Merck Serono opens labs to budding scientists
Selected students, aged 17–18 years, perform practical research work and share their knowledge
Each year the firm supports the Swiss Youth in Science foundation by hosting groups of students in its labs, who gain practical experience and an understanding of the reality of research with the help of highly skilled mentors.
‘Supporting meaningful initiatives to stimulate scientific curiosity and interest in research careers among the young is a responsibility that Merck Serono is eager to take on,’ said Bernhard Kirschbaum, executive vice president, global research and development at Merck Serono.
‘If we succeed in building well-prepared and motivated next generations of scientists, we will enable the discovery of breakthrough and innovative solutions to answer patients' unmet needs and to handle the global medical challenges of the future.’
Since 1989, the Swiss Youth in Science foundation, whose mission is to promote science, has worked with local universities and industry by organising study weeks all over Switzerland in different scientific disciplines. Traditionally, Merck Serono contributes to the study weeks focused on chemistry and genetics.
This year, the foundation proposed four themes in the genetics in biology and medicine week: molecular and cellular biology, bioinformatics, neurobiology, and anthropology/evolutionary biology.
Students have developed their assignments in pharmacology, immunology and new compounds screening. Under the supervision of Merck Serono mentors, they performed short research projects and presented them as posters at the final ceremony at the University of Geneva.
