Marie Larraillet, BME alumna (2017)

Marie at the Biomedical Engineering Day 2019 at her company's booth

"On a regular basis, I can take advantage of the deep understanding of the functional anatomy of the human body, which I developed during my studies."

What was your academic and professional background prior to your BME Master’s studies?

I completed a Bachelor in Biomedical Sciences in Fribourg.

How did you get interested in biomedical engineering?

I did not have a real interest in pursuing my studies with a Master in Biomedical Sciences in Bern. Therefore, I started to search for alternatives, including biomedical engineering. During my third year in Fribourg, a presentation was given about the different master’s programs that we could aspire to start. This is when I heard about the BME Master’s program in Bern. The fact that the presenter was a BME alumnus from Bern who did the same Bachelor’s studies in Fribourg as I did, first triggered my interest. It proved that there was a possibility of following a different academic path.

What was your career plan after graduation? Where do you work now and in which position?

Given the fact that I did not have a strong engineering background, it was difficult to see clearly in which position I would fit. However, I was sure that I did not want to pursue a career in biomedical research, working in a laboratory.

I graduated in October 2017 and since January 2018, I have been working as a product manager in a protheses manufacturing company. The position is marketing-oriented but requires skills in biomedical engineering.

Which competences / skills did you develop / gain during your studies that are useful for your present professional position?

Despite the fact that my position does not involve the development of prostheses, a good knowledge of materials is always useful. On a regular basis, I can take advantage of the deep understanding of the functional anatomy of the human body, which I developed during my studies.

Did you discover anything new about Bern during your studies?

As I was commuting between Fribourg and Bern, I did not really have the opportunity to discover the city. However, I discovered the refreshment of the Aare river at the end of a hot summer day.

Share an anecdote / highlight of your time in the BME Master’s program.

When starting the BME Master’s program, I had in mind that this would be a good career choice. Today, I still believe it was a smart choice to make. Little did I know that this would also have life-changing consequences. During my studies, I met the person that is now my husband. He was also a student in the program.

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