International Project 　【USA】
Massachusetts General Hospital
Seina Ohe　[D1]
(Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences)

　
　
　 I visited Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for three months to learn experimental techniques, which will be applicable to my Ph.D. research. I would like to write about the lessons I learned from this internship so that my experiences may help other GSDM students.
　Firstly, I think it is important to discuss beforehand and thoroughly your research plans with the principal investigator (P.I.) in the laboratory, which is going to host you. As most GSDM students will probably stay abroad for a limited time (about 3 to 4 months), the amount of new techniques, skills or information you can lean there is limited. After I received permission to start my internship from the P.I. in Boston, I discussed the details about the researches I was planning to conduct, as well as what he expected from me via Skype. Especially students majoring in natural sciences will need considerable for preparations before running their experiments. Thus, information about what you can do once arrived and whether that is feasible within a short term is extremely important. In addition, at least in my experience, a considerable amount of time for adopting to the new working environment was needed. I faced a number of failures which I did not expect, and I think I would have been about to avoid them, if I did no constrained my stray to three months only. I therefore recommend GSDM students to make a realistic plan for their internship/joint research, considering your preparation effort and adaptation skills.
　Secondly, I think the sooner you look for an accommodation, the better. I searched by means of a real-estate agency, visiting the Bulletin Board for Japanese in Boston, Sublet.com, and Airbnb. It took months till I found a satisfying place. The price of accommodation was one of the main reasons for concern. If you choose a big city for your international project, the rent fee may be expensive. That may even surpass your planned budget. If you are concerned about your budget plan, you may want to choose a lower cost destination. However, on the other hand I also think that the city you choose will have a high impact on the quality of your experience, and it is advisable not to choose a less expensive area if this imply compromising on the side of safety and comfort. I found my accommodation via Airbnb, This site is very good for short stayers particularly because it shows a lot of detail about the owner and pictures of room. In my case, I shared the bathroom and the kitchen with the owner and a Harvard Ph.D. student, and the room was equipped with everything I need. Another reason why I do not recommend not to cheaper rooms is that you can concentrate on your work at home as well. Indeed, unlike Japan you cannot work till late night at workplace (especially for women), and perhaps you may have to bring some of your work home with you. If your room is not properly equipped it may be difficult to finish your tasks.
　Lastly, I recommend to the next GSDM students to put some effort into making connections and friends during your stay. I believe the meaning of this project is also that of creating some connections that will help you in the future. Time will pass very quickly as you will have busy days. Thus, it is good to use your private time effectively. In my case, I attended seminars held by researchers and entrepreneurs. Through joining some events and interacting with people, my personal network expanded considerably. Also, I would like to recommend science students to visit new places when off-duty. It will give you the opportunity to know different environments and to know people, increasing your future options. Unfortunately I visited only one laboratory in the same building I was working in during my stay. If time had allowed, I wanted to see other laboratories in different research institutes as well.

　I believe that research content, living circumstances, and networking are the most important factors for the International Project. I would like the next GSDM student to think positively about it and enjoy wonderful experiences!