Presentation Information
[2ASPR-21-3]Building Connections Through International Research Experience
○Nodoka Handa ((The University of Tokyo))
Plant regeneration enables the formation of new organs from differentiated tissues. My research focuses on the epigenetic mechanisms that control the acquisition and maintenance of regenerative competence in callus tissue, a pluripotent cell mass, during plant regeneration.
From September to November 2025, I conducted a three-month research stay at the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Switzerland, through the ASPIRE program. The primary objective of my stay was to learn the CUT&Tag technique, an epigenomic profiling method that enables the analysis of histone modifications using only a small amount of biological material. This technique was particularly attractive for my research because the collection of callus tissue is labor-intensive and often limits the application of conventional methods for histone modification analysis. In addition, the host laboratory possessed mutant lines that were highly relevant to my project, providing an excellent opportunity to advance my research while learning new experimental methods.
During my stay, I participated in weekly lectures, seminars, and a department retreat. I was also given opportunities to present my research to researchers working in diverse areas of plant developmental biology. Since many members of the host laboratory studied embryogenesis rather than plant regeneration, I initially expected limited overlap with my research interests. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm and curiosity they showed toward my work. This experience also highlighted the importance of developing the ability to actively contribute to scientific discussions. Although I was generally able to understand scientific discussions conducted in English, I found it challenging to actively participate when conversations became fast-paced and highly interactive. This experience made me realize that effective scientific communication requires not only language proficiency but also the ability to formulate ideas quickly and contribute confidently to discussions.
Importantly, the connections established during my stay continued after my return to Japan. Several researchers whom I met during my stay later attended an international conference in Amsterdam, where we reunited and exchanged updates on our research. These continued interactions reinforced the value of building international networks early in one's career. Looking back, although I successfully learned new experimental approaches during my stay, an equally valuable outcome was the opportunity to build connections within an international research community. The experience strengthened my motivation to pursue research in an international environment and demonstrated that studying abroad is not only an opportunity to advance research but also an important opportunity for personal and professional growth.
From September to November 2025, I conducted a three-month research stay at the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Switzerland, through the ASPIRE program. The primary objective of my stay was to learn the CUT&Tag technique, an epigenomic profiling method that enables the analysis of histone modifications using only a small amount of biological material. This technique was particularly attractive for my research because the collection of callus tissue is labor-intensive and often limits the application of conventional methods for histone modification analysis. In addition, the host laboratory possessed mutant lines that were highly relevant to my project, providing an excellent opportunity to advance my research while learning new experimental methods.
During my stay, I participated in weekly lectures, seminars, and a department retreat. I was also given opportunities to present my research to researchers working in diverse areas of plant developmental biology. Since many members of the host laboratory studied embryogenesis rather than plant regeneration, I initially expected limited overlap with my research interests. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm and curiosity they showed toward my work. This experience also highlighted the importance of developing the ability to actively contribute to scientific discussions. Although I was generally able to understand scientific discussions conducted in English, I found it challenging to actively participate when conversations became fast-paced and highly interactive. This experience made me realize that effective scientific communication requires not only language proficiency but also the ability to formulate ideas quickly and contribute confidently to discussions.
Importantly, the connections established during my stay continued after my return to Japan. Several researchers whom I met during my stay later attended an international conference in Amsterdam, where we reunited and exchanged updates on our research. These continued interactions reinforced the value of building international networks early in one's career. Looking back, although I successfully learned new experimental approaches during my stay, an equally valuable outcome was the opportunity to build connections within an international research community. The experience strengthened my motivation to pursue research in an international environment and demonstrated that studying abroad is not only an opportunity to advance research but also an important opportunity for personal and professional growth.
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