My time at NIG has been the most memorable ten weeks of my life. I am very grateful to the NIG and NIGINTERN 2014 program for giving me this glorious opportunity to experience such an exemplary research environment as I found at NIG.

When I arrived in Mishima, I was feeling nervous, but when the education team introduced me to Saga Sensei and her research group, their warm and friendly welcome soon made me comfortable. My project was to analyze and create mice mutants using CRISPR Cas-9 technique in order to study the differentiation of primordial germ cells into male germ cells.

The biweekly journal club was a very interesting aspect – it kept me updated of the latest research. I found it to be an extremely efficient way to stay updated in aspects related to one’s work.

I was surrounded by inspiring, hardworking and talented members, who gave me important and insightful advice about the project and helped me through every obstacle in my work and life in a new city. The determination and focus of the lab members inspired me to imbibe such qualities which will help me become a good researcher. I especially want to thank Saga Sensei. She broke down complexities into simple solutions, which I could easily visualize and analyze. I could actually see the process of recombination to make transgenic mice occurring in my mind’s eye as she explained it.

I got the opportunity to attend the 47th annual meeting of Japanese Society of Developmental Biologists (JSDB), where I learnt about the broad spectrum of researches in developmental biology currently happening in Japan. I also attended many seminars and colloquia at NIG, which helped me widen my knowledge.

Working here, I could feel a new and different energy coursing through me. I felt independent, and capable of performing research work and inculcating a scientific point of view in my day-to-day activities. I could feel that I was truly a part of the research group.

Also, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the NIG retreat 2014. Such an amalgamation of work and fun was a refreshingly new experience.

I made tons of new friends. With them I experienced the culture and beauty of Japan. Together we explored the serenity of Mishima and Izu Peninsula and witnessed the Fireworks Festival at Atami. These events were awe-inspiring and left a deep impression on my mind. I tried delicious Japanese food, and created some of my own Indo-Japanese dishes along with the other interns. Staying here has been a fun-filled experience.

This internship has been the best experience of my life and I am truly and sincerely grateful to NIG and Saga Sensei for making it so wonderful.