During the summer of 2025, I interned at Keio University's Onoe Research Group through the Junior Research Experience Program (JREP), conducting hands-on research in a university laboratory. I commuted everyday to the research lab and worked under the supervision of Keio University Professor Hiroaki Onoe beside the research of graduate student mentors and Ph.D. candidates.
I was responsible for testing the efficiency of a biomedical apparatus for human/ mice cell culture use for the research group's study on culturing artificial muscle tissue and promoting its maturation toward therapeutic applications for muscle diseases.
During my time at the lab, I gained experience on how to create cell cultures and worked with MDA231-LM2-4175 and NIH-3T3 cell lines. To do this, I used laminar flow clean benches, micropipettes, centrifuges, incubators, bunsen burners, and aspirators.
I worked alongside Ph.D. candidates on complex research tasks, learning how experimental goals are defined, executed, and evaluated in a real research setting. At the conclusion of the internship, I presented my work to the graduate research group, gaining experience in scientific communication and discussion.
Working with graduate students on challenging projects not only enhanced my technical skills to work in a research lab but also furthered my interest in pre-medical studies and inspired me to pursue medical/biomedical research in college.
