The city is very large and busy, with heavy traffic making it difficult to get around on foot. However, it’s also full of life, and access to beaches is easy and convenient from almost anywhere.

The city is called Dar es Salaam. For a European, it might be surprising that buying food in supermarkets is not very common. Most shopping is done through local food sellers on the streets, where you’ll find plenty of papayas, pineapples, avocados, and bananas. You also need to negotiate prices quite often, as bargaining is a normal part of shopping. Additionally, tap water is not safe to drink, so you’ll need to buy bottled water throughout your stay.

It’s easy to reach the surrounding beaches, and there are also opportunities to visit nearby safari parks — we visited Mikumi with the other interns, which was a great experience. You can also take a ferry to Zanzibar or Mbeya Island, or a speed train to Morogoro or try the local dala dala bus to the Bagamoyo. The local IAESTE committee is very helpful and can assist you with organizing these trips.

MUHAS is a large university, and in the end, it was a good experience — I met some very helpful PhD students who showed me around and supported me during my work placement. However, it wasn’t possible to get in touch with them before my arrival, which made it difficult to prepare for any specific project in advance. From my point of view, that’s a bit of a pity, as it would have been helpful to know more beforehand.

On the first day of my stay I prepared a synoptic plan outlining what I intended to do during my
time here. This plan was later adjusted according to the conditions and availability in the
laboratories. I began by reading an article that introduced me to the Plasmodium falciparum
culturing project at MUHAS. Afterwards, I visited the relevant laboratory, where I observed the
flow box, the Merli test for malaria antigens testing, and stained slides obtained from malaria
patients.
Using these slides, I learned how to identify Plasmodium-infected cells, particularly those in the
ring stage and I got a lecture on how to count them. I was also given a tour of the student
laboratories and introduced to the genetics lab. Additionally, I attended an online meeting related
to the research project on sickle cell disease in patients with malaria, which coordinates
researchers and doctors within the world.
I also worked in the hematology wet lab, where samples for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and
Multiple Myeloma were tested using the AmpliSeq for Illumina Myeloid Panel. In summary both
the DNA and RNA are used for the mutation detection, firstly the concentration is checked by
using the height specificity colours, then the samples are diluted to 20ng/mikrolite and the
process is followed by the cDNA preparation, amplification, partial digestion of the primers
(FuPa), ligation and the clean-ups are made twice by the EtOH. The project is also partially
focused on implementing this testing for hospital patients. Local suppliers of Illumina machines
were present to observe the machines and work there. Additionally, representatives from a
company based in Frankfurt, which provides blood transfusion services to the hospital, visited
during my placement.
I also took part in a major conference at the Protea Hotel Courtyard, where specialists from
across the country gathered to discuss the study curriculum for the Gene Therapy course. I
contributed to the development of the first module, which introduces gene therapy, as well as the
second module, which covers the basics of genetics and gene editing. Afterwards, each group
presented an overview of their assigned work. The second day of the conference focused on
regulatory processes and the capacity for conducting gene therapy clinical trials. We attended a
presentation on gene therapy progress and regulations in East Africa, delivered by
representatives from Uganda. This was followed by a similar presentation from researchers at
the University of Coimbra, offering a European perspective. A particularly engaging part of the
conference was a panel discussion with local research experts on the regulation of gene therapy
in Tanzania, which is not yet fully established. The topic was interesting, and the conference
itself was well-organized. It was also a pleasure to meet so many professionals working in this
field.
As part of another phase of my internship, I participated in activities at the MUHAS Genetic
Laboratory (MGL), where they perform organ matching for bone marrow and kidney transplants,
as well as gene extraction upon special request from physicians. I was given the relevant
laboratory protocols to read and was also shown around the lab. Additionally, I took part in
testing the Monarch Genomic DNA Purification Kit, which was being used in the lab for the first
time. This kit is suitable for extracting DNA from cell cultures, tissues, and blood. We extracted

DNA from the samples of two patients, and the results were later compared to those obtained via
the standard protocol.
I also attended a presentation by representatives from Qiagen South Africa, who introduced
laboratory equipment intended for use at MUHAS.

Overall, it was a nice experience in the end, but if I had known in advance what the specific project would be, it would have been much better.

The accommodation was paid for by the employer from the beginning, which was very convenient and meant we didn’t have to worry about it. However, the salary is paid at the end of the stay, so you need to bring your own money to cover food, transport, and trips during your time there.

It’s easy to communicate in English, as most people speak it. Only some local people speak only Swahili, but there’s always someone around who can help you handle the situation.

We lived with one more intern in accommodation approximately 30 minutes from the university and usually took a Bolt to get there. The accommodation was nice, equipped with air conditioning, a fridge, a kitchen, and a TV. it was payed by the emplyee.

Yes, they picked us up at the airport and helped organize many trips during our stay.

At the beginning, we all went together on the Mikumi safari, which was a great experience. However, after that, all the other students left, and only two of us stayed in the city, which wasn’t ideal—especially for safety reasons.

It’s a bit hard to do sports in the city, but you’ll experience a lot of local culture at the university, on the streets, and when buying food from street vendors.

There was an option to buy food at a supermarket, although it's not very common. Instead, you can find many local food sellers on the streets, and there are several good canteens with local food at MUHAS - you will try ugali, nyama choma and lot of grilled meet and rice.

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Get vaccinated, have good insurance, and bring any personal medications you might need. You’ll be able to withdraw cash from ATMs, be prepared for some safety challenges and possibly some stomach issues. Also, you will need an English plug adapter.

Make a copy of your passport and never carry the original with you for safety reasons.

The experience was unforgettable. What I appreciate most is the chance to get to know a completely different country, culture, and approach to studying. I will carry this experience with me for a long time. It was incredibly valuable to spend time with so many kind and welcoming local people.

Wery good and kind.