From:University of Toronto
Stayed at:Microbial Physiology Laboratory / Niki Group
I had the best time of my life in these 6 weeks at NIG. I had never been to Japan before this internship, so I was extremely nervous and excited! Everyone in Niki sensei’s lab was incredibly welcoming and supportive. My project was to screen and isolate suppressor mutants of mukB in E. coli. Since it was my first time working with E. coli, my mentor, Akiyama-san guided me through all the steps of my project and provided me with all the relevant information. Throughout my project, I got some interesting results which the lab will further study and publish later on!
This internship helped me reaffirm my confidence in my lab skills and allowed me to explore a potential career path.
Outside the lab, I formed close bonds with all the other interns which will probably last a lifetime. On the weekends, we explored so many different places! I visited Hakone, Yokohama, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kamakura, Atami, and Karumai. We even hiked up Mt Fuji! Throughout these trips, I immersed myself in Japanese culture by going to a traditional tea ceremony, wearing a kimono, attending summer festivals, and eating delicious Japanese food. I particularly love tamago sandos! This internship wasn’t just a new scientific journey, it was also a personal journey to discover myself. I am deeply grateful to everyone in Niki lab for having me, and the NIGINTERN team for making this internship possible. I will definitely visit Japan again, since I promised my mentor that I would travel all 47 prefectures! Arigato gozaimasu!
For my life at Mishima, Mishima is an attractive city. It has delicious food and friendly people. It also has NIG – a wonderful place to start your academic career! Here, I want to thank all lab members at Kanemaki sensei lab, they helped me a lot and it is my pleasure to work and live with them. They also helped me settle down my life at Mishima. Mishima and NIG became my unforgettable experience and memory in Japan. Thank you very much.
I joined Murayama-senseiʼs group – Chromosome Biochemistry lab, and my project focused on the coordination between DNA replication and sister chromatid cohesion establishment. From planning the experiments to executing them with utmost details, the lab gave me a well-rounded experience with hands-on techniques. I have gained an extensive understanding and profound appreciation for the meticulous planning required to perform assays reconstituting the cellular processes in vitro. Beyond the lessons, I am thankful to all the members for their support both in and out of the lab. I want to express my gratitude especially to Murayama-sensei, Kurokawa-san and Iwasaki-san for their guidance during the internship.
During my internship I worked in Kubo Lab (System Neuroscience) where the main objective is to understand the underlying mechanisms controlling the visual information processing in the zebra fish brain. The project I had the chance to work on, was to analyze the function of a specific gene in the processing of visual information. All of this under the supervision of amazing mentors who patiently instructed me in the neuroscience’s techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockout, zebrafish handling, confocal and calcium imaging among others. I am really thankful with Kubo-sensei, Matsuda-san, Ayjan and Chung Han, for all of their time, patience and in general all they did for me during this time.
During the aforementioned six-week period in Japan, I had the opportunity to visit many cities including Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka, and Mishima. Each of the locations exhibited remarkable beauty. There were numerous shrines and vending machines in every railway station and virtually everywhere else. I found Tokyo and Yokohama to exhibit certain similarities. Cities across the globe, such as the bustling metropolis of Tokyo and the tranquil locale of Mishima, exhibit distinct atmospheres and cultural characteristics. Among all the cities, Mishima stood out as my preferred choice. When it comes to food, I’ve tried several traditional foods including soba noodles, mocha, ramen, traditional Japanese ice cream, skewers, and of course sushi. Japan’s stunning natural landscapes and captivating coastal allure enchanted my heart, leading to a profound affection for the country.
During my stay, I met Huong, Harsha, and Marie, very bright researchers that made the laboratory workplace to feel like home. I still remember my departure day from NIG, after Tsuda-Sensei helped me in the post office, he drove me back to NIG and when I arrived in the lab for the final time, my lab members gave me the most precious gif
t they could think of!
Outside of the lab, I had marvelous experiences with other interns and Ph.D. students at NIG. We traveled together every weekend and had an intimate talk every night at the guest house. I can’t count how many cities in Japan we walked through, but I know we love every of them. They are great friends. The guest house feels just like home, and I wish we could have stayed for a longer time. But I guess it was the end – the end of the internship but the commencement for a great journey we have ahead. My sincerest thanks to the NIGINTERN program coordinators, NIG staff, and Shimamoto lab for making this an incredible summer!
