Mitra Darvish studied bioinformatics and earned her doctorate in the field in 2023. She is currently a patent attorney candidate.

Did you get a doctorate? Why? Why not?
I wanted to get my doctorate before I even decided what I wanted to study. For I liked the idea of working on a subject for years and knowing every detail and everything about it in at least a small area.

If so, in retrospect, did it make sense for you to pursue a doctorate?
I found the promotion personally very enriching. I enjoyed being able to set my own priorities and read a lot of research papers. I would have also liked to participate more in scientific exchange through conferences, but this was unfortunately made difficult by the Corona pandemic. But the conferences I was able to attend were instructive and motivating.
My doctorate also seems to have been useful for my career. At least, I had the impression that she was positively rewarded in the application process. And even though I no longer work in the field in which I earned my doctorate, the degree prepared me well for my career. Being able to thoroughly research a topic and possessing research and communication skills are, in my opinion, qualities that are fostered by a doctorate and are important in almost any profession.

What would you have liked to have done or learned during your studies? 
I would have liked to have more international experience. In retrospect, I realized that there would have been more opportunities for that, especially for shorter stays like summer schools, if I had looked for them.

Why did you decide on your current career?
I have always been interested in legal topics, so the career of a patent attorney seemed obvious to me. I also liked and still like that as a patent attorney you deal with the latest developments and often have close contact with the inventors.

What recommendations do you have for students who are about to complete their studies?
I think it's important to look beyond the obvious. The skills I learned are more interesting and relevant in a lot more areas than I thought as a student.