Global COE Study Abroad Project
Kei Sato（Integrated Biology Laboratories / Laboratory of Intracellular Membrane Dynamics）
| Date | 2011.10.26-11.4 |
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| Purpose | To participate in the 2011 Japan-US "Tomodachi" Operation |
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Report
Affiliation : Genetics, Frontier Bioscience
Name : Kei Sato
Place : Osaka University San Francisco center Purpose
・strengthening communication and leadership skills
・working in an international environment
・learning to apply my research
Contents
・visiting universities and laboratories (Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCSF)
・visiting corporations (PARC, Plug and Play, Sanjose Bio center, Affymetrix)
・symposium at UC Berkeley
・group discussion and presentation with foreign students
Results
By visiting some universities, I could get to know the different styles between US and Japanese. First, most of the PhD students in the US are researching not as students but as staff members in laboratories. Therefore, they can get salary from laboratories so that they don't need to worry about money while researching. Second, it is not unusual that US students take double major and that even students majoring science take humanity course after graduating their course. Different from Japanese students, they are less concerned about their age, willing to quit work and go back to school.
I visited some incubation centers in Silicon Valley, which invite companies from many countries. I haven't seen this system in Japan. I believe it is part of what gives Silicon Valley its competitive advantage in biotechnology and IT.
Discussions with foreign students left a strong impressive on me. In my group, Japanese members struggled during the discussion. The American participants had learned discussion and presentation skills including how to make slide since before entering university, so they were very efficient.
Prospect
I could experience and learn a lot through this project.
First, I could broaden my network with foreign students in US universities and researchers in companies. In addition, I could widen my vision through communication with them. I felt communication was most important to initiate everything.
Second, I could learn different thinking way for studying and researching. It was very impressive for me that they are very flexible and don't hesitate to try to begin new thing.
Third, I was overwhelmed by their way of thinking and style in discussion and it was a first and good opportunity for me.
