Yogyakarta, May 2025 — The Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada is proud to announce that Tiara Putri, a student in the joint degree program between Universitas Gadjah Mada and Universität Greifswald, Germany, has been awarded a scholarship through the highly competitive DAAD-STIBET Programme 2025.
The STIBET Scholarship for Graduation Support and Outstanding Engagement, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst – DAAD), is designed to support outstanding international students studying at universities in Germany. Each year, this scholarship is awarded to only 5 international students who have achieved excellent academic performance. Tiara was selected to receive this scholarship in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements and her commitment to supporting fellow international students.
Tiara is currently conducting research at the Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Universität Greifswald. Her main project focuses on the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and its pathogenicity within living host organisms. The cells used in her research are human choroid plexus endothelial and epithelial cells, aimed at developing a functional in vitro model of the Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier (BCSFB). Additionally, Tiara is involved in a second project investigating the co-infection of S. pneumoniae in the upper respiratory tract of children infected with COVID-19, in collaboration with the Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center, Indonesia.
Beyond her doctoral research at the Universität Greifswald, Tiara is also engaged in social activities that support global sustainable development. One of the ways she gives back is through her involvement with the university’s UNICEF volunteer group, which focuses on promoting and protecting children’s rights. Among their initiatives, they helps collect Pfand—recyclable bottles that can be exchanged for cash in Germany—to raise funds for clean water projects in communities that need it most. It is a simple but powerful effort that directly supports SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by improving access to safe drinking water and better hygiene. For Tiara, contributing to both research and real-world impact is part of her commitment to a more just and sustainable future. Her story reflects the growing role of young people in driving meaningful change across borders.
This achievement highlights the strength of international partnerships fostered by the Faculty of Biology and the important role of dedicated students like Tiara in advancing global scientific cooperation and intercultural understanding.