Name: Ayaulym Bekenova
           Nazarbayev University

Visiting Period: June 13^th (Fri), 2025 - August 8^st (Fri), 2025

Country: Kazakhstan

Lab: Laboratory of Proteostasis in Stem Cell

Q1. Summary of the internship (Description of the research conducted, aim, introduction of lab, and things you learned)

I had the opportunity to intern in the Proteostasis in Stem Cell lab under the supervision of Prof. Miharada for 2 months, with the main focus on negative regulators of erythropoiesis. Erythropoiesis is a vital process that maintains red blood cell levels in the bloodstream. However, some proteins, small peptides and metabolites released by many cancer cell lines act as negative regulators and block the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. During my internship, I explored this phenomenon and enhanced my expertise by contributing to experiments alongside other member of the laboratory.

While working on this project, I conducted supernatant screening, conditioned co-culturing, and flow cytometry, followed by a detailed analysis of the resulting data. On top of that, I gained new skills in advanced laboratory techniques, including murine behavioral testing, primary HPSC isolation, and mouse embryo extraction.

Photo1: Me extracting a mouse embryo

Q2. What did this experience do for you with respect to your specific career development directions?

This experience provided me with invaluable hands-on practice, deepening my passion for regenerative medicine research. As an early-career researcher, I found this opportunity to be a crucial step in my professional development, greatly advancing my comprehension and confidence in a lab setting.

Q3. What did you enjoy about life at Kumamoto University (Kumamoto city or Japan)?

During my time at Kumamoto, I truly loved immersing myself in the rich blend of nature, culture, and local community. I was captivated by the warmth and kindness of the people, as well as the beautiful harmony between traditional and modern architecture that defines Kumamoto city. Eager to experience as much of Japan's vibrant life as possible, I managed my time wisely to explore bustling cities, serene beaches, magnificent historical sites, and exciting amusement parks. Through these experiences, I completely fell in love with both Kumamoto and Japan as a whole.

Photo2: Me and Prof. Miharada's lab members after lab dinner

Message to prospective students

I highly encourage students to apply for this internship program. You would have a chance to experience being a part of a very progressive research center filled with brilliant minds from around the world, creating a warm welcoming environment, overall making it a perfect place to grow as a researcher and as a person.