Biology Student Earns Prestigious European Fellowship for Graduate Study

Satchel Flammang, a U of A student with a passion for research and language learning, will head to Europe this fall after earning the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to pursue graduate studies in biomembrane science.  

Flammang was one of 21 students selected from an applicant pool of 3,100 global applicants for the MemBioMed Erasmus Mundus master's program, an international graduate program focused on biomembranes and their applications in neuroscience, biochemistry and pharmaceutical sciences. The program will take him to three universities across Europe over the next two years: the Universität Osnabrück in Germany, the Université Côte d'Azur in France and the Università di Genova in Italy. 

For Flammang, the program's international structure was one of its biggest draws. "I was drawn to Erasmus Mundus for the mobility," he said. "The program is distinct in the sense that it offers rotations in not just multiple specializations of research, but various social and cultural atmospheres as well." 

He said the opportunity aligns closely with his long-term goal of studying abroad while pursuing advanced scientific research. During the final semester of the program, students are allowed to select a laboratory from one of the partner universities or affiliated institutions to complete an independent thesis research project. 

Flammang credits much of his success to the extensive undergraduate research experience he gained at the U of A. For the past three years, he has worked in the laboratory of Dr. Adam Paré studying membrane-bound proteins, a major focus of the MemBioMed curriculum. That work also allowed him to present research at several conferences, including an international conference in Puerto Rico. In addition, he participated in the Summer Internship in Microbiology Research program at the University of Florida in Gainesville during the summer of 2024. 

Beyond science, Flammang said his language studies also played a key role in preparing him for graduate life abroad. He has studied Spanish, Italian and German, skills he expects will help him integrate into daily life in Europe. "Having knowledge of the national languages of two of the host countries for the program will aid greatly in integration and connection during the program," he said. 

Flammang encouraged students interested in graduate education abroad to pursue experiences outside the classroom in order to stand out in competitive applicant pools. 

"A good GPA on its own is nice, but thousands upon thousands of people all over the world also graduate with a good GPA," he said. "Internships, shadowing and research experiences are what really make the best applications stand out." 

He also emphasized the importance of active engagement for students learning a new language. "Speaking is not only the most practical language learning skill but is also one of the best ways to reinforce and understand vocabulary and grammar," he said. As he prepares to begin the next chapter of his academic career overseas, Flammang expressed gratitude to the mentors and loved ones who supported him along the way. 

"I would like to thank my family, friends and girlfriend for endlessly and unconditionally supporting me," he said, "and my mentors, Dr. Adam Paré, Dr. Linda Bloom and Dr. Kathleen Condray for giving me the time, resources and advice to make this all possible."