In the frame of the international strategies and common actions of the Écoles normales supérieures in France, ENS de Lyon has taken the lead in the creation of a partnership with the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) in India.

In 2018 the ENS-IISER network implemented a framework agreement allowing their institutions to collaborate on different levels: development of exchange programs, joint training, seminars, joint research and publications, as well as research internships.

Mridusmita DAS experience at ENS de Lyon

Mridusmita DAS, is a 22 years old student at IISER Pune. She completed a 6-month internship in the field of Drosophila at LBMC, supervised by Muriel GRAMMONT. She wishes to pursue a PhD in France or Europe.

The suggestion to do an internship in France for this project came from her supervisor in India, as Muriel GRAMMONT and her supervisor are collaborating on the same research project. They proposed to Mridusmita to apply for an intership in France and so she took the opportunity.
She did not know much about France before coming, but she discovered that the city of Lyon was beautiful, both historically and culturally. She greatly enjoyed the wide range of activities available, but found it was important to know at least some French. That is why she tried to learn the language during her stay. Although everyone speaks English at ENS de Lyon, most French people outside the school do not speak it and that is why she had to use a translator most of the times.

For Mridusmita the accommodation was quite nice, with enough space in the room and bathroom. The laboratories were well-equipped, but she found they were not spacious enough. She mentionned that the new generation of equipment has been very beneficial for her internship. She enjoyed the time she spent in the gym as well. For her lunch, she was able to eat at the CROUS thanks to the vouchers provided by the lab.

Mridusmita met many people who have now become her friends, most of them from France, but also from other countries. There was an international conference organized by ENS de Lyon, which allowed her to meet Japanese students.

Doing an internship in France was a great opportunity, as it helped her in her decision to pursue a PhD. She developed new skills, both scientifically and personally. Scientifically, she learned new techniques and improved her time management. She pointed out some difference in the work culture as she thinks that the French work a lot and that discussions were particularly formal. A few breaks within the laboratory would have been appreciated, she stated. On a personal level, she broadened her horizons and embraced different cultures. Additionally, living alone allowed her to develop her culinary skills, as she had to learn how to cook for herself. 

During her stay in France, she found the culture extremly interesting. The Christmas season was truly exceptional, with the city beautifully decorated. People are very helpful and treat you well. La Fête des Lumières was an amazing experience, she recalls.

Hopefully, Mridusmita did not face any difficulties, as the paperwork was easy to complete, she was happy to received her visa within five days. The accommodation for her was free, and her flight tickets were covered by the BIOSANTEXC program. Living in France was a bit challenging since she was alone, away from her family, which at times made her feel homesick.

She would gladly recommend the BIOSANTEXC programme as it was a great opportunity for her to explore new things and learn new techniques in the laboratory. It allowed her to live on her own and grow personally. She also had the chance to discover French culture and visit neighboring countries such as Switzerland and Spain.