Department of Natural Sciences

Kathrin Mertens, graduate of the "Applied Biology" degree programme

Kathrin Mertens, a graduate of our university's Applied Biology degree programme, is probably one of the youngest female doctoral students in Germany at the age of 25. After spending her third year at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, where she obtained a dual degree, she was accepted directly into the doctoral programme at the renowned University of Aberdeen following a selection interview.
kathrin_mertens.jpg (DE)

"The last three years have not always been easy," says Kathrin Mertens. "But I've learnt an incredible amount, both professionally and personally."

Since October 2013, she has been working as a Trial Manager in the Epidemiology Group at the University of Aberdeen. "I manage the Arm Pain Trial, a multi-centre study looking at the successful treatment of arm pain in patients who have to wait for physiotherapy due to problems. In the future, I plan to stay in the UK and look for a job with a clinical research organisation or a clinical trials unit in England."

Kathrin Mertens would like to thank Professor Knupp from the bottom of her heart: "If he hadn't talked me into applying for a PhD position during my final year of my Bachelor's degree, I probably never would have done it."

We wish Ms Mertens every success in her future endeavours!