When I was leaving US to go to NIG for my internship, I had a thought on my mind. I wanted to gain such an experience going to a different country and getting involved in research there that I would find a permanent positive change about the way I viewed research. Completing my internship, I am at home now and looking back at what I realize to be one of the best 70 days of my life. I worked in the lab of Dr. Araki on the DNA binding proteins with the technique I learnt called the Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). The organism used was Saccharomyces cerevisiae. I studied the binding of a specific protein, Dpb11, involved in triggering the S phase of the cell cycle, in wild type background and compare how its interaction is different in the mutation isolated by my lab called the Jet-1 mutation. It was an interesting research topic such that nobody else in the world had yet worked on answering this particular question .It was a great feeling to have gotten a chance to work in a world class laboratory environment with my professors who have big name in the field of DNA replication research. After this internship, I have definitely realized that I have lots to learn to become a successful researcher. Seeing my dedicated lab members work day and night, I have understood that research is not only about knowing what you want to discover, it is infact, a process which requires perseverance, dedication and a lot of hard work. Dr. Seiji Tanaka who taught me all the techniques to learn in order to answer my questions and Dr. Araki’s ideas and support as well as the rest of the lab member’s warm smile and help made my working in the lab much comfortable. I developed an insight in one of the interesting questions in biochemistry and finally came to understand about how scientists figure out each steps that take place in the molecular level of the cells by performing various laboratory techniques.

　Besides the lab, attending various seminars and lectures, I got to learn more about different research being done in reputed institutes all around the world as well as explore possibilities of what I could be pursuing as my research interest in coming future. Spending 2 months at NIG, I now am quite confident that I want to take research as my carrier.The visit of labs at NIG, NIPS and NIBB were all awe-inspiring.

　Along with getting acquainted with the real world research, I got a chance to be experience the exquisite Japanese culture and lifestyle. The Japanese language classes were fun and helpful. I enjoyed every single day of my stay in Japan, the country where nature blends in perfectly with technology. My intern friends were a wonderful company and places I visited and the fun times I had in Japan will stay as a fond memory of my life. I loved everything about Japan and its beautiful people. I consider myself lucky to be NIG intern, 2010.

Araki Laboratory