Lam-Ha Ly studied bioinformatics at the Free University of Berlin and completed her doctorate there in 2016. Today, she works as a forensic scientist in DNA analysis.

Did you get a doctorate? Why? Why not?

Although I couldn't imagine it at the beginning of my studies, I did end up getting my doctorate. During my studies, I was able to cover many different research fields, so I had a very clear idea of what my research interests were.Since a doctorate provides enough flexibility to delve deeper into an interest and explore a research area in detail, I decided to pursue a doctorate.

If so, in retrospect, did it make sense for you to pursue a doctorate?

For me, it made total sense to get a doctorate. It was like a sandbox where you could let off steam. Many analyses and results led nowhere, but others led to interesting questions. So you proceed cautiously, and with a bit of luck, you end up with a doctoral thesis. Additionally, I had my first child during my doctoral studies and was able to work well from home through my bioinformatics work. Aside from personal reasons, this also depends on financial resources and how family-friendly the institute and the research group are. But for me, that was definitely the right way.

What knowledge or skills did you acquire in your studies that you didn't think you'd ever need?

I didn't think that general communication and presentation were so important. I recognized this during my studies and during my doctoral work and continued to expand on it. I still need this today as part of my work as an expert witness when I have to represent expert opinions based on statistical analysis in court.

What would you have liked to have done or learned during your studies?

I took time for exactly such skills during my studies, even if it meant a longer period of study. I found it much more important to take on study-related student jobs or complete internships abroad, where I could develop both linguistically and professionally, than to study during regular study time. This allows for practical applications on the one hand, but also a well-established network for the time after graduation.

Why did you decide on your current career?

Out of curiosity, I applied and the team is so cool that I stayed.

What recommendations do you have for students who want to complete their studies in a timely manner?

You are never a student again. Time is very intense, but it also comes to an end. And it's better to take a few more soft skills and internships along the way than to have too few.