Name: Yavnica Bansal 
            University of Mumbai

Visiting Period: June 16^th (Mon), 2025 - July 31^st (Thu), 2025

Country: India

Lab: Laboratory of Develomental Morphogenesis

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

I interned in Dr. Sheng's lab-- developmental embryology lab for a period of 7 weeks during the summer, and I primarily worked with CAM of chicken embryos.

CAM is a tissue formed by the fusion of chorion and allantois layers of the developing embryo, and performs functions including providing nutrition to the embryo and also helping in excretion of wastes of the embryo; analogous to the mammalian placenta. One of the projects that I worked upon was to understand the kind of interactions occurring between cancerous cells that was artificially inserted into the CAM tissue and the cells of the CAM tissue. CAM cells were chicken cells and tumour cells were the human ovarian cells.

Another project that I worked upon was to do proteome analysis of the chicken embryos in torpor stages. When incubated at low temperatures, a state of low metabolism and development called torpor is induced. To keep up, there as to be some changes in the expressions that we want to study, however the mRNA seq and metabolomics data showed almost no changes. Hence, we wanted to approach on a deeper level and dive into proteomics analysis to understand the changes occurring on a protein level.

I also learnt how to transplant hIPS cells in chicken embryos which was extremely challenging hence extremely fun.

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

I wanted to come to IRCMS to have a greater exposure to people in research. I personally think that the more diverse people one talks to, the more the mind opens up. Scientifically too, it helps in flow of ideas and knowledge; discussions make understanding better.

Developmental biology has been a subject of my interest, and coming to this lab offered me to strengthen my basics and also learn specifically about the development in chicken embryo. Chicken handling, I've been told, is a little tough so getting to practice that here was definitely an added skill.

I always looked at medical research as something very industrialised, but IRCMS conducts medical research in a more learning-focused way. This experience definitely helped me consider medical research more as a career-choice.

Overall, coming here helped me get out of my comfort zone and learn new things scientifically and culturally too.

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

Japan is beautiful. Throughout Japan, the emphasis on preserving natural beauty is very apparent; simultaneously keeping up with the advancement of technology. It is not always seen in huge machines or buildings, but how day to day things are designed to be effortless and efficient. With that being said, Kumamoto has the perfect balance of the buzzing city-life with all its charm and liveliness, but also the calm and peaceful natural life with its beautiful gardens or cultural history. Kumamoto specifically, is also very close to even the coastline if you are a person who likes to be near the shore; and places like Mount Aso if that resonates with you more. Living in Kumamoto is also not very expensive (which is an added plus point for self-funded students).

Photo1: Me taking a minute to admire the beauty of ancient Japanese archtecture amidst the greenery

Message to prospective students

I highly encourage all and any student to apply here. The research done at IRCMS opens you up to a lot of new experiences and scientific learning. IRCMS has all the high-level facilities required for one to do biological research. Additionally, all the people from admin to PIs to fellow interns speak English, which makes communication about science possible; contrary to many other institutes in countries with English not as the first language. The overall environment of ICRMS is also very amicable and intern friendly; the people are kind and look at one another with respect. It is a great place to spend your summer and do good science.

Photo3: Me and Dr. Sheng celebrating and concluding the internship