Testimonials

Manal's experience🇲🇦

Six months at the HRV Lab – an experience that will never be forgotten

The internship at the German Sport University Cologne turned out to be far more enriching than expected. Working closely with Prof. Dr. Dr. Sylvain Laborde made it possible to discover academic life from many different perspectives, take on new responsibilities, and grow on both a personal and professional level.

One of the most rewarding aspects was the diversity of tasks. Contributions spanned research projects at both the Institute of Psychology and the Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, offering hands-on experience in physiological testing, data collection, HRV analysis, and scientific work with many tools . Another side of science appeared through scientific communication: creating social media content, contributing to the HRV book project, and helping shape the lab's communication strategy.

Beyond research, there were chances to join teaching activities, support international courses and examinations, and coordinate during the summer internship period, helping new interns settle in and keeping the team connected. These experiences offered a broader view of how academic life works beyond research alone.

What truly made these six months special were the people. Being part of a warm, international team of researchers, PhD students, and interns made every day unique. From scientific discussions and new challenges to shared lunches, laughter, and everyday moments, the HRV Lab became a place that felt like home.

There is deep gratitude to Sylvain for his trust, guidance, and encouragement, and for offering the freedom to take initiative, explore new interests, and step outside the comfort zone. A heartfelt thank you also goes to everyone who helped make this experience so meaningful.

The journey at the HRV Lab began with the wish to learn more about research and ends with so much more: new skills, greater confidence, a deeper appreciation for academic life, wonderful friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Six months that brought invaluable lessons, both inside and outside the lab – a chapter that will always be remembered with a smile.

Amelie´s experience 🇩🇪

As a sport science student, I was curious to see how psychology and physiology come together in research, and the HRV LABorde was the perfect place to find out. My internship was a very positive and valuable experience. I learned a lot about heart rate variability, how it is measured with ECG, and what it tells us about stress and recovery. It was great to see how research works in practice, from planning a study to working with the data.

My tasks were varied. Among other things, I supported the team with research in part of data collecting and HRV measurements, was part of the science communication, helped with preparing teaching material, and I took part in different events around the lab. I really enjoyed explaining scientific topics in a simple way for a wider audience. I was trusted with responsibility and always encouraged to bring in my own ideas.

What I liked most was the atmosphere in the team. Everyone was friendly and happy to help, in the lab, in the weekly meetings, and in the exchange with the PhD students and other interns. I always felt like part of the team. Thank you to Sylvain Laborde and everyone at the lab for the support and trust. I am very grateful for the time here and everything I learned.

Daria´s experience 🇷🇺

My internship was a very insightful and rewarding experience. Before starting, I had little experience with psychophysiology, so I really enjoyed learning more about heart rate variability (HRV), how it can be measured using ECG, and how the results can be analysed. I gained a better understanding of the role of the parasympathetic nervous system and the vagus nerve, and how HRV can provide insights into autonomic regulation and processes related to stress and recovery.

I particularly enjoyed the atmosphere in the department. With many interns working on different projects, there was always an opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about each other's research. The weekly department meetings on Thursdays were another highlight, as they gave me insight into new projects and ongoing research and helped me understand how studies are planned and developed.

My tasks during the internship were also very varied. One project I particularly enjoyed was contributing to a social media series based on the book Heart Rate Variability: Science and Strategies for Peak Performance. I was involved in conceptualising, designing, and writing the content, which explained the basic physiology of HRV and its practical relevance in everyday life. The aim was to make scientific knowledge accessible to a broader, non-specialist audience, and the series was published on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Overall, the internship allowed me to develop both my knowledge of psychophysiology and my practical research and science communication skills. I am very grateful for the experience and everything I learned during my time in the department. I also hope to stay connected with the team and would be very happy to have the opportunity to work together again in the future.

Natália´s experience 🇸🇰

As a former professional table tennis player who now works in high-performance sport as both a coach and sport psychologist I was visiting the HRV Lab for a week to gain some insight into Heart Rate Variability.

During my visit to the HRV Lab, I wanted to get more information that helps me to apply the HRV Test Battery to table tennis and to discuss how psychophysiological assessment could be transferred to the demands of the sport. With experience from both the athlete's and practitioner's perspective, I am particularly interested in translating scientific knowledge into everyday training and competition. I am looking forward to use my new knowledge to make evidence-based psychological and psychophysiological approaches practical, meaningful, and relevant for athletes and coaches.

Thank you for the opportunity to be able to visit the lab and for the stimulating exchange with everyone working there.

Sean´s experience 🇩🇪

My internship at the HRV LABorde was a very positive and enriching experience! What I appreciated most was the high level of freedom and trust I was given in my daily work. I had the opportunity to develop my own ideas, take responsibility for different projects, and find my own ways to approach tasks. At the same time, I always had the support of the team and Prof. Laborde whenever I needed feedback or guidance.

The atmosphere within the HRV LABorde was very open, friendly, and motivating, which made it easy to feel part of the team from the beginning. I especially enjoyed that there was room for creativity and that new ideas were always welcomed. This combination of independence, responsibility, and supportive environment allowed me to learn a lot, both professionally and personally. Overall, the internship gave me a valuable experience and showed me how enjoyable working in a scientific environment can be when there is trust and freedom to develop. I absolutely recommend everyone who is able to do an internship at the HRV Lab, to do so.

Aylin´s experience 🇹🇷

My two-month Erasmus+ internship at HRV LABorde was a truly valuable and rewarding experience, both academically and personally. Working in the field of psychophysiology allowed me to gain hands-on experience in an international research environment and deepen my understanding of the relationship between psychological and physiological processes.
During my internship, I had the opportunity to participate in breathing exercises and HRV battery tests. This practical experience helped me connect the theoretical knowledge from my studies with research practice and gave me a better understanding of HRV and its applications in psychophysiological research.
I would also like to thank Prof. Sylvain Laborde and everyone at the institute. They were incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful, which made me feel comfortable and supported throughout my stay.
This Erasmus+ experience has broadened my perspective on psychophysiology, strengthened my interest in research, and given me valuable memories and experiences that I will carry with me throughout my academic and professional journey.

Taren´s experience 🇩🇪

During my internship with the HRV-Team, I really enjoyed the dynamic and collaborative atmosphere within the team, where everyone was approachable and happy to share knowledge. Building on what I had learned in my triathlon course, I got to explore the psychophysiological side of performance: I helped run a study investigating breathing techniques, cognitive tests, and well-being questionnaires, working hands-on with EKG and spirometry equipment for data collection. 

Beyond the study itself, I contributed to the team's external communication by maintaining the website and creating content for social media. 

What I valued most was being trusted to work independently — from organizing and conducting testing sessions to following up on and preparing the data afterwards — which gave me a real sense of ownership over my work.

Ben´s experience 🇩🇪

My internship at the HRV LABorde was an incredibly rewarding experience. Throughout my time in the lab, I gained valuable hands-on experience in psychophysiological research, particularly in heart rate variability (HRV), breathing interventions, and experimental study design.

I was involved in several research projects covering different aspects of psychophysiological research. As part of my master's thesis project, I worked on a study comparing different breathing techniques and their effects on heart rate variability (HRV) and respiratory physiology measured by spirometry. My responsibilities included preparing and piloting the experimental protocol, contributing ideas to improve the study design, coordinating participant appointments, calibrating the spirometry system, training new research assistants, conducting ECG and spirometry measurements, and supporting data management and quality control throughout the project.

In addition, I contributed to the interdisciplinary HEMO-ISO project in collaboration with the Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine. This project investigated how different breathing frequencies influence continuous blood pressure responses during repeated isometric exercise, with the aim of improving our understanding of cardiovascular regulation during static exercise. My role involved conducting physiological assessments, including ECG recordings using the BIOPAC system and respiratory measurements during the experimental sessions.

Through regular HRV workshops, I further developed my skills in preprocessing physiological data, artifact correction, segmentation, and HRV analysis using Kubios.

One of the highlights of my internship was the supportive and collaborative atmosphere within the lab. I always felt very well supervised by Sylvain, both during my internship and while working on my master's thesis. He is an exceptionally kind, patient, and dedicated mentor who genuinely cares about the development of his students. I also greatly enjoyed working alongside the PhD students and fellow interns. The open exchange of ideas, willingness to help each other, and shared enthusiasm for research created an inspiring environment in which I learned a great deal.

Beyond the technical skills I acquired, the internship gave me valuable insights into academic research and strengthened my interest in pursuing a scientific career. I would highly recommend the HRV LABorde to anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of HRV, psychophysiology, breathing research, and applied experimental science while being part of a welcoming and highly motivating research team.

Frantisek´s experience 🇸🇰

I am sincerely grateful for the entire week spent at the German Sport University Cologne and for all the opportunities, valuable experiences, and insights provided to me during my stay. I learned a great deal about HRV and cognitive testing procedures, while also having the opportunity to contribute to the research through my participation and feedback.

I have already started raising awareness about HRV and the research activities of the HRV Lab at my faculty and within my professional network in Slovakia. It was an incredibly inspiring experience for me, both professionally and personally.

I would also like to add that everyone I interacted with during my stay was exceptionally friendly, helpful, and supportive, which made me feel truly welcome in Cologne. 

It was also an honour to meet Sylvain Laborde. Despite being a highly respected, successful, and busy researcher, he remains very humble and invests a great deal of time in supporting young colleagues and helping them begin their research careers.

Thank you once again for your support, openness, and willingness to share your expertise. I sincerely appreciate it and already look forward to future cooperation

Pedro´s Experience 🇪🇸

Overall, this experience has been really positive and rewarding. Right from the start, I was impressed by the friendly atmosphere within the department, both from the supervisors as well as the other interns, with whom I've made some great friends.

As for the supervisors, in my experience they always try to make time to get to know you and find out what your interests are, and they make an effort to give you the opportunity to work on projects and tasks that match your expectations as closely as possible, which has given me the feeling that I am really part of a team and that I am valued within it.

On a professional perspective, I have been involved in a wide range of projects, such as developing research projects, writing popular science articles, learning about and participating in experiments alongside elite athletes, and much more... All of this has allowed me to develop skills such as critical thinking and teamwork, and has boosted my professional career by expanding my scientific background with popular science publications.

As an international student, I found it very easy to fit into the team, as the department is very international and everyone tries to speak English, making me feel included. Furthermore, working in such a multicultural environment helps to develop soft skills and social communication.

Although my internship has come to an end, I am certain that I will continue to work and collaborate with the department on future projects. I would like to give special thanks to Sylvain Laborde for being my internship supervisor and for giving me the opportunity to work on such interesting projects during my time there.

Rene´s experience 🇩🇪

My internship at the institute gave me valuable practical insights into psychophysiological research and everyday scientific work. I especially appreciated the combination of hands-on laboratory experience, teamwork, and the opportunity to contribute to exciting research projects. During my time there, I was able to deepen my knowledge in areas such as HRV, EEG, TMS, and respiratory research, while also gaining experience in study organization, data collection, and scientific analysis.

Overall, the internship was a very enriching experience that further strengthened my interest and knowledge in psychophysiology and cognitive neuroscience.

Laura´s experience 🇩🇪

In the Winter Semester 2025/2026, I completed my internship here at the HRV LABorde, where I gained various insights into ongoing research projects. I supported data collection, data analysis and literature research. Moreover, I had the opportunity to contribute to the Science Communication of our LAB, which was my favorite part: creating and maintaining this website, Content Creation for Social Media, lecture- and workshop preparation.

What I highly appreciated during my internship: I got hands-on experience and substantial work to do. Additionally, one's own ideas and own initiative were always supported. My tasks were enabling me to widen my horizon and learn new skills. Furthermore, I liked the open-minded and outgoing atmosphere here. I am grateful for the time that I spent here and for everything I learned!

Maya´s experience 🇩🇪

During my 5th semester of my Bachelor in Psychology, I completed an internship at HRV LABorde, where I had the chance to work closely with the researchers exploring HRV and performance. I supported ongoing projects by assisting with data collection, ECG measurements, literature research and data analysis. Throughout my time at the lab, I learned about HRV methodology and breathing-based interventions in depth.

What stood out to me most was the warm and supportive atmosphere within the team and the whole institute. I felt encouraged to ask questions, take on responsibility, and contribute my ideas. This experience not only strengthened my practical skills, but also deepened my interest in performance psychophysiology and inspired me to continue working at the intersection of psychology and physiology.