This blog is guest-written by Lucy Kneeley, a 2025 recipient of the Promega International Internship Scholarship. The scholarship is granted annually to University of Wisconsin-Madison students traveling abroad for internship opportunities.
Last summer, I completed an internship at the Institute of Science Tokyo in the lab of Professor Satoshi Kaneko. As someone who has never been out of the United States for more than a 10-day vacation, I gained a lot of valuable communication experience by navigating a language barrier, but more importantly, across different social norms. Immersing myself in a new country with a new language and culture has led me to think differently and realize how quickly a group of strangers can become a new community. By the end of the three months, I had formed a network of colleagues and friends at the university and within the local community.
My internship focused on single molecule detection using Raman Spectroscopy under an electromagnetic field. Specifically, I researched the bonds between a biomolecule, adenine, and gold nano electrodes on a flexible surface that allowed me to stretch the bonds between the molecule and electrodes.
This kind of single molecule chemistry requires extremely careful sample preparation. I spent the first two months creating the sample and working on familiarizing myself with using a Raman Spectrometer on other molecules . I worked very closely with another student in the lab named Hayato Seiki. Our projects had a lot of overlap, especially during the sample preparation phase.
The most important day was when we learnt how to fabricate the golden nano electrodes using electron beam lithography (EBL). The photo below shows me in front of the EBL system in the Institute’s clean room. The suit I’m wearing is dust resistant, because even small particles of dust can disrupt entire processes and destroy samples.
Our samples were a success! Other graduate students in the lab were able to use them and said they were high quality. Due to how long the process took, I only had 2 days before I left Tokyo to take my own data. My practice over the prior months helped me capture signals from the molecules in this short time.
During my time outside of the lab, I was able to visit cultural sites and other Japanese cities, including Osaka and Nara. I also climbed Mt. Fuji! I did these activities with a group of other international interns that were working in other labs on campus. The combination of a new country, and international friends gave me an incredible opportunity to learn not just about Japan, but also Spain, Algeria, UAE, France, China, and more!
My experiences in Japan were supported by a scholarship from Promega Corporation. I will treasure this experience and the knowledge and friendships gained along the way. There is nothing comparable to the soft skills you gain by travelling abroad, and the wonder and excitement that comes with it.
Lucy Kneeley graduated UW-Madison in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering. She is now enrolled in the university’s accelerated master’s program for Materials Science and Engineering.
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