Mohammad Reza Rezaii uses various analytical methods to determine the chemical composition of water samples. “I find methods such as mass spectrometry fascinating,” he says. Understanding the theoretical foundations of these measurement techniques is a particular challenge: “I just keep at it until I’ve understood, and otherwise there are always people at Eawag who are prepared to help.” When he has qualified, he’d like to train as a chemist, but he could also imagine working in the medical field.
 

“At Eawag’s Info Day, I did a guided tour and got an impression of the practical work; then, during my taster days, I was attracted by the relaxed and friendly atmosphere here,” says Lara. Now in her third year of training, she is carrying out toxicity tests on fish cells and studying the effects of various substances on organisms. “What I also appreciate about the training is the educational support – help is available if you need it,” she says. She doesn’t yet have any precise plans for the future, but she knows she would like to continue working as a lab technician.
 

For a KV trainee focusing on administration and services, adaptability is essential, as you switch to a new department every six months. Shannon found this both challenging and rewarding: “At Eawag, you’re a real all-rounder – covering everything from event organisation to finance and personnel administration.” She likes the fact that, despite the large number of people working here, everything is very personal. When she qualifies, she hopes to train as a nursery and primary school teacher.
 

“In 2020, Eawag was one of the few employers offering training for ICT specialists in German-speaking Switzerland,” David reports. What he particularly enjoys at Eawag are his contacts with lots of different people: “Every day, you meet new people and have new problems to solve.” In IT support, these problems range from a loose network cable connection to systems that need to be set up from scratch. Especially important, from his perspective, are efficient time management and a capacity for multitasking. His professional dream is to set up his own business when he has completed his training.