A examine overseas intern labored in a laboratory that embraced camaraderie and spirituality in the identical house.
By Haley McPhail, USAC Khon Kaen
It’s been one 12 months since I began my examine overseas in Khon Kaen, Thailand, I’ve been reminiscing in regards to the healthcare analysis assistantship I accomplished. It occurred on the Khon Kaen College campus, and I nonetheless bear in mind seeing all of the opened umbrellas left exterior classroom doorways, slowly dripping dry. I can shut my eyes and listen to the humorous elevator music that performed exterior however I additionally assume again on the calm silence on the bus journey to the college. I additionally bear in mind stopping for breakfast on the coolest 7-Eleven shops.
I labored with the Natthida Lab on the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Khon Kaen College. Whereas trying again at images, movies, and journal entries, I spotted I had achieved lots of the objectives I had set for myself: I needed to realize skilled analysis abilities, increase my understanding of well being on a world scale, and be taught from students in these fields.
Firstly, I felt curious, excited, but in addition nervous. I needed to do the very best I might in my function, so I confirmed as much as my lab able to be taught with full and clear humility. From the second I met my lab crew, they welcomed me with open arms and large smiles. They had been at all times affected person with me and helped me all through the whole expertise.
I carried out a examine on the presence of antioxidants in varied Thai medicinal vegetation from begin to end. My mentors would spend hours serving to me with calculations, educating me Excel shortcuts, and exhibiting me statistical software program.
Figuring out the presence of antioxidants in vegetation entails getting ready a plant extract and mixing it with a buffer resolution. We used a check known as FRAP, which stands for Ferric Lowering Antioxidant Energy. This check measures whether or not ferric ions (Fe³⁺) are diminished to ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) within the presence of gear that will comprise antioxidants. In our case, we already knew the plant contained antioxidants, however we aimed to find out the sort and magnitude of antioxidant exercise. We ready a plant extract utilizing ethanol to imitate conventional extraction strategies utilized in Thai medicinal practices.
I utilized lots of the abilities I gained in my natural chemistry and biochemistry labs all through this challenge, akin to diluting concentrations of resolution, pipetting, and utilizing spectrophotometry. It was just like different experiments I had beforehand noticed, akin to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a way that identifies and quantifies compounds in liquid mixtures. That stated, I had by no means undertaken a analysis challenge of this caliber, and although it was intimidating, I approached it day-to-day and grew considerably as a researcher.
My lab crew consisted of my supervisor, Ajarn (Professor) Natthida Weerapreeyakul, and my Ph.D. pupil mentors, P’ (Older Sibling) Pop and P’Karn. In Thai Tradition, titles of respect for superiors akin to Ajarn for a professor and P’ for anybody older or of a better place are used. P’ additionally means older sibling.
I labored probably the most intently with my mentors on a day-to-day foundation and checked in with Ajarn biweekly. I spent 17 hours on the lab each week so P’Pop and P’Karn ultimately grew to become my closest mates. We’d eat lunch on the cafeteria and go for Thai Tea runs once we wanted a break from work within the lab. They taught me tips on how to order my favourite dish, Khao Soi, in Thai which grew to become a favourite that I ate almost on daily basis. We’d go to dinner, cafes, and markets exterior of the lab usually, too.
Whereas working within the lab we’d discuss our aspirations and share tales of our travels. P’Karn graduated from his doctorate and utilized to turn out to be a professor on the College of Drugs. We helped him put together for his interview and pattern lesson — all of us needed to see him succeed. Our group grew to become very shut all through this system and are nonetheless in contact at the moment.
One thing I wasn’t totally anticipating to be taught on this apprenticeship is that spirituality was embraced in analysis. Over the doorway to every lab, there are chalk writings associated to Buddhism, safety, and luck. Buddhist artifacts akin to marigold necklaces representing radiance and striving in direction of enlightenment had been present in each laboratory.
Sooner or later within the lab, I seen mats everywhere in the flooring and many individuals gathered round a monk, all barefoot. P’Karn defined that the monk involves bless the animals examined in a few of the labs. By no means in my life had I seen such an intersection of science and the divine. It was extremely eye-opening to work together with exceptional researchers, college students and college dedicated to contributing to science in an evidence-based method and nonetheless see a balanced integration of non secular practices.
In direction of the tip of this system, I spotted what a ravishing community I used to be part of. The collectivist mindset of the group fostered this unbelievable help system. The ground my lab was on was devoted to the analysis of pharmacognosy; all of the researchers and college students had been devoted to bridging the hole between non secular reasoning and evidence-based scientific reasoning concerning the usage of medicinal vegetation. Although all of the labs had been motivated to succeed, they by no means let competitors maintain them from growing friendships with individuals within the constructing.
My analysis assistantship impressed me to use what I realized and noticed overseas and try and deliver it house. I really feel impressed to higher signify the fields of dietary science and various medication from my experiences. Khon Kaen will at all times have such a particular place in my coronary heart.
Haley is a College of Nevada alum with levels in dietary science and Spanish. Her pursuits in cultural change, language studying, and public well being have formed her experiences each at house and overseas. She sees herself as a world citizen and is obsessed with constructing connections that assist communities really feel protected, wholesome, and empowered — irrespective of the place on this planet they’re.
Discover your choices
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Tutorial areas:
Enterprise, Administration, and Advertising and marketing
Communications, Media, and Journalism
Tradition, Id, and Society
Schooling and Human Providers
Atmosphere, Pure Science, and Biotechnology
International Language Abilities
Well being Sciences, Psychology, and Public Well being
Historical past, Politics, and Legislation
