Marianne Ruud

Marianne Ruud graduated from NTNU in 2011 and she works as a lecturer.

My academic background was a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University College of Lillehammer (HiL). I chose to study at NTNU because this is the only university in Norway that offers the master's programme in Neuroscience that I was interested in.

The Master programme has four compulsory courses in addition to a variety of elective courses. The question of which elective courses to enrol should be given some consideration, as these courses could prove important for obtaining a more specialized academic profile. I think you should carefully choose the courses you think will be of importance for your future career. I found it to be a huge plus that this master's programme is of international character and that all the compulsory courses are taught in English.

After graduating my MSc in Neuroscience, I achieved a position as a lecturer in Biological Psychology at HiL. Here I teach psychology students the biological aspects of psychology. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology has therefore been crucial to me. A regular day consists of lecturing bachelor's students in their last year, as well as planning and preparing different laboratory exercises and lessons. I also make and censor exams, in addition to supervising students. To sum up, my days at work are highly varied and fun. I would say that what I learnt during my entire Master degree is highly relevant for the work I am doing now, but perhaps most of all the compulsory courses.

If I can give any advice to new students, it would be that it is important to think of the big picture when looking for a job. Use all contacts you have gathered through the years, this includes professors, students or commercial companies. One contact could lead you to another. Step out of your comfort zone, say yes to all the chances you are being given.

In my master's thesis titled "Functional Organization of Sensory Organs on the Flagellum of Damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera), my focus was on electrophysiological recordings from sensory organs and neuronal pathways staining procedures. The work I am doing now is not directly connected to the work I did for my master's project, but more to neuroscience in general.