Susana
Susana Castillo is 26 and comes from Guadalajara, Mexico. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in biotechnology engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education and is now pursuing her final year of her master’s programme at KTH. If she’s not outdoors hiking, climbing, running or on her road bike, you can probably find her curled up with a book, building Lego or baking.
Why did you choose this master’s programme at KTH?
While my bachelor’s was mainly focused on the agricultural and industrial aspects of biotechnology, I took one course that introduced us to the biological side of the field. That class sparked my curiosity about the medical applications of what I was learning and really made me want to take a course in immunology. As I was looking through the course syllabi for several universities in Stockholm, I saw that this programme offered classes such as “Immunology” and “Drug design”, which really piqued my interest and made it my top choice. I feel like this programme gave me the perfect opportunity to transition from an engineering-focused background to biological concepts, while still preparing me for a future career in research.
Have you chosen a specialisation track within the programme? Which track and why?
Out of the two tracks offered by the programme, I have chosen “Medical Applications of Biotechnology”. I made this decision because I know I want to pursue a career in medical research. Although I’m still deciding whether that path will lead me to academia after a PhD or to industry straight after my master’s degree, I am sure I want to be in a position where my work contributes to the medically relevant research. The courses on this track align with my interests and goals, which made the decision very natural for me.
How do studies at KTH differ from your previous studies?
The biggest difference for me was the amount of independent study that is expected. Back in Mexico, we had classes for most of the day, which left little time for required assignments and even less for hobbies or socialising. At KTH, I have a lot more flexibility in how I spend my time outside class, but learning to manage my own schedule and staying disciplined with my studies and coursework was a big adjustment. Once I found a routine and found study methods that work for me, I began to feel much more organised and was able to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
How is student life in Stockholm?
Stockholm feels like the perfect city for me. There is always something to do in the city, whether it’s trying new restaurants, going to a performance at the Royal Opera, visiting bookstores, or exploring different places for Fika (something you’ll quickly become familiar with here!). At the same time, whenever the city feels too much, I can take a 20-minute bus ride to find peaceful hiking trails or beautiful lakes to swim in. Life is far from boring, but it has a very calm and peaceful pace, with an emphasis on wellbeing, spending time outdoors, and slowing down. There’s also a large community of international students at KTH, and plenty of student groups, ranging from cooking and dancing to improv and DJing!
What would you like to say to students thinking of choosing KTH for master’s studies?
KTH and Stockholm are wonderful places to be. Not only is the campus beautiful, but the overall environment is designed to make the learning experience motivating and inspiring. It might be scary to start in a new country with only a suitcase and a dream, but it is also an incredibly rewarding experience. You will learn so much about yourself and academically, while also experiencing a sense of freedom and independence that is hard to describe. You won’t be alone for the transition period and, once you settle in, you will meet incredible people who are going through a similar experience.