Message from NIG-INTERN 2011

Message

The 5th Summer Research Program for Undergraduates, NIGINTERN 2011, was carried out. Six selected participants enjoyed 10 week research internship programs at their host laboratories.

Hsin-Jui Li
From:National Taiwan University
Stayed at:Koide Lab. (Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory).
Before I came to NIG
As I received the result of NIGINTERN2011, I was so happy to accept such a great offer of admission. My host laboratory was Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory of Dr. Koide Tsuyoshi’s group. Dr. Takahashi Aki, my supervisor, interests in “the relationship between serotonin (5-HT) system and aggressive behavior”, which also matches my interest. After reading the brief research plan, I was so exciting to know that I would work on a new and powerful technique, optogenetics, and looking forward to meet the members in Dr. Koide’s lab.
Research in NIG
Working in Dr. Koide’s Lab
Under the guidance of Aki san, I started to work on the topic of 5-HT system and aggression. I always expressed my questions and ideas freely during discussions, and the conclusion for every time was many thoughts were worth to try! Aki san always gave me the greatest support to put those ideas into practice. It was so great that I set up a technical system, decided topics by reviewing previous researches, thought of the possible reasons for the problems I faced and found the ways to solve them… which were more like doing research then only doing experiments! In this internship experience, not only the research attitude, but also the attitude toward others during cooperation I hold to be the more valuable things than the research methods I learned. The working atmosphere here was always nice and joyous!
My Research Topics
Previously, Aki san has found that not only aggressive behavior but also 5-HT level in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) increase after injection of baclofen, an agonist for the GABAB receptors, in dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), a midbrain structure mainly composed of 5-HTergic neurons. My topics are decided by reviewing the insufficiencies of this study and results from other researches. In which, I realized how important that “asking a good question” is for doing a research.
One of my topics is trying to modulate neural activity of DRN by light stimuli and observe aggressive behavior in mice. As I arrived the lab, I was surprised to find out that the system of optogenetics hadn’t been set up yet, and one of my missions is to set up these tools! Form production of recombinant lentivectors to setting up optical stimulation, by finding the ways to solve the problems I met, this was a very good chance for me to know this technique by heart.
On the top of that, I also measured different neurotransmitter levels in DRN before and after the baclofen injection, trying to understand the effect of the drug on this brain area. However, the results didn’t match my hypothesis based on the intuitive thought of pharmacological mechanisms, which implied the interactions among DRN and other brain areas. With this idea, since DRN 5-HTergic neurons also project to some important areas of dopamine system, I further used a kind of D1 receptor antagonist together with baclofen, and found that the effect of baclofen on aggression was affected. The story became more interesting!
Life in NIG
On the second day I arrived Japan, Koide sensei kindly showed me around Mishima by walking and biking with me. People in the lab were so kind and always showed consideration for me. Sometimes, we went to izakaya, a type of drinking establishment in Japan, to have a drink. Many of the lab members, including Koide sensei, like to play soccer, and so do I. Besides lab works, I usually played soccer with the members in the NIG soccer team, Prisoners. Aside from soccer, I also played badminton with many other members in the NIG during weekends. I made a lot of friends here. We joined reading circles, had lunch and dinner in cafeteria, had fun in the NIG summer party, went travel to Tokyo, saw yabusame, a traditional Japanese archery, in Mishima festival, enjoyed fireworks of summer festivals in many cities, climbed Mount Fuji… I also had a two-day trip to Kyoto! All of them are wonderful times and beautiful memories for me. Every day here was a happy day!
After I came back to Taiwan
The experience was much more wonderful then what I had thought before the trip. 70 days is a short period; I am still reluctant to part with those beautiful memories in NIG.
Kamakoti Bhut
From:Anna University, India
Stayed at:Inoue Lab. (Division of Human Genetics).
The NIG intern program experience was all that I wanted it to be and more. I now have a very good understanding of how it will be if I choose to carry out Research in a professional environment.
