I am incredibly grateful for this special opportunity of working as an intern here at the NIG. This experience has helped me grow as a person in much more ways than I ever could have imagined!

My work in the Kitano lab on stickleback fish and genome research has helped me to refine my previous skill set and allowed me to learn about new techniques and perspectives that will assist me in my future journey as a researcher. Receiving the “Best Presenter Award” was such a special honour, an award I would not have gotten without the incredible help of every single member of the Kitano lab. This award belongs to all of them as well and I am very grateful that I was able to be a part of this lab. Special thanks go to Kitano-sensei for giving me this opportunity to work in his lab and contribute to their ongoing research, while showing me nothing but kindness, and to Kanbe-san for his assistance and his patience with all the questions that I had. Participating in the NIG Retreat allowed me to connect with different fields of research and researchers alike and to learn about the many research topics covered at the NIG.

My time outside the lab was filled with countless impressions that left me with wonderful memories I will cherish forever. Having experienced just a fraction of what Japan has to offer has made me eager to visit again. From the rivers and parks of Mishima to Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Fujinomiya, Kyoto and Tokyo and all the way up to the peak of Mt. Fuji, every single place that I was able to visit has left its mark and part of me stayed behind when I returned to Germany. Those six weeks were truly amazing.
ありがとうございました！