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For Kara Herdelin ’26, what began as her first time leaving the United States quickly became a defining step in her academic and professional future.

A bioengineering major in Lehigh’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering, Herdelin spent six weeks last summer at the University of Galway through the Lehigh in Ireland program. She will return this fall to pursue a master’s degree, continuing the research she first encountered abroad.

Lehigh in Ireland is a summer program that places students in research labs and professional settings at the University of Galway, one of Lehigh’s longstanding exchange partners.

Designed to blend academic immersion with cultural experience, the program allows students to engage directly with international faculty, research teams, and industry practices. For many participants, it serves as both a first exposure to global work environments and a launching point for future opportunities.

Herdelin entered the program with a growing interest in cell culture and bioprinting, but limited hands-on experience with live-cell research.

At Galway, she joined a lab led by Dr. Andrew Daly, where she worked on bioprinting and biomaterials for artificial heart tissue.

“I knew I wanted to go abroad at some point during my time at Lehigh and began to look into some of the programs offered,” Herdelin said. “I looked into Lehigh in Ireland because it seemed best suited to my interests in cell culture and growth, as well as my growing fascination with bioprinting.”

Funded by the Iacocca International Internship Program (IIIP), Herdelin’s experience extended beyond observation into active research.

She conducted mechanical testing on biomaterials, worked with induced pluripotent stem cells, and contributed to 3D printing cell-embedded materials.

“The research was also a very hands-on experience,” she said. “The lab hours were very flexible and I could schedule my day how it was best for me.”

The shift from classroom learning to independent research was significant, but it was the lab environment that left the deepest impact.

Working alongside students from different academic disciplines and cultural backgrounds, Herdelin found a level of collaboration that reshaped her perspective on research.

“The lab was made up of a variety of students with different academic and cultural backgrounds,” she said. “While everyone had different projects, all participants were so willing to help each other, and it felt like a big happy family.”

That sense of belonging ultimately influenced her decision to return.

“The lab group was the main reason why I wanted to pursue the master’s,” Herdelin said. “My work felt so impactful for the next generation of biomedicine and I felt very passionate about the research I started.”

Katy Rene, Assistant Director of Study Abroad and program manager for Lehigh in Ireland, emphasized how experiences like Herdelin’s reflect the program’s broader goals.

“One of the benefits of Lehigh in Ireland is the opportunity for students to expand their professional network internationally and gain exposure to their field in a different cultural context,” Rene said. “You never know what doors might open, and in Kara’s case, a six-week experience at the University of Galway has led her to a graduate program that may not have ever been on her radar otherwise.”

Support from IIIP played a central role in making that opportunity accessible.

“Through the Iacocca International Internship Program, we provide financial support, mentorship, and hands-on preparation to ensure outstanding Lehigh students like Kara Herdelin can thrive in global work experiences,” said Anastassiya Perevezentseva, Assistant Director of IIIP. “Kara’s internship in Ireland, contributing to Dr. Andrew Daly’s research on 3D printing iPSCs, and her next step pursuing a master’s in Bioengineering at the University of Galway, exemplifies the program’s mission to expand career readiness, intercultural effectiveness, and access to transformative opportunities.”

Before traveling to Ireland, Herdelin had built a strong foundation through research at St. Luke’s and volunteer work at Lehigh Valley Hospital, along with leadership roles on campus.

However, she describes her time in Galway as pushing her learning beyond anything she had previously experienced.

“The research was very advanced and pushed my learning experience beyond anything I had experienced in the United States,” she said.

Now preparing to return, Herdelin sees her summer abroad as the beginning of a longer academic path.

“I chose to go back to the University of Galway to finish the work I started while I was there,” she said. “I am excited to continue my research and continue to connect with those I met in the lab during my time there.”

For students considering the program, her advice reflects both the demands and rewards of the experience.

“Find work you are passionate about,” Herdelin said. “Biomedical research in Ireland is very advanced and the research hours can be long, so make sure you are doing the work for yourself and your learning. While exploring your academic passions, be sure to explore Ireland—it is a beautiful country and definitely worth exploring in more ways than one.”