My work combined aspects of wet lab techniques as well as computational work. It focussed on the identification of a possible candidate gene for a disease (IgA nephropathy) and involved library construction, sequencing, primer design and data analysis. The sequencing of the sample DNA was done using the most modern technology available – the next generation sequencer at Tokai University. This provided me with an opportunity to visit a university and observe the equipments and labs there. I was always free to offer my opinions, or ask any questions. I executed the study with a certain degree of autonomy, something that I had never done before. I was also delighted to be able to visit DDBJ (DNA Data Bank of Japan) and use the equipment there for my experiment.
Apart from the work itself, weekly journal club meetings, Biological symposiums in which distinguished professors presented their work and visits to other labs helped in introducing me to the diverse research activities being carried out at NIG. Weekly Japanese lessons were fun and helpful.
If the work was fulfilling, it was the friends I made that caused my experience in NIG to be truly memorable. The other interns, students and my lab secretary were the ones that made life at NIG wonderful. The kindness and generosity of all the Japanese people I came in contact with – my lab members, others at NIG and even strangers – left me overwhelmed. Climbing Mt.Fuji, visiting amusement parks with the scariest rides I have ever seen, going to Kamakura, Numazu and Tokyo are all memories I will cherish forever.
Initially, I was concerned about the food as I am a vegetarian, but it was not difficult at all. Several of my co-interns were also vegetarians, and it was a lot of fun cooking together. Also, Mishima does have Indian restaurants.
In conclusion, I would recommend the NIG program to anyone out there who is looking for a rewarding research experience. The past 10 weeks have been some of the best weeks of my life, and I would like to thank NIG, my professor (Dr. Ituro Inoue) and my guide (Dr. Kazuyoshi Hosomichi) for giving me this wonderful opportunity.
Eric Stout
From:Arizona State University, USA
Stayed at:Kawakami Lab. (Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology).
My first taste of what the NIG Internship program would be came during dinner when I first met Prof. Kawakami. He came in to the cafeteria and sat down across from me. The first words out of his mouth were “Are you having fun in Japan yet?” I most certainly did. My time in Japan encompassed two cutting edge research projects and no less than six journeys into the beautiful surrounding country.
The Kawakami lab works on uses transgenesis techniques with zebrafish to answer basic questions about all aspects of biology, from neuroscience to organ system development. This was fertile ground for my introduction into molecular biology, and gave me a thorough grounding in current techniques and methods while also giving me the chance to contribute to an impressive ongoing project on learning and memory. However, even more impressive to me was the freedom that interns are given to pursue their own interests. Professor Kawakami truly opened the resources of his lab to me, and allowed me to perform some absolutely fascinating physiological experiments on visual processing.
Equally fascinating was the country itself and the people I was with. I had ample opportunities to meet and spend time with the other interns, and we found occasions to explore many of the surrounding areas of Japan, including amusement parks, temples, parks, and even go to the top Mt. Fuji itself. These experiences were stand equally with the research opportunities in my mind when I think back to my time as an intern.
I’d like to thank the NIG Intern Committee and Professor Kawakami for allowing me the chance to come and experience Japan, and participate in cutting-edge research projects, and to interact with and learn from the knowledgeable and talented researchers there.
Kousik Sundararajan
From:IITM, India
Stayed at:Araki Lab. (Division of Microbial Genetics).
I had a memorable summer as an intern at National Institute of Genetics. The rigorous research environment in the lab was well complemented by Mishima’s relaxing atmosphere and the warm company of fellow interns and lab members.
During my internship period, I worked on “Chromatin reconstitution from acetylated histone octamers to study replication in vitro” in the Division of Microbial Genetics. Professor Dr Hiroyuki Araki and Assistant Professor Dr Kohji Hizume guided me through out the project, which involved Atomic Force Microscopy, protein purification and many biochemical assays. Troubleshooting experiments with Hizume san and discussing my work with various lab members during weekly meetings helped me develop a new perspective towards biochemistry, experimental controls and research in general. I was encouraged by NIG and Araki lab members to present my work to eminent researchers. I had the opportunity to participate in an international Cell Division symposium and interact with top researchers in the field.
