Undergraduate Internship in Cell and Molecular Biology

I worked in a research lab under France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in Paris. I was assigned a Ph.D. advisor, who helped me realize my own research project. The lab specializes in studying DNA damage in yeast cells, and they currently use an enzyme that can make precise DNA breaks. However, currently, there is no way to stop the enzyme from persistently damaging the DNA after the cell repairs it. My project was to create a system that under certain conditions can degrade the enzyme. To accomplish this, I learned many different lab techniques such as western blotting, drop tests and dynamic analyses. After seeing the opportunity to work in a bioresearch lab in Paris, I was excited about the potential to broaden my scientific education and develop practical workplace skills while having the opportunity to be immersed France's culture and language. Thank you so much for the opportunity you gave me. It truly impacted my life in an everlasting way.