Joining the Rouiller lab transformed my time in Melbourne into one of my most formative academic and personal experiences. Heading to lab everyday provided routine, allowed me to engage critically and creatively with a field I’m passionate about, and made me feel immersed in Melbourne’s research ecosystem. My direct research mentor, Naveen, helped me appreciate the unique positionality of Australia within the Asia-Pacific region. As a researcher travelling to conferences in the region, he was able to speak to the diversity of industry and research cultures across different countries while also sharing his insights on travel. Being in such proximity to Asia and frequently discussing varying cultural norms in science and beyond with Naveen empowered me to travel to these unfamiliar regions and engage more confidently with people, customs, and ways of thinking different from my own. Scientifically, my structural work in Melbourne was heavily focused on biochemistry and protein purification optimization, broadening my skill set with these important foundational techniques. Being part of a new research environment and culture pushed me to reflect on how much lab dynamics shape research. Compared to Berkeley, I became aware of how mentorship styles, communication norms, and institutional context influence not just the way research is conducted, but also how I worked, thought, and collaborated as a scientist. I’ve been fortunate that from my very first lab at Berkeley, I’ve continued to find environments that are both supportive and intellectually challenging. That foundation and network I’ve built continues to open doors to new opportunities, even as far as Australia. My experiences in Melbourne have inspired me to apply for a Fulbright fellowship to research at the University of Zurich following my graduation from Berkeley. During my semester abroad, I learned to navigate a new city, build friendships, and adapt to a different research culture. In doing so, I discovered, and continue to learn, what helps me feel grounded and connected in a new environment, and I feel prepared to apply these lessons in Zurich, if granted this fellowship. The foundational biochemical skillset, new immunological focus within structural biology, and confidence that I can thrive in completely new environments that I gained in the Rouiller lab prepare me both academically for graduate research and personally to foster lasting connections wherever science and life may take me.
Joining the Rouiller lab in Melbourne was one of my most formative academic and personal experiences. My biochemistry and protein purification research broadened my skill set while immersing me in a new academic culture. Mentorship helped me appreciate Australia’s position within the Asia-Pacific and gave me confidence to engage with diverse scientific communities. Experiencing how lab dynamics and cultural norms shape research made me reflect on my own growth as a scientist. This experience not only prepared me for graduate research but also inspired me to apply for a Fulbright fellowship in Zurich, where I hope to continue building connections and thriving in new environments.