Name: Budi Kurniawan
            Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Visiting Period: June 12^th (Wed), 2024 - August 5^th (Mon), 2024

Country: Indonesia

Q1. Summary of the internship (Description of the research conducted, aim, introduction of lab, and things you learned)
From June 12^th, 2024, to begin with, I had the opportunity to perform as an intern student at Takahashi Lab until August 5^th, 2024, under the guidance of Dr. Yuta Takahashi. The main objective of Takahashi lab is transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in mammals through DNA methylation induction after CpG-free DNA insertion. At this moment, I was introduced to multiple experiments related to previous research and trained with a set of experiment techniques, especially in cell culture, cloning techniques, plasmid transformation and purification, genotyping and some molecular analysis.

Q2. What did this experience do for you with respect to your specific career development directions?
This on-site experience is such a fascinating journey that broadened my horizon in the state-of-the-art of biomedical sciences, especially about epigenetic phenomena. It has profoundly redirected my perception and interest to pursue a career in this field. Furthermore, the program is not only offering research experience but also giving me the opportunity to meet with experts in various research discipline backgrounds. Therefore, it develops my networking and serves as steppingstone for my next career.

Q3. What did you enjoy about life at Kumamoto University (Kumamoto city or Japan)?
During the internship program, I definitely enjoyed exploring the urban landscape of Kumamoto City either on foot or by bicycle. I did some sightseeing in downtown Kumamoto such as Shimotori Arcade, a shopping center in the city, that connects to the Sakura Machi area and Kumamoto Castle. A summer festival, The Hinokuni Matsuri, was very attractive too. Moreover, natural spots are my favorite part of Kumamoto. Our team lab traveled to Aso Kuju National Park around Aso mountain which offers a beautiful caldera and visited the Shirakawa Suigen, a source of Kumamoto groundwater. I also spent time for leisure with running or jogging at city parks, such as Suizenji Ezuko Park, and visited some shrines. More interestingly, Kumamoto is the home of One Piece's author, Oda-Sensei. Therefore, I took some pictures of One Piece's statue that spread around Kumamoto prefecture. Kumamoto city is probably not as big as other cities in Japan, especially Tokyo as a bustling metropolis in the country. However, this is a vibrant art of what Kumamoto offers with abundant natural resources while staying connected to modern city life that is conducive to studying and living.

Message to prospective students. 
For those who have a strong interest and passion in biomedical research, I would highly recommend taking part in this internship program. The program provides valuable hands-on research experience with cutting-edge technology and the opportunity to meet experts in biomedical fields around the globe. In addition, the program is a kind of orientation of pre-doctoral degrees, especially to enter graduate school of medical science, Kumamoto University. Thus, you will have a lot of information about admission, fellowship etc.