My name is Ariane Berthet, I come from France and I am 20 years old. I am a fourth year bachelor student at the University of Groningen, studying Chemistry in the track Smart Material. I live in the city of Groningen. In my free time, I enjoy playing the piano or going swimming and playing tennis. Currently I am discovering new areas of chemistry before choosing a master.
Looking through the internship vacancies online, I remembered a high school project that I have done about the chemical and biological analysis of three different types of water. I enjoyed this project a lot and, to pursue this interest I chose to do an internship at CEW based on water analysis.
My project currently focuses on developing a pilot test for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulfides using advanced oxidation processes. This is a desk study, which is perfect for me as I can discover the field of water technology by reading scientific articles and engaging with companies. A challenge for me is really to immerse myself in an entirely new field, but it also makes it exciting and interesting!
The most important thing that I am learning at CEW is to communicate properly, either with my supervisors, my colleagues, or even the companies. In doubt, there is always someone to help, and communicating with your supervisors ensures that you are on the same page. I think it is definitely a skill that is not always taught at university but is important when working in a team. Overall, my expectations have been met and I am enjoying it a lot.
After this, I plan to do internship at KWR for another 5 months, before applying to a master’s program either in Chemistry or Energy Science in the Netherlands.
