From Thailand to Darmstadt: Interview with biophysics intern Pharewa Karoon

GSI and FAIR researchers come from all over the world. Young scientists in particular like to take advantage of the opportunity to delve into research at the accelerator centre in Darmstadt. Among them is Master’s student Pharewa Karoon from Thailand, who completed an internship in the field of cancer therapy as part of the GET_INvolved programme. In the interview, she tells us what her research is about and what is her motivation for her YouTube channel.

The interview was conducted by Jacqueline Tack, Carlos Tesch, Anita Spuling, Kelly Stab and Annamaria Walz, who are studying “Science – Media – Communication” at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). As part of the course “Media and Public Relations”, in which KIT and GSI/FAIR cooperate, students conducted interviews with young researchers at GSI/FAIR.

Why did you choose GSI/FAIR for your internship?

Because it is one of the research institutes I knew and is very famous for its research. And I heard good and positive experiences from my colleagues in my research group at Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) in Thailand. Moreover, my research topic is very interesting and new to me, so I am very grateful to GSI and the GET_INvolved programme for giving me this opportunity. I am really happy about that.

What are your tasks at GSI/FAIR?

At GSI, a new cancer therapy with heavy ions was developed, which has been in clinical use for several years. Although patients are no longer treated at GSI/FAIR today, heavy ion therapy is continuously being developed further in research projects. One topic is research into the extent to which the oxygen supply to tumors has an influence on the effectiveness of radiation therapy. I am involved in the research project on the experimental investigation of oxygen removal by radiolysis in irradiated liquid and gel samples. Radiolysis in this case means the splitting of water molecules by the radiation. The resulting water radicals remove oxygen from the sample. My task is to observe oxygen removal during irradiation using different samples and to record differences.

What is most interesting to you in terms of your research?

The controversial part under discussion is whether oxygen removal has an impact on biological outcome when irradiating cells or a tissue or whether it’s only the starting oxygenation which affects the radical reactions taking place. Typically, oxygen is removed automatically after the water radiolysis by the water radicals that are produced but it is the question which chemical reactions specifically occur with ultra-fast irradiation and higher dose rates. Accordingly, the difference in oxygen removal between the slow and ultra-fast dose rate irradiation is a very interesting part that permits us new insights into the radiation chemical reactions at work.

How exactly are you involved in research and development at GSI/FAIR?

I would say that I am involved in research quite a lot. I start by learning everything about an experiment. Meanwhile, I get to do experiments myself and give the results I get for analysis. In the development aspect, I am still mainly working to my supervisors at the moment. I think this part of my work is about taking the time to practice and improve the experiment, also as an exercise for me. Moreover, I gained experience during the PHELIX laser beam time. I could see a larger collaboration effort between departments and quite fancy application of my experiments at the large facility. It was a very special moment for me.

What is the biggest challenge for you in research at GSI?

I think everything here is a big challenge for me (laughs). So far I have had little experience in experimental research and now I only have five months for this project. I only have one and a half months left before I return to Thailand. So completing my research project in this limited time is a challenge.

How are you getting along in Germany?

Before I left Thailand, I was very worried: “How can I live in Germany without my family, without my friends?” Because it was the first time I went abroad alone. Accordingly, I tried to find information about Germany and about GSI. I got it by asking people in my research group and through websites like YouTube. But after I arrived, I felt that it was easier than I thought because everything is well organized in Germany. Most importantly, I have a nice contact person in the GSI international office and my supervisor and colleagues are always willing to help me with anything. That helps me a lot. It feels like I have a second home here and I want to come back.

You have a YouTube channel. What do you do there?

It’s a small channel that I started a few months before I came here. I don’t upload videos regularly and it’s about everything that interests me and that I want to keep as a memory – for example, my life here in Germany. At the moment I have stopped editing videos because I am very busy with my experiments. But as soon as I am back in Thailand, I want to make videos again. I don’t think we need to be scientists all the time. It is good that I am here and can create these videos. They can also help those who are thinking about coming to GSI or Germany.

Do you already have plans for your scientific future?

Once I return to Thailand, I would like to do my Master’s degree and then find a scholarship to support me in my PhD in biophysics. I would also like to publish a research paper.

Many thanks to Pharewa for the interview! We wish you only the best for your future.