Reevaluating Summer Insights - Reshaping Academic Investigations
In the heart of Japan's bustling capital, a student embarked on an enlightening journey, far from the familiar grounds of Princeton. This student, with almost no research experience beforehand, found themselves immersed in the Amgen Scholars Program at the University of Tokyo.
The summer, spanning eleven weeks, was made possible due to Princeton's extended vacation schedule. The student's time in Japan was not their first foray into research; they had participated in two internships previously. However, this article focuses on their experience with the Amgen Scholars Program.
The Amgen Scholars Program is a life science research initiative sponsored by the Amgen pharmaceutical company, offering students the opportunity to conduct research in various regions worldwide, including the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia.
Upon arrival, the student found themselves in a vibrant research environment, guided by a mentor from the University of Tokyo. The mentor, an experienced researcher, was instrumental in guiding the student's project and teaching basic laboratory techniques. The student also received assistance from doctorate students in other laboratories, fostering a collaborative atmosphere.
The student's laboratory frequently held meetings with other laboratories, emphasising the importance of collaboration in research. According to the mentor, research is about both collaboration and competition, a perspective that resonated with the student. The mentor also emphasised the significance of interpersonal interaction and communication in research, lessons that would prove invaluable during the student's time in Japan.
The student found the experience beneficial for more than just academic growth. The summer in Japan was instrumental in preparing for future interviews and essays for summer internships. The student also gained a new perspective on research, understanding its need for collaboration, not individualism.
However, the student's journey was not without its challenges. They had initially been rejected from Princeton-sponsored summer internship programs, such as the International Internship Program (IIP) and Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS). Reflecting back on the summer experience was helpful for the student in preparing for future opportunities.
In the broader context of life sciences, collaborative research offers several benefits. Collaboration allows researchers to pool resources and expertise, enabling more comprehensive and innovative approaches to complex biological problems. Working with scientists from various specialties accelerates discovery and translation of research into therapies. Collaborative efforts often leverage big data and machine learning infrastructures, improving the understanding of diseases at molecular and population levels. By sharing findings and resources openly, collaborative research can move more quickly from bench to bedside, facilitating advances in treatments.
Despite these benefits, collaborative research is not without its misconceptions. Collaboration does not guarantee replicability or success, as biomedical research still faces reproducibility challenges. Interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research can encounter barriers such as differences in methods, culture, priorities, and communication, which may slow progress if not managed well.
In sum, a student in the Amgen Scholars Program would gain from exposure to team science, resource sharing, and interdisciplinary approaches, while learning that collaborative life sciences research still requires careful design, rigorous validation, and open communication to overcome persistent challenges like replicability. The student's summer in Japan was a testament to these lessons, offering a transformative experience that shaped their understanding of research and its importance in the global scientific community.
The student's participation in the Amgen Scholars Program provided a unique opportunity for education-and-self-development and personal-growth, as they delved into life science research at the University of Tokyo. The summer experience was not only enlightening for academic progress but also instrumental in fostering learning about collaboration, an essential aspect of research within the global scientific community.
