Oldenburg master’s student receives Wübben Foundation Student Grant
Sophia Haake, a master’s student in the English-language Research Master’s programme in Neurocognitive Psychology at the University of Oldenburg, has been awarded a one-year scholarship from the Wübben Foundation for Science.
With the Wübben Foundation Student Grants, the foundation supports outstanding bachelor’s or master’s students who have been nominated by spokespersons from the Clusters of Excellence. The funding is intended to enable scholarship holders to concentrate on their academic work in the final phase of their studies.
Starting in October 2025, Sophia Haake will receive 1,000 euros per month for one year, as well as exchange and networking opportunities through the Student Grantees Meeting. In this interview, she discusses her career path, the opportunities offered by the scholarship and her future prospects.
Ms Haake, congratulations on receiving the Wübben Foundation Student Grant! Please introduce yourself briefly. How did you come to study the Research Master’s programme in Neurocognitive Psychology and what are your main areas of study?
Moin! Ich habe in Bremen, ebenfalls englischsprachig, meinen Bachelor in Psychologie studiert und dort sehr früh Gefallen an den Neurowissenschaften gefunden. Darin habe ich auch meine Bachelorarbeit, die sich mit Cochlea-Implantat (CI)-Patienten befasste, geschrieben und bin daher für meinen Master hier nach Oldenburg gekommen.Moin! I studied for my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in Bremen, also in English, and developed an interest in neuroscience very early on. There, I also wrote my Bachelor’s thesis on cochlear implant (CI) patients, which is ultimately why I came to Oldenburg for my Master’s degree. Here, I am continuing my research in the field of hearing research; at the moment, I am working on a project to improve audiometry tests in very young children, for example, with the help of EEG, and my Master’s thesis is also on the subject of tinnitus, how to deal with it in order to experience as few limitations as possible.
I originally came to hearing research through my family background; both my parents are deaf in both ears and have cochlear implants, so I have seen how these devices have developed and gained experience that has not only pushed me in this direction, but is also very useful in my current work.
What is your connection to the Hearing4all Cluster of Excellence? What appeals to you about hearing research?
I originally got involved in the Cluster of Excellence through my student assistant job… I knew it existed, but I first came into contact with it through my work in a hearing study at the MRI in Oldenburg-Wechloy, and over time, hearing research became more exciting.
I am particularly attracted by the variety of experiences I get in hearing research. At the same time, I can have a direct positive impact on something as personal as hearing for other people. I remember the moment when my mother heard birds singing in the garden for the very first time. Of course, moments like that are rare, but I always work with highly motivated and helpful people on a positive outcome for my fellow human beings; that’s what motivates me.
How did you come to be nominated for the Wübben Foundation Student Grant and what opportunities does the scholarship open up for you?
Through my student assistant job, I was involved in the work of the Cluster of Excellence relatively early on in my studies and had talked to some people there about my research interests. In addition, I was particularly interested in the parts of the lectures related to hearing research, which is why I sometimes asked a few questions to find out more. Word must have gotten around the faculty, and I was asked if I could be recommended as a scholarship candidate to the Wübben Foundation.
I am currently in Utrecht for a research internship with CI patients, which was made possible by this scholarship, as we currently do not have an ERASMUS partnership with the university there. In addition, I have the opportunity to network across disciplines and exchange ideas with former scholarship holders.
Do you already have plans for what you will do after your master’s thesis?
I would like to do a PhD and continue working as a researcher in the field of hearing research. I think for almost everyone in academia, the ultimate goal is a professorship, which is what I’m aiming for. But until then, I’d like to gain some more experience abroad, perhaps as part of my PhD or as a post-doc.
With my scientific work, I want to improve the lives of people with hearing impairments, so I’ll probably stay in hearing research, but of course you never know 100% where you’ll end up. I am currently researching tinnitus, mainly in (f)MRI*, but also work with CI patients. I would prefer to continue doing both, however that is a little bit difficult. But, I am still working on it, and perhaps some opportunity will develop.
* (functional) magnetic resonance imaging
Photo: S. Haake
