Name: Winka Putri Suwardjo
            Universitas Gadjah Mada

Visiting Period: October 14^th (Tue), 2025 - November 28^th (Fri), 2025

Country: Indonesia

Lab: Takizawa Lab

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

Over the course of 1.5 months at the Takizawa Lab, I was able to be part of an ongoing early-stage research project, where I learned to handle experiments that did not yet have predetermined answers. My work centered on studying the phagocytic efficiency of RAW 264.7 macrophages under varying treatment conditions, along with maintaining the cell line through routine passaging. To evaluate the cell's responses, we performed flow cytometry to quantify bead uptake and overall phagocytic capacity. The cells were also examined using confocal microscopy with multiple fluorescent stains to visualize morphological and behavioral changes under these conditions. Following the in vitro experiment, I gained a small degree of in vivo work using a chick embryo model to observe early hematoendothelial development at different incubation stages. Much of this was new to me, but with guidance from Takizawa-sensei, Asai-sensei, and the lab members, I gradually understood the concepts behind the experiments and was able to carry them out with increasing technical confidence and precision.

Consistency and persistency were values continuously emphasized in the lab by Takizawa-sensei, and practicing techniques day after day gradually built my confidence and independence at the bench, starting from the very first day. I was given room to try unfamiliar instruments, adapt protocols, and attempt my own analysis before asking for feedback. The steep learning curve became one of my greatest teachers, and I grew more in these weeks than I expected. Outside my main project, the supportive environment also allowed me to observe and learn fragments of other techniques from lab members working on different projects, such as bone marrow and spleen extraction, FACS, and plasmid cloning.

Aside from technical skills, what stayed with me most was the wisdom I gained from listening to personal stories people shared in the lab and how they approach science. Being in the Takizawa Lab pushed me out of my comfort zone in a way I am grateful for--I was encouraged to ask questions, make mistakes, and take part in discussions even as an intern. Towards the end of the internship, I had the opportunity to present my experimental results to the lab. It was a nervous yet rewarding moment, and it felt like a fitting closing chapter to my time there.

Photo2: Learing about fluorescence imaging on cells 

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

Being involved in the lab environment and witnessing it firsthand gave me a better sense of the day-to-day realities of PhD life. I was able to join journal clubs, where members shared papers they found interesting and discussed recent findings in the field. It was also fascinating to learn about the projects they were working on and see how they designed experiments and presented their results. These experiences helped me picture myself in a research role more clearly.

I also appreciated having the chance to attend seminars and weekly talks at IRCMS, where I was exposed to research from other labs as well as invited speakers from Japan and overseas. Hearing different perspectives and approaches to scientific questions showed me how broad and varied research directions can be. This experience also helped me identify the areas I am most drawn to and the skills I hope to build further in the coming years, especially within science.

I was lucky to have found friends in the lab who made my days brighter, not only with their jokes and laughter, but also their stories and insights about academic life. Outside the lab, we explored the city together over dinners and weekend hangouts, and those shared moments became some of my fondest memories from this stay.

Kumamoto itself carries a charm that grows on me slowly. What left the deepest impression on me were the mesmerizing natural spots farther away from the city center. The breathtaking view in autumn especially made me appreciate the landscape even more, with the colors of the trees shifting into warm hues. I spent many weekends forest bathing while getting lost in nature, exploring historical sites such as local temples and repurposed buildings that have stood since the post-war era. Taking the train to Takamori and visiting Kamishikimi Shrine was perhaps the most unforgettable and surreal moment. Around this time, the golden ginkgo trees were at their peak, and seeing them while walking along the town promenades became a memory I know I'll carry with me as one of my core impressions of Kumamoto.

Photo3: Dinner gathering in downtown

Photo4: Absorbing vitamin sea at Misumi West Port

Message to prospective students

To anyone considering joining the Takizawa Lab or IRCMS, come prepared to grow. Know that research here is not just about generating results, it's about understanding the science behind it and learning how to move forward even when things are uncertain. The lab sees interns as contributors, not observers, and being given that space may awaken a kind of passion you didn't realize you had. You are expected to think, to try, to question, and to care about what you are doing. You will make mistakes and struggle through the process, but failure is an unavoidable part of learning. So, embrace the process and trust that each challenge is shaping you into someone more capable than before.

Photo6: Trying out culinary dishes with lab mates