LifeScience Club Lausanne – A small start towards big vision

We recently held the first kickoff meeting of the Lifescience.club.lausanne — a small but focused gathering of students and early-career researchers eager to build something new: a community that bridges disciplines, backgrounds, and borders in the life sciences.

Launched in collaboration with the Next Gen Scientists Foundation (NGSF), this local chapter is part of a growing global initiative aimed at creating open, inclusive spaces for researchers to connect. NGSF itself was founded by Indian students with the goal of supporting young scientists through grassroots programs — including internships, mentorship, and now, the Lifescience.club.

Why we met

During the meeting, we explored a shared challenge: How to apply  for internships, PhD programs, or project collaborations, especially for students coming from outside the traditional life sciences. Participants included those from backgrounds in applied math and computational fields, all asking the same thing:

“Where do we begin? And how do we make our skills count?”

We discussed the need for clearer guidance — not just listings of opportunities, but actual support on how to apply effectively, what backgrounds are welcome in interdisciplinary roles, and how to navigate both academic and industry tracks.

What came out of It

This first meetup helped clarify some key points that will shape the direction of the Lausanne chapter:

• Applied backgrounds are highly relevant. Students with skills in coding, modeling, statistics, or systems thinking have valuable contributions to make in areas like biotechnology, forensics, and medical data science. The challenge is in finding the right entry points — something this network can help with.
• Internships and PhDs are out there — but scattered. Platforms like myScience.ch, university portals (UNIL, EPFL, ETH), and LinkedIn are useful, but often require proactive searching and direct outreach. Learning how to write a strong email, identify aligned labs or teams, and tailor your CV makes a real difference.
• There’s a need for low-pressure, social spaces. The group agreed on the value of informal, local events — simple conversations that spark ideas, share tips, or introduce peers with similar goals. LifeScience.Network aims to offer exactly that.

Where we’re headed

The Lausanne chapter is part of a broader vision that includes regional nodes across Switzerland and Europe — including cities like Zurich, Munich, and beyond. As we grow, we aim to:

• Share opportunities: internships, fellowships, workshops, and more.
• Host casual meetups: networking chats, career talks, and skill exchanges.
• Support each other: through shared resources, mentoring, and community.

A word on the foundation

The Next Gen Scientists Foundation (NGSF) is a non-profit registered under the Indian Trust Act. It was founded using contributions from B.Tech Industrial Biotechnology students (Batch 2011–15) at Anna University, Chennai. Since then, it has expanded to support Indian students through internship and membership programs — and now, with Lifescience.club, it invites participation from researchers across the world.

What’s next?

We’re just getting started, and we want this to be shaped by the people who join. Whether you’re a master’s student, PhD, postdoc, or simply curious, you’re welcome to be part of it.

Join our Life science club channel, spread the word, and let us know what you’d like to see. Whether it’s a coffee chat or a collaborative workshop — this network is for you.

Let’s build it together.

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