In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping every aspect of our lives, the fusion of technology with healthcare offers perhaps the most profound opportunities – and the most human stakes. For Maria Rosa Rojas Noguera, a Medical Physics master’s graduate from Kaunas University of Technology with roots in Venezuela, the integration of AI into medicine is not only a professional interest but a personal mission.
“I felt curious to see how AI could be applied to diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient outcomes,” she says, reflecting on the SustAInLivWork research internship at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) this spring, which focused on the integration of AI in medical physics. The internship provided not only an academic challenge but also a valuable opportunity to develop skills, experience technological innovation first-hand, and gain insight into international research culture.
Maria Rosa’s interest in AI within healthcare developed gradually, but her participation in the ECIU University challenge on AI in medicine, coordinated by TUHH, marked a decisive turning point.
“I had been aware of the growing impact of AI in many fields, particularly medicine. The ECIU challenge encouraged me to look deeper into how AI could be applied to medical contexts, including diagnostics and patient treatment,” she explains, “on the other hand, I fully understood the importance of informatics and AI, and how I did not yet have strong skills in those areas. So, in many ways, this was a personal challenge – I wanted to push myself.”
During her time at the Institute of Medical Technology and Intelligent Systems at TUHH, Maria Rosa worked alongside an international team under the supervision of an experienced researcher.
One of the most memorable moments occurred when her code functioned correctly for the first time. “The first time my code finally ran successfully, and the simulation made sense – it was such a rewarding feeling to see the results of my effort materialise like that.”
Equally striking was the opportunity to engage directly with advanced technologies, including systems used for laparoscopy and autonomous medication delivery – technologies she had previously only seen on television or in science fiction, making the experience of interacting with them in real life even more surreal.
While at TUHH, Maria Rosa contributed to a project that involved designing a neural network capable of predicting the radiation field of a radiotracer targeting malignant tissues. The task required a solid understanding of both programming and clinical applications – areas in which she gained significant experience during her internship.
“The development of the neural network for predicting the radiation field of the radiotracer attached to the malignant tissue was complicated for me,” she admits, “as programming has never been my strongest skill. However, with consistent support and guidance from my supervisor, I was able to deliver a working program that met our goal and laid the foundation for further development of the proposed approach.”
Studying abroad, Maria gained not only scientific but also deep intercultural experience. Having lived in Venezuela, Lithuania, and now briefly in Germany, Maria has a unique perspective on cultural and academic environments.
“Venezuela is more community-oriented, people usually treat each other like family, and informality is common,” she notes, “and Germany felt more organised and orderly. For example, take the recycling bins. That is something that in Venezuela does not exist and in Lithuania is not taken seriously – but in Germany it’s a good example of how things work in general: following rules and being efficient.”
Lithuania, by contrast, revealed to her a more reserved but polite society. “People value quiet, and there is a strong sense of personal space and clear separation between personal and public life.”
Academically, she observed Venezuela as “theory-heavy” with close informal relationships, Lithuania as a blend of theory and practice, and Germany as strong on research and innovation.
Outside the laboratory, Maria Rosa embraced the opportunity to explore Hamburg and engage with local culture. “I joined a few cultural activities, took city tours, visited local landmarks and met some wonderful people,” she says, “Hamburg has an incredible variety of international cuisine, and I made it a personal mission to try as many different types of food as I could.”
During the Easter holiday, she travelled to Berlin to visit Lithuanian friends. “We visited several iconic landmarks and tried the famous Berlin kebab. I also had the chance to go to a Venezuelan restaurant – my friends got to try some traditional dishes from my home country.” Later, she welcomed a German student she had met at TUHH to Lithuania: “I had the chance to show him around. I find it funny – a Venezuelan showing a German Lithuania. We even made it to the pink soup festival and had a great time.”
Reflecting on her experience, Maria Rosa encourages others to consider similar opportunities: “I would encourage other students to apply and step out of their comfort zone. My main tip would be – don’t let the fear of not being an expert stop you from trying.”
She also emphasised the value of international collaboration. “Take advantage of the environment not only academically but also culturally. Talk to people, join activities, and explore the area. And do not hesitate to ask for help. I learned a lot from my supervisor and peers – no one expects you to know everything from the start.”
