Internships
The program is specially designed for students with under-represented backgrounds with the following objectives:
● to stimulate the students' interest in interdisciplinary translational plant biology
● to encourage the students to choose a career in translational research in the future
● to provide the students with hands-on training in state-of-the-art laboratories
● to expose the students to the research environment
● to groom local research talents
● to create an opportunity for the students to meet and exchange ideas with top-notch scientists
The program is conducted in summer and winter vacation. It begins with an orientation for the students to learn basic theories and concepts, laboratory safety measures, and applications of sophisticated equipment. The students receive training in a wide variety of laboratory techniques in molecular biology, general biological principles, and scientific writing and presentation skills.
After the orientation, the participants are posted to different groups to either conduct small research projects on their own, or assist other scientists in their existing projects. By working alongside and interacting with all members of the group which include undergraduates, graduate students, post-docs, foreign researchers and PIs, students are able to gain a valuable insight in the day-to-day workings of a lab and life in academia. At the end of the program, each student is conferred a certificate of participation.