Dear Sir or Madam,

I hereby apply for the Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2025, seeking to deepen my knowledge and advance my career as a medical researcher. My passion for exploring complex theories led me to study medicine after completing a psychology degree. However, while my peers are striving for a career in the clinical environment, I quickly knew that I wanted to conduct interdisciplinary research. Hence, I am grateful for having the opportunity to combine my love for data with my growing medical knowledge in our institute for neuroradiology at my university hospital. The Forum's interdisciplinary environment and its focus on life science, mathematics and astronomy align perfectly with my aspirations and research interests. For me, it seems like an invaluable opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from various backgrounds who share the common goal of expanding knowledge, conducting research, and making a positive impact on the world. I am eager to contribute and learn from discussions with fellow peers, to broaden my horizon. Moreover, this experience would be instrumental in furthering my goal of working in an open-minded, interdisciplinary research setting following graduation.

Thank you for your consideration and time.

Yours faithfully,
Lea Ladusch

Currently, I am working as a student research assistant in the Neuroradiology Department at the University Hospital Aachen next to my studies. My primary focus is investigating the prevalence of particles in fluids, such as contrast media used during cerebral angiographies. My responsibilities encompass comprehensive literature reviews, data collection, and in-depth data analysis. As I consider my path to doctoral studies, I am contemplating joining the Department of Genetics and/or Biochemistry. My profound interest in molecular biology, coupled with my passion for neurology, has led me to explore the intersection of these fields. Hence, my career aspirations are to specialise in cellular and clinical neuroscience. This field offers exciting opportunities to delve into neurodegenerative diseases, neurosensory systems, and cutting-edge molecular imaging techniques. Moreover, I am highly interested in the evolving field of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. I think that reliable data is crucial for clean research. At the intersection of computational science and medical research, bioinformatics and medical statistics emerge as indispensable methodologies for unravelling intricate biological mechanisms that help us to understand the world and potentially even change the world. To me, research equals responsibility.