Destination Düsseldorf

May 02, 2010

Kylene Compton ’10, Worden, Mont., is headed to Germany this summer to work at Henkel, a chemical conglomerate that produces cosmetics, adhesives and cleaning products. 

Compton, a biology and chemistry major, won the internship through a competitive program sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service.

From July through December, Compton will work in Henkel’s microbiology department in Düsseldorf, using classical microbiological, molecular biology and biochemistry techniques to test and substantiate the purity of Henkel’s products.

“I was looking for something that would pay my living expenses and give me some practical experience before applying to graduate schools,” says Compton. “I like to travel and I like challenges, so this is a perfect fit for me.”

Compton says she is confident in her lab skills. “I like figuring out the unknown and how it might apply to improving the health of people,” she says. “I like doing useful research. It’s like solving a puzzle.”

In addition to working 40 hours a week in Henkel’s lab, Compton will take German language lessons and do some in-country travel.

“I don’t speak German, but fortunately the universal language of science is English,” she says.

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