Research internship thanks to scholarship: “I went my own way”

Psychology Master's student Rasmus Möring was able to expand his knowledge during two stays abroad:Last year, he conducted research in the USA and studied at a university in Sweden.How can such trips be financed?He recommends looking at foundations.Because: “Many people don't know that as a student you can also gain experience abroad outside of the usual programs.”

People behave very differently in the same situations - Rasmus Möring already noticed this fact as a student: “I wanted to understand how this happens. I wanted to understand the system behind it." The reason why he decided to study psychology. He chose Landau as a place to study “because the university is not so big”. Not as anonymous as perhaps at a mass university in a big city, he says. The 26-year-old is currently in his sixth Master's semester. His Master's thesis is about social exclusion and group affiliation. The whole thing takes place within the framework of social psychology. His favorite subject, as he adds: “Social psychology is one of the foundations for media and communication psychology and also for political psychology.”

Collaborated on research at US university

He has been involved in social psychology since his third semester as a student assistant. One day, he met the American professor Felicia Pratto, a social psychologist at the University of Connecticut. "She gave a lecture here in Landau. I plucked up all my courage and asked her for an internship." One year and numerous emails later, he was supposed to join Pratto in the USA for a research internship. "But then came corona. And the whole thing became an online internship." Nevertheless, this also gave him an insight into the research of the psychologists there.

This was followed by a stay in the country from May to July 2023: Rasmus Möring worked on site - in the research group at the University of Connecticut. “I was able to contribute to the development of a book chapter, for example.” What was the content about? “How status and radicalization are connected - under social exclusion.” The internship consisted of reading, researching specialist literature and summarizing findings. “We then discussed everything together as a team.” The atmosphere in the research group was great: “I worked with Bachelor's graduates. In other words, with people who were at roughly the same level as me. However, they were already doing their doctorates. The system in the USA is different to ours in that respect."

What did he learn specifically? "How to conceptualize a theory. How to establish correlations and create a common thread in data." He was also able to familiarize himself with the AMOS statistics software. “I hadn't worked with it before in Germany.” And he was able to take part in a specialist conference: “We presented our results in Montreal.” There in Canada, he met important and interesting people from his field of research. “People who developed the theory we used as a basis 20 years ago.” He received tips “that we were able to include in our book chapter.”

Scholarship made a stay in the USA possible

Networking in science is important - that's what he takes with him. And what else? What other added value did the internship have? "Clearly, I was able to improve my English skills. Especially my technical English. You need that for specialist articles or at conferences."

He financed this stay abroad outside of the usual programs, as he emphasizes: “In a way, I went my own way. As a scholarship holder of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation." He has been a scholarship holder of the foundation since his second bachelor's semester and receives 300 euros a month, “an internship abroad is also financed if it is credited at Landau University.” A scholarship as a way of financing a stay abroad - he recommends: “Look around at foundations. Far more people can get a scholarship than you might think."

“The culture in Sweden and the USA is very different”

Another stay abroad followed from August to January 2023. This time as part of the Erasmus+ program. "I spent a semester here as a student at Mid Sweden University. A university with two campuses, just like RPTU. About a four-hour drive from Stockholm." What was different in Sweden compared to the USA? “The culture is completely different,” says Rasmus Möring. "American culture is very open. Swedes, on the other hand, are very reserved." He initially had to get used to this difference: “I remember meeting a Swedish friend on the way to a lecture. I tried to start a conversation with him. However, he only answered my questions in monosyllables and didn't smile once. That surprised me. Someone else told me later that this was typical of the north. But observations like that are part and parcel of a stay abroad.” Apart from university and the interpersonal encounters - what else did he experience in Sweden? "I was in Lapland. That was a great experience. I tried ice fishing and saw the northern lights. And in the far north, the sun didn't rise at all. That was awesome."

“Living in another country is different to going there on vacation”

His conclusion from all this: “I can only recommend a stay abroad to anyone.” And what advice would he like to give other students in advance? "Start organizing everything early enough. That takes the pressure off." And: “You should familiarize yourself with the culture of the country in advance, even if it's a European country.” So: “What are the people like? What can I expect? A few things are definitely different from here. And there will always be surprises." Living in another country is very different from going on vacation there. You shouldn't underestimate the organizational effort either - especially if you're going to the USA. Rasmus Möring: “The International Office in Landau gave me a lot of support. For example, when it came to applying for a US visa."

Rasmus Möring wants to do a doctorate after completing his Master's degree. He can imagine working for universities or government organizations, security agencies or NGOs, for example. “I want to be able to use my specialist knowledge.” The question of why people behave the way they do is something he has already been able to investigate several times during his studies - and with international insights.

Text:Christine Pauli