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
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
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