The guest house provided by NIG was most comfortable and well equipped for daily activities. NIG arranged for Japanese classes which helped me manage day-to-day communication needs. My limited Japanese knowledge was not a barrier, as seminars, journal club presentations, lab meetings and discussions were in English. Being a vegetarian, I had limited dining options. But cooking was very convenient, and food supplies were easily available. In fact, cooking with fellow intern students turned out to be a fun filled experience.
Most weekends were spent visiting exotic places including the temples and parks of Mishima, Kamakura, Hakone, the beach at Atami and Numazu and browsing through the busy streets of Tokyo. The 12 hour hike on Mount Fuji with a bunch of foreign students and fellow interns will forever be an unforgettable experience for me.
In all, my internship at NIG was a great learning experience. I got to work with state-of-the-art technology and visit world famous destinations. The work environment at NIG, conversations with the enthusiastic lab members and interactions with world renowned scientists has surely strengthened my interest in pursuing a career in research.
Jyothi V Nair
From:IISER Kolkata, India
Stayed at:Takano Lab. (Division of Population Genetics).
69 days in NIG equals 10 weeks of hard work and fun. I worked as a summer intern in Dr Takano’s Lab, Division of Population Genetics. Under Takano Sensei’s guidance I dwelled through the mysteries of ‘Biological Robustness’, an important biological phenomenon. The lab had a very welcome environment encouraging you to think for yourself, work at your own pace, convenience, with every member of the lab eager to help you whenever you need them. I am most grateful to my Sensei who was there to help me when I was hospitalized, to encourage me when I was not getting results, to worry about me as a father when I wanted to climb Mt Fuji and to tell me wonderful stories about Mishima and Japan whenever we had a chat.
At NIG, other than Lab work the interns are encouraged to attend various Journal clubs and Japanese classes. In the journal clubs members discuss interesting papers for the benefit of the listeners. Japanese classes helped us in our day to day activities in Japan. Our teacher Miyayouchi Sensei used to sweeten our lessons with Japanese delicacies. Apart from this we were also given the opportunity to attend world conferences to broaden our reach to current sciences. We were provided the best accommodation as well as facilities. We were also given the opportunity to visit other labs and interact with professors and learn about their work from them.
On the whole NIG internship programme gave us a platform to meet and work with renowned scientists, interact with fellow interns of other nations and be a part of Japanese culture and way of life. My 69 days in NIG have reinforced my dream to be a researcher, hopefully at par the people I met here.
Wen-Hsi Kuo
From:National Taiwan University
Stayed at:Kakutani Lab. (Division of Agricultural Genetics).
I cannot believe that ten weeks passed so fast. Before I came to Japan, I thought ten weeks were really long, maybe a little too long for a foreign intern student. But when I arrived at NIG, things changed a lot. A lot things were waiting for me, for example, designing my small proposal, reading previous research paper, discussing with my professor and getting used to Japanese life. At the beginning, life was really busy, but I was happy because my professor and lab member were always kind to me, patiently answered my questions and gave me instruction. My work here was about epigenetic of plant, Arabidopsis, focused on DNA methylation regulated retro-transposon activity. We hypothesized that DNA methylation at promoter region of transposon will down-regulate its transcription and proliferation. In order to support our argument, we conducted DNA methylation sequencing by doing bisulfite treatment before normal sequencing step. Maybe normal sequencing was relatively easy in present, but never was the bisulfite sequencing, which damaged seriously, making it difficult to amplify by PCR. So I spent lots of time doing try and error, using different PCR condition and checked by gel electrophoresis which really made me tired and depressed particularly when there was no band on the gel. Fortunately, I succeed twice this summer, the results supported our hypothesis, and DNA methylation might correlate with transposon silence. It was a good result and has given further questions on transposon regulation.
It was an unforgettable experience to have the internship this summer. I have learned critical thinking and practical experimental skills, which are very useful to me. Besides, when I stayed in Japan, I experienced many Japanese culture and beautiful scenery. I also knew many Japanese friends. All of them were the best gift for me this summer vacation. Thank you very much!