with every day. Despite the stressful everyday life at the hospital, everyone is always keen to help or answer any questions that arise. I was also given a lot of responsibility very early on. I became part of the working group straight away, with a fixed task that was only taken on by me. Right from the start, you had the feeling that the working group was familiar with your tasks and happy for you to help out.

What have you learnt so far during your voluntary service?

Above all, a lot of independence. The fact that I was given so much responsibility early on meant that independence and personal responsibility were practically a prerequisite for the job. I learnt to organise my own daily routine and to manage my available time appropriately. I also gained a lot of insight into working life and can now imagine what the processes are like in a hospital and at a university.

What advice would you give to future FWJ students?

If you need another year to get your bearings or simply want to take a year off and are interested in the (natural) sciences, the FWJ is a very good opportunity for you. Embrace new things and be open to the new environment, as this will open up many opportunities and experiences for you. Also be aware that there will be phases when there is not so much going on and you don't have much to do. In such phases, it is important that you can keep yourself busy and use the time for research or your own study orientation, for example.

My name is Luca and since 1 September 2020 I've been doing a Voluntary Scientific Year at the University Clinic for Urology in Oldenburg.

Maybe you're feeling the same as I did a year ago, your A-levels are just around the corner and you have to think about what you want to do afterwards and what your next steps will be.

If you have a keen interest in biology, chemistry and, above all, human medicine, then the Voluntary Scientific Year at the University Clinic for Urology at Oldenburg Hospital is probably just the thing for you.

Various studies on urological tumours are carried out in my working group, where I am responsible for assisting with the studies. When a patient undergoes a radical prostatectomy and sentinel lymphadenectomy due to prostate cancer, I take on tasks in the operating theatre. First of all, the probe has to be set up because the surgeon can use the probe to measure the magnetic activity of the lymph nodes in the body and thus recognise sentinel lymph nodes. The magnetic activity is generated by iron oxide nanoparticles that are injected into the prostate preoperatively. The sentinel lymph nodes must be removed selectively, as this is where the risk of metastases is greatest. I document the lymph nodes, measure them and prepare them for pathology. The probe must of course be cleaned and removed afterwards.

In addition to the tasks during an operation, there are of course also tasks in the office. I transfer the documented values and other information into various Excel spreadsheets. There are also other administrative tasks that I take on, such as creating and sending out patient consent forms and information for further studies.

There are also tasks such as centrifuging and freezing blood samples and supporting doctoral candidates.

The first time I was involved in an operation, I was very nervous and unsure, but I've since become more confident and I really enjoy working in the operating theatre. I have also grown to love the administrative tasks and overall I can say that I have enjoyed very few things as much as the FWJ. Here I have the opportunity to get a taste of hospital life and gain my first medical experience. You're not just used as "cheap labour" here, Doctor Winter and Doctor Engels are really interested in teaching you something. No matter how much I ask, I always get a detailed and precise answer. I've also been allowed to stand at the table and hold hooks during several operations. Being at the operating table is always particularly exciting, as you can only really see everything from there.

I also particularly enjoyed spending a day on the urology ward. I was on the ward round, was allowed to watch and help out in the emergency department and the planned inpatient admissions and then attended the afternoon meeting.

Before starting the FWJ, I would never have expected that I would be given so many opportunities to familiarise myself with everyday hospital life, that I would be allowed to work so independently and that I would be able to take on so many exciting tasks.

Anyone who gets the opportunity to complete a Voluntary Scientific Year at the University of Oldenburg can consider themselves really lucky. Because in addition to the experience you gain in your working group, there are also seminar days at the university where you can exchange ideas with other volunteers and learn even more about studying. Our last education days, for example, were all about self-organisation during your studies and time management.

As you can see from my experience report, the FWJ is the perfect interface between A-levels and university. Not only do you learn a lot of specialist knowledge here, but you can also develop personally. Among other things, I managed to overcome my fear of talking on the phone and I am no longer as shy as I was when I was at school.

As a potential future volunteer, I would like to advise you to make the most of the opportunities that are available to you. If you are interested in something, find out more, if you don't understand something, ask and if you would like to do something specific, then speak up. Here on the urology ward, everyone is really nice and is genuinely interested in showing you new things.

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

I work at the University Clinic for Urology in Oldenburg. Here I am involved in a study on the treatment of patients with prostate cancer. The Urology Department at Oldenburg University Hospital is working with a new method for detecting so-called shield guard lymph nodes using iron nanoparticles. During a "radical prostatectomy and sentinel lymphadenectomy", the prostate and some lymph nodes are surgically removed from the patient. During the operation, I am responsible for documenting the removed lymph nodes, measuring the activity of the iron nanoparticles with a magnetic probe and preparing the specimens. After the operation, I transfer the data to Excel spreadsheets. It has to be said that my daily routine often varies depending on whether and when an operation is scheduled and how long it takes. Sometimes I also get tasks from doctoral candidates, for example to look up or add certain data. I also attend an English course at the university with other FWJ students, where we can improve our language skills.

Sample daily routine

Why did you decide to do a Voluntary Scientific Year?

After leaving school, I was unsure about my choice of degree programme. I am very interested in medicine, but I didn't know 100 per cent whether an academic appointment as a doctor was right for me. The FWJ in urology offers me the ideal career orientation, as I get to know the day-to-day running of a clinic. It is also a practical preparation for scientific work, as you will also encounter during your studies. You benefit from the proximity to the university and the students. So my aim is to use the Voluntary Scientific Year to orientate myself towards my studies, gain practical experience and gain an insight into the hospital, the university and science.

What has been your highlight so far?

The most exciting thing is when I get to hold the hook during an operation. When you're at the operating table, you have a much better view of what's happening and the surgeons are happy to explain their procedures to you. I've also had the opportunity to assist with other operations, such as laparoscopic nephrectomy or circumcision.

Why did you choose the University of Oldenburg?

I applied both in Oldenburg and at the MHH Hannover. However, I am happy to have been accepted at the University of Oldenburg. It's very informal here with nine FWJ students and you get to know the others well through monthly seminars. The voluntary service is very well organised and you are helped directly if you have any questions.

What advice would you give to future volunteers?

Have the courage to try out new things so that you leave this year with more experience. I always looked away from operating theatre scenes in the film and now operations are an integral part of my working week. During an FWJ, it is also important to show interest and approach tasks with motivation. So always ask if something is unclear or you want to find out more about a particular topic.