Tiara Putri, a doctoral student in the double degree program at the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has successfully received the STIBET Scholarship for Graduation Support and Outstanding Engagement, funded by the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD).
Receiving this scholarship requires passing a highly competitive selection process.
The award is intended to support outstanding international students currently studying at universities in Germany.
Each year, it is granted to only five international students who demonstrate excellent academic performance and active social involvement.
Putri was selected for the scholarship in recognition of her academic excellence and commitment to supporting fellow international students.
She is studying at Universität Greifswald, Germany, for her double degree program with UGM.
Contacted by a reporter on Thursday (May 15), Putri expressed her happiness and gratitude for receiving the prestigious scholarship from the German government.
“I’m thrilled and grateful to have received this scholarship. This award motivates me to continue contributing to the international academic community,” the awardee said.
Putri is researching at the Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Universität Greifswald.
Her main project focuses on the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and its pathogenicity in living hosts.
She works with human choroid plexus epithelial and endothelial cells to develop a functional in vitro Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier (BCSFB) model.
She is also involved in a second project on S. pneumoniae co-infection in the upper respiratory tract of children infected with COVID-19, in collaboration with the Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center in Indonesia.
Beyond her doctoral research, Putri is actively involved in social initiatives supporting global sustainable development.
One of her commitments is reflected in her participation in the university UNICEF group, a volunteer organization focused on promoting and protecting children’s rights.
“We collect donations by gathering Pfand, used bottles that can be exchanged for money in Germany, to support clean water programs in underprivileged areas,” she explained.
Through her active involvement in academic and social fields, Putri demonstrates that young people can drive positive change and create a more sustainable future.
Her achievement highlights the strength of international partnerships fostered by UGM’s Faculty of Biology and the role of dedicated students like Putri in advancing global scientific and cross-cultural collaboration.
“I believe that science can go hand in hand with social action. Through small initiatives like the Pfand collection, I hope to contribute to sustainability and the well-being of children around the world,” she stated.
Author: Rahma Khoirunnisa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographs: Tiara Putri