Sandiego Himawan

© Sandiego Himawan

What is your name and where do you live?

My name is Sandiego Himawan. I'm from Indonesia, and I currently live in Saarbrücken.

What did you study at Saarland University (UdS) and when?

I have a Master's degree in Biotechnology and studied from 2019 to 2022.

What did you do professionally after completing your studies?

I work at the Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) as a Lab Manager.

Why did you choose Saarland University?

I chose to study there because of the reputation of the master's programme in biotechnology. It has a good international reputation in industrial biotechnology.

Do you have any advice for current students?

Keep pushing forward, even when the road gets tough. You just need to keep trying until you succeed.

Do you have a special anecdote or story from your time at UdS?

I once left my phone in the lecture hall by accident, but fortunately the lecturer took it and kept it for me. He gave it back to me the next day. He's really sweet.

What was your favourite place on campus?

The library.

Why did you choose to study this particular subject?  

I studied biomedical engineering as an undergraduate and I was fascinated by the biotech concentration, especially medical biotechnology.

How did you make the transition into your career?

I searched for jobs with different companies and did some internships before getting into my current position.

How would you summarise your time at Saarland University in one sentence?

Challenging, but fun.

How would you summarise Saarland University itself in one sentence?

Internationally connected and culturally diverse.

What did you particularly like about your studies at Saarland University?

Most of all, I liked the international environment and the campus location.

What would you have liked to have known when you started your career?

The importance of soft skills during internships at research institutes.

What surprised you during your studies?

The language barrier.

What would you like to experience again at Saarland University?

The monthly biotech seminar.

What other alumni offers would you like to see?

Alumni gatherings.