I, Krithika Ramachandran, final year B.Tech student was
selected by SRM University
for doing my final year project at the Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Harvard University ,
Boston , USA under the Semester Abroad
program. My project was for a period of 5 months from September 2011 till
February 2012. At Harvard I worked at the Renal Division and did my project
under the guidance of Dr. Vishal Vaidya.
Upon my arrival, my first few weeks were spent in getting
adjusted in the lab and understanding how everything works there. At this time,
I was encouraged to read a lot of research articles and papers so that I can be
aware of the current happenings in the renal field. I am very thankful to all
the lab members of Vishal sir’s lab who were very welcoming and made me very
comfortable in working with them.
As
days passed, I started observing and assisting the postdoctoral fellows in the
lab with their experiments. I worked along with 2 postdoctoral fellows and one
research trainee in the lab. This gave me a lot of practice of all the basic
techniques used in a molecular biology lab. I got a chance to get comfortable
with techniques like RNA isolation, Real-time PCR, Protein extraction and
quantification, Western Blotting, Immunohistochemistry etc, by performing them
several times.
After about one and a half months my guide finalized my
project titled “Expression and excretion profiles of miR-155, -21 and -18a
following Acute Kidney Injury”. Once my project started I had to work on my
own. My first feeling was “What if I do something wrong” and honestly I did
make mistakes but then every time I made a mistake or a result did not come my
guide encouraged me to try again. I learnt that the most important quality
required for being a researcher was patience!
As my project involved
mouse models, I also got to observe and learn animal handling, how to perform
surgery and sacrifice.
I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Vishal Vaidya
for having accepted me into his lab and also all his lab members without whom I
would not have been able to complete my project work.
This was a very productive period for me as I learnt a lot
of new things. This project experience has made my dream of pursuing PhD even
stronger and I would surely consider this as my first step to being a researcher.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my
gratitude to the International Office, SRM University
for giving us this exposure. I also thank our HOD for having faith in my
ability and selecting me for this program and all my professors for their
invaluable support and encouragement.
This has been a truly wonderful learning experience for me
and it would surely help me further in my career.
- Krithika Ramachandran
Final Yr B.Tech Genetic Engg,
SAP student