Audrey Bivens is an Oregon State University student majoring in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. She participated in the IE3 Global Internship STEM Research in Spain during the spring of 2024, where she received hands-on lab experience working in crystallography. Bivens was also able to improve her Spanish-speaking abilities while living in Madrid.
After being awarded an IE3 Global Scholarship, Audrey says that she is “grateful to have received a scholarship that helped fund her time abroad and gave her the chance to experience life in Spain firsthand.” In addition to getting incredibly valuable lab experience on her internship, she was also able to go on weekend trips, attend Real Madrid’s games during the UEFA champions league, and even went to the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) to use an X-ray Free-Electron Laser—a special opportunity in her line of work.
The STEM Research Internship through IE3 Global provides a range of individualized placement opportunities at various hospitals, universities, or other institutions in Madrid or Valencia. These opportunities can vary greatly based on each student’s interests, goals, and experience level. The internship partners provide local expertise and support, which is felt by participating students and helps to contribute to the best education abroad experiences possible.
“Studying abroad was one of the most meaningful experiences of my college career and is something I'll carry with me forever,” Bivens remarks. Through her lab work, she was able to learn about scientific processes that were completely new to her and got to experience daily life in a culture very different than that in Oregon.
“Not only did I grow so much, but I also gained confidence and learned how to appreciate living in the moment. I’d recommend studying abroad to anyone who’s even a little curious.”
