Final year Biotechnology student Chan Kok Sim had a fruitful internship experience at National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Department of Biological Sciences when he became part of a research team and co-authored a paper.
Written alongside Prof Dr Antonia Monteiro, the main supervisor, and Dr Mainak Das Gupta, the co-supervisor during Chan’s three-month stint at NUS, the paper, titled “Natural Loss of eyeless/Pax6 Expression in Eyes of Bicyclus anynana Adult Butterflies Likely Leads to Exponential Decrease of Eye Fluorescence in Transgenics” was published by PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal on 14 July 2015.
“In brief, the research is about gene network in Bicyclus anynana butterflies. We believe such an in-depth study will be useful for future researchers in carrying out transgenic engineering researches,” explained Chan, who shared that the process of the research was an enriching experience altogether. “Personally, completing the research project has groomed me to be more determined than ever. During this process, I have discovered that there are three important steps in research. First, you have to start it. Next, you have to complete it. Finally, you have to publish your research outcome. Hence, a publication indicated the completion of a research, no matter simple or complex one.”
Chan also attributed his preparedness in his internship to the education he received at UTAR Faculty of Science. “FSc’s Biotechnology programme has prepared me to face challenges during the internship period. The research project involved a lot of different aspects and required the application of various knowledge learnt throughout my academic years. Therefore, I’m grateful that the Biotechnology programme is designed in a multidisciplinary way,” he said, and also thanked Fsc Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Assoc Prof Dr Gideon Khoo for being an internship supervisor who has given advice and suggestions to Chan during the internship.
“Natural Loss of eyeless/Pax6 Expression in Eyes of Bicyclus anynana Adult Butterflies Likely Leads to Exponential Decrease of Eye Fluorescence in Transgenics” can be read online or retrieved here.
Chan (right), Prof Dr Antonia (third from left), Dr Mainak (second from left) and other lab members at the Fire Flies Health Farm, Singapore
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