What did you experience during the internship?

I examined experimental conditions for efficient iPS cell production. We experimented with different amounts of reagents added to cells to enhance cell viability during conventional reprogramming. Since it was my first time working in a cell culture room, getting used to the process was challenging. However, I was also very excited about seeing the daily changes in the iPS cells I would generate under the microscope.

In addition, the lab members were friendly and social, holding welcome parties and going out to lunch together, so I enjoyed a fulfilling two-week internship.

What were some fun and challenging aspects of your research at CiRA?

Through the internship, I realized the difference between undergraduate lab courses and academic research, which I found exciting. In lab courses, you are told by the instructor whether your experimental results are right or wrong. However, during this internship, I performed experiments in which no one knew the results in advance, so there were times when the results were completely different from what we had expected. I found it very fulfilling to investigate why we got such results and discuss with everyone in the lab what may have gone wrong. I truly enjoyed doing something completely novel and searching for answers nobody knew about.

During lab meetings, I had the opportunity to learn about everyone’s research. It was sometimes difficult to keep up because of my limited scientific knowledge and the English presentation materials.

I also had the opportunity to present the results of my research during my internship, but it was challenging because I had no previous experience preparing or presenting experimental data. However, my supervisor for the internship kindly filled in the gaps in my knowledge and helped me think about how to make my presentation convincing to everyone. I hope to continue expanding my scientific background and work hard on my communication skills in English.

Did your interest in research change after your internship?

I experienced cutting-edge research firsthand for the first time, and it spiked my interest. During this internship, I heard many people say that many things can go wrong in research. Indeed, I faced many problems with the research I was doing during the internship and could not find solutions to everything. I strongly feel that if one seriously engage in research, it takes a long time, so I plan to enter a master’s or doctoral program.

In addition to the research I did this time, I am also interested in the clinical applications of iPS cells. I learned from the laboratory members that there are many options for engaging in research, ranging from academia to industry. Through my internship at CiRA, I learned more about research and how to live as a researcher.