A Glimpse into Research: Student Internship at the Chair of Bioprocess Engineering

In June, two 11th-grade students from Bertha-von-Suttner Comprehensive School in Kaiserslautern and Integrated Comprehensive School (IGS) Landau had the opportunity to complete their school internship at the Chair of Bioprocess Engineering. During their stay, they accompanied members of the research staff on a daily basis and gained valuable insights into ongoing research projects.

Hands-on laboratory work was a key focus of the internship. The students carried out the fermentation of barley mash in the 100-liter brewing system of the RPTU Brewing Group, gaining first-hand experience in the beer brewing process. They also determined the sugar and alcohol contents of various beverages using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Another part of the internship involved extracting photopigments from algae and cyanobacteria using different solvents. In addition, they were introduced to the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles and to 3D printing technology. They then applied their newly acquired knowledge by conducting a separation experiment using a 3D-printed prototype of a magnetic separator. The internship also offered an opportunity to experience campus life. During lunch breaks, the students enjoyed the wide range of meals available at the university cafeteria at discounted student prices and had the chance to interact with students and staff. We would like to thank both interns for their interest and commitment throughout the internship. We wish them every success and all the best in their future studies.