In a previous news story, we introduced Dr. Patrice Hamel’s international sustainability internship, which opened doors for Ohio State students to work with French-based companies on low-carbon economy initiatives. Since then, OSU’s global education efforts have expanded further through the STILSA (Students in Life Sciences Abroad) program. This program now offers placements in research institutions across France, the Caribbean, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, and Norway, including the TRONDBUSS program, a bilateral U.S.-Norway international education initiative between OSU’s Department of Molecular Genetics and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Through these opportunities, students from various majors earn credits in the College of Arts and Sciences while gaining invaluable research and cultural experiences abroad.

Here are a few highlights from STILSA 2024-2025:

STILSA France
Mariana Correia, a Biomedical Engineering major, researched Argonaute proteins at Sorbonne Université, while Emily Raiff, a Molecular Genetics major, studied mitochondrial enzymes at Paris-Saclay University. Both students immersed themselves in lab life and explored Paris together. 

TRONDBUSS
Pranav Jois, a Mathematics and Physics double major, used his computational skills to calibrate bacterial metabolic models in Norway, while also enjoying the country’s scenic nature. Laurel Fleszar, a Molecular Genetics major, studied the neural network of zebrafish, and both Pranav and Laurel experienced Norway’s festive National Day. 

As Dr. Patrice Hamel noted, "These programs are about more than just research—they give students the chance to develop cross-cultural perspectives and contribute to solving global challenges."