Enhancing my research skills at XJTLU: My summer well spent

• By: Koh Gui Jen, Taylor’s University (Biomedical Science, Year Three), Malaysia
• Summer Experience: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) exchange programme
• Nationality: Malaysian

I participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) organised by the School of Science at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in August 2024. This programme aims to foster research enthusiasm and creativity among undergraduate students. I first learned about it during the Taylor’s University School of Biosciences Townhall in May. As a third-year Biomedical Science student with a strong interest in pursuing research post-graduation, this programme stood out as a valuable opportunity to enhance my practical skills and apply the theoretical knowledge I’ve gained in class.

Photograph with friends from Taylor’s University while exploring Suzhou on bikes

I had the opportunity to work on a project titled “Using Protein Ligase to Generate Affibody Conjugates” under the guidance of Dr Antony Kam and Dr Shining Loo. My research focused on expressing both wild-type and HER2-specific affibodies, and producing affibody-fluorescent conjugates through OaAEP-mediated ligation. I gained hands-on experience with key techniques including recombinant protein expression, purification, SDS-PAGE analysis, and ultrafiