Nour – Master's student in Human Neuroscience

"Hi! I’m Fatemeh (Nour) Naderipalangi from Iran, and I’m a master's student in Human Neuroscience at UTU. My story in Finland started in an unexpected way: when TYS couldn’t offer me housing right away, I messaged a stranger on Couchsurfing asking if I could stay for two nights. She welcomed me into her home, and those two nights turned into two and a half months of friendship, kindness, and laughter. That “why not?” moment became my first lesson in Turku: life here is full of opportunities if you dare to take a chance.

Academically, I’ve always been fascinated by the brain and consciousness. After years of working as a psychologist and hypnotherapist, I wanted to dive deeper into neuroscience, and UTU’s Human Neuroscience program was the perfect match. 

At UTU, I’ve found that balance, learning brain imaging methods while also being part of a warm, international student community. Some of my favorite moments are not only in the lab or library, but also during evening walks by the Aura River or cooking dinners with friends from all over the world.

Outside studies, I’m active as a tutor and in the Education Committee, and in my free time I enjoy photography, yoga, and discovering new corners of Turku. In the future, I dream of continuing PhD research and sharing what I’ve learned with others."