MCI: Going global with biotechnology

To strengthen scientific exchange between Austria and the USA, the Marshall Plan Scholarship is awarded annually to Austrian students with outstanding academic achievements. In 2022, two students can look forward to the unique opportunity of a research stay at the renowned University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB).

Ilan Henzler, a master's student in the Biotechnology program, will be writing his master's thesis at UCSB from May to November 2022. His work will focus on optimizing a process to produce dimeric antibodies for clinical trials. Dimeric antibodies can aid in the treatment of numerous diseases by helping the immune system fight them. Henzler's research focuses on the treatment of polycystic kidney disease, which affects more than 600,000 people in the United States alone.

Matthias Häffner, a bachelor's student in Bio- & Food Technology, received the grant for his research on the effect of diets on disease. Specifically, he is looking at the impact of ketogenic diets on polycystic kidneys. He finds the ideal research conditions at UCSB's Weimbs Lab and will study this topic in more detail during the 2022 summer semester.

Christoph Griesbeck, Head of the Department of Bio- & Food Technology, is delighted: "The opportunities that the research stay opens up for Mr. Henzler and Mr. Häffner are immensely important for an international career. This is a unique opportunity to gain insights into everyday international research at this renowned university and to build international networks. I'm very pleased that our students get and seize such great opportunities."

Marshall Plan Award

The prestigious Marshall Plan Award is given for research stays at prestigious elite universities in the United States. In this context, the Marshall Plan Scholarship Program (MSP) supports the scientific exchange of students studying technical subjects in Austria and the USA. Since 2009, MCI students have regularly been awarded the coveted Marshall Plan Scholarship.

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