• Student
  • 14/10/2026
  • Nederlands

And how are things in Zürich?

When master’s student Vera Jakobs told her friends that she would be spending twelve weeks in Switzerland for her research internship, their reactions were quite enthusiastic. Beautiful mountains, a safe and well-organized country, and, of course, Swiss chocolate. That’s how she experiences it, too, and at the same time, she’s learning at ETH Zurich that experimental research takes time.

by
photo Vera JaKobs

“I am currently doing my master's in Applied Physics at TU/e, and for my internship I joined the Laboratory of Soft Materials at ETH Zürich. My research focuses on the behaviour of particles at an air-water interface. More specifically, I am investigating what happens when these particle layers are compressed and eventually start to buckle. This involves quite a lot of time in the lab, looking through microscopes and trying to figure out why experiments don't always behave the way I would like them to."

"Having tried six different experimental setups by now, I have certainly learned that experimental research requires quite a bit of patience.”

A visit to the lab. On the left is friend Kelly from the Curieus sorority

“ETH itself is an impressive place to work. I am based at the Hönggerberg campus, just outside the city centre. The facilities are great and the research environment is very international. There is even a rooftop terrace with a beautiful view of the surrounding area, which reminds me a little of Flux at TU/e, where I have spent so much of my time over the past few years. That makes me feel right at home!"

"One of the more surprising discoveries was that our research group has its own fully functioning English pub, hidden behind what looks like an ordinary laboratory door.”

An English pub behind a lab door

“One thing I really like about arriving in September is that the academic year was just starting. This meant I could join some of the introduction activities, which was a nice way to meet other students and get to know the university outside the lab.”

View of Zurich from Lindenhof

“Zürich has been a lovely place to live. The city is beautiful, incredibly clean and surrounded by nature. On a clear day, it is even possible to see the Alps from the city centre." 

"Almost every weekend, I have someone visiting from The Netherlands, which gives me a good excuse to keep exploring Zürich and its surroundings. I have also made trips to places like Lucerne and Bern. The Swiss public transport system makes it incredibly easy to travel around the country, although the prices do make me miss my Dutch student travel pass.”

View from the Uetliberg. All photos | Vera Jakobs

“At the beginning of October, I attended the Swiss Soft Materials Day in Fribourg, where I presented a poster about my research and was selected to give a short pitch. It was a great opportunity to meet researchers from other universities and learn about their projects.”

“With a few weeks left in Zürich, I am hoping to make some good progress on my research and explore a little more of Switzerland. The past weeks have flown by, and I am looking forward to making the most of the time I have left here.”

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