Please introduce yourself.

My name is Rhea Pookulangara, I’m a second-year student in the College of Engineering. I am a double major in biomedical engineering and computer science. I am interested in computational neuroscience and I love both technical and biological research. At Mizzou, I am a part of the Engineer’s Club and the Honors College.

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I knew that I wanted to gain experience in research outside of pure coding. Based on my decision to double-major, I did not have a lot of leeway to explore within the semester, but I wanted to give myself every opportunity available. This class seemed like the perfect way to get out of my comfort zone in terms of content and location.

What study abroad program are you participating in? What does it involve?

I am participating in the program, “Global Research: Biomedicine in Sweden.” It involves staining mouse, macaque, pig and human tissue systems with various proteins to help add data to the Human Protein Atlas. The Mizzou Cohort is specifically focused on expanding the Mammalian Protein Atlas to include mouse, macaque and pig data. I work with fallopian tube tissue samples.

How did Mizzou prepare you for this program?

Mizzou and Mizzou Engineering prepared me for this program holistically by encouraging me to develop independence and curiosity through classroom experiences like working with other students and asking professors questions. I also gained research and wet lab experience through my classwork.

Additionally, the Study Abroad office prepared me for Sweden itself with pre-departure orientations. There were a multitude of resources available for those who had more questions about international and solo travel.

What are you learning from your study abroad program outside the classroom?

I am learning how to be comfortable and confident with being alone in different spaces and how to adapt to unexpected situations.

In a city with a metro, you’re bound to take the wrong line at some point. My first time being lost happened to be when I was alone. Realistically, I knew that I would be okay and that I had options, but I had to be okay with making a mistake. It felt like walking down the street next to a crowd and then having to turn around in front of them. Of course, no one was watching me, but figuring out how to change plans and completely rely on myself had a small learning curve.

Honestly, the most daunting thing I did during this program was ask strangers, who did not really speak English, to take a picture of me. I have also enjoyed the connections and friendships I have made, including with the Mizzou cohort.

What are you enjoying about your time in Sweden? Outside of your studies?

In the lab, it was very gratifying to grow from asking the project leader questions about every step of the experiment to being trusted with closing up the lab after everyone else had left. I also felt like I was genuinely contributing to an overall scientific database rather than working on a farce project that was simply busy work. My instructors were so kind, and I grew close to them during my time abroad. They were great mentors.