Keon-young Park's Internship Experience
Amphiphilic molecules self-assemble to form bilayers, micelles and helices found in living cells such as in DNA or phospholipids bilayer of cell. Understanding how and why these morphologies are formed is an important step to understanding the fundamental structures of life.
I studied group of amphiphilic molecules with one hydrophilic head group and two identical hydrocarbon chains with varying length. This molecule had a guanosine counter ion. The chain length varied from 12 carbons to 18 carbons. I studied the aggregation behavior of the amphiphilic molecule with guanosine counter ion (12N1GMP) at the air-water interface and in solutions. I observed macroscopic change of hydrogel of 12N1GMP with different nucleosides added, observed various morphologies of the gel using optical microscopy and measured surface pressure changes. My hypothesis was that cytidine, which is complementary to the guanosine, will interact with guanosine in 12N1GMP and facilitates the gelation and the precipitation of the hydrogel of 12N1GMP. We confirmed that the hydrogel samples with cytidine added, precipitate much quicker than the hydrogel with 12N1GMP alone. We also observed that various structures that can be found in the gel of 12N1GMP such as helices, fibers, ribbon and dots were larger than those of other Gemini molecule, and were larger than 10 micrometer. We confirmed the interaction of 12N1GMP and cytidine molecule in solution via change in surface pressure, when compared to the control group.
Doing research is a collaborative problem solving process. It is also a first-hand learning experience. In a laboratory environment, you will meet many other scientists with different scientific backgrounds. In the lab I worked during the summer in France, the primary investigator was a physicist, there were two biochemists, one physical chemist and I was a physics student. You will have many chances to share knowledge in different fields. Doing research in the summer requires some degree of self- discipline and enthusiasm toward the research topic. When many other people go on a vacation to take a break, it is not always easy to spend 8 hours in the lab, 5 days a week. But if you are interested in your research topic, it is the best way to learn it. When you choose a lab that you want to work, try to think about the country you want to go to and talk to your research advisor first. They have many collaborators or will know other professors who have collaborators in the country of your interest. The Hughes Scholar webpage also has long list of Howard Hughes researchers all over the world, along with their research interests.
Once you choose a country, and your international research advisor, communicate often and ask for the related articles you can read before you leave. After you arrive, and start working in the lab, maintain good communication with your advisor and also with the graduate student or post doctoral student if you are working with them. It is very important to be flexible and open to the new culture and the new work environment. Also, a 10 week period mis not a very long period for a research. So be flexible with your research schedule. And do not get discouraged if you do not accomplish everything you planned. Unexpected things always happen (whether it is good or bad surprise).
But do not forget that you are in other country not only to do research but also to learn and enjoy different culture. Try not to hang around the people from your country, all the time. It will be harder to meet the natives if your language is not strong, but there are always many young people who want to practice their English. My summer experience taught me to have more awareness and critical views about world affairs, broadened my world view and made me more independent as a beginning researcher.