Samantha Grunow worked as a Student Assistant in project A04 "Global Developments in Health Care Systems" from July 2022 until May 2024. She studied International Relations at the University of Bremen from 2021 until 2024 and focused her studies on the role of humanitarian organizations and aid amidst crisis and instability. In this interview, she describes her work experience and gives tips to students who are interested in a SHK position.
What were your tasks in project A04?
My tasks mainly included identifying and downloading relevant health care legislation and then supporting the development and implementation of a codebook to annotate this legislation to create a plane of comparability concerning inclusivity and generosity of health care systems on an international level. Towards the end of my time with A04, my tasks were centralized in implementing the codebook as much as possible, so we could make use of my experience in the development phases.
Were there synergy effects between your studies and your work at the CRC 1342?
I studied International Relations with a focus on the role of humanitarian actors. I wrote my final thesis on health care accessibility and the efficacy of humanitarian aid in Somalia, a country that has lacked a functioning central government for over 40 years now. Because of the overlap between my research's concern for the lack of a health care system and the project's concern for the assessment of existing systems, I was grateful for the team’s input on my research, especially early on as I had never focused on health care accessibility or health care systems before.
The project's insight to existing systems and the situation in Somalia was beneficial to guide some of my decision-making about how to approach the situation and support my conclusions by offering comparisons. Simultaneously, as I worked with white papers and other documentation from Somalia, this also informed my opinions and suggestions through the implementation of project’s codebook. Now, despite my absence, I hope some of my conclusions may help the team navigate obstacles they encounter when trying to assess health care systems which have been influenced by the involvement of humanitarian aid over time.
What career step followed and what do you take with you from your time as a student assistant into your professional life?
I finished my thesis in the middle of May and am now eager to find a full time position which is impactful and fulfilling. Working with the A04 project has given me valuable research skills, but what I value the most is that, even as a student assistant, I was given meaningful tasks which played a large role in the trajectory of the project. I joined the group a bit nervous that I would not be able to offer a lot due to my lack of experience, but I am thankful for this experience and take from it a reminder that everyone has skills and strengths that can be highlighted to optimize the productivity and success of any team.
What advice would you like to give future student assistants?
I encourage you to not only get your hours in but voice your opinion and do not be afraid to make mistakes. Listen to everyone's stories and advice and you will learn a lot more from your experience than how to collect and analyze data. The A04 project gave me a place to truly grow. I learned more than I ever anticipated about project management, especially regarding methodology and analysis, but this is mostly because the team gave me and my opinions a place in conversation. I was not the assistant that did the busy work, but a team member who supported decision making and planning. Take advantage of this position and make the most of it, you will appreciate all of it later.
Contact:
Alexander Polte
CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 7
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-57063
E-Mail: alexander.polte@uni-bremen.de
