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And how are things at CERN?

On the Swiss-French border, near Geneva, lies CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, renowned globally for its groundbreaking work in particle physics. As an electrical engineering intern, I’ve embarked on a four-month journey within this hub of scientific excellence. This is where we aim to figure out the universe’s deepest secrets and spend a lot of time waiting in line at the grocery store, of course.

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Traveling to CERN is a short nine-hour drive from Eindhoven. So, culturally speaking, the places should be relatively similar compared to other destinations that have been covered here at Cursor by other students. While that is true, there are a lot of things that are just a bit different. Biking is a free-for-all, waiting in line at the grocery shop for more than 15 minutes is nothing out of the ordinary, and the smell of fondue pops up here and there. It’s the accumulation of all of these smaller things that make for an experience that feels like you’re far from home. And for four months, that’s just perfect!

I live in France, my CERN site is completely located in France, the people speak French and there is an abundance of roundabouts. However, as soon as you set foot on the CERN site, just after a kind “bonjour” to the gatekeeper, you have arrived in international territory. Here, people of all nationalities come and work together towards a shared goal: unravel the fundamental mysteries of the universe through particle physics.

Joost van Engelen on the right. All Photos | Private collection

I spend my days at CERN in the Pulsed Power Engineering section of the Accelerator Beam Transfer group. Here, we focus on the magnet systems that transfer CERN’s beam (for instance, their bundles of protons) from one ring to another, and then to the next one, until they reach their destination for particle collisions. It’s a complex operation, and it takes quite some time to start grasping what it is all about.

After work, I usually try to go for a workout in the local gym in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, around 5 minutes walking from where I live. As the working days at CERN can be quite intensive, I use the gym as a moment to switch off from work. When I come home, I am usually greeted by some of my five roommates, all of them working at CERN too. They are always in for a chat or perhaps a small beer.

Joost (right) with colleagues at the go-kart track.

The area here is beautiful. On a clear day, when I set foot out of my house, I can see Mont Blanc from my doorstep. With Lake Geneva to the north, the Alps to the east, and the Juras to the west, Geneva is surrounded by beautiful nature. On the weekends, I try to head out to visit picturesque cities or go on a hike in nature. Climbing and bouldering is very big in this region. Unfortunately, I will be leaving in a while, just before the skiing season starts.

Amazing nature surrounding CERN.

Let me wrap up. I am very happy to have landed the internship here at CERN, and wholeheartedly recommend the experience to others too. At CERN, there are a lot of internship opportunities, also for graduation projects or even PhDs. There is a lot of information about these programs out there. In the end, just make sure that you go someplace that’s different from what you’re used to, and be open to new experiences. I have learned to say yes to most offers and activities, especially at the beginning of my internship. This way you’ll be in for a hell of a time, regardless of where you go!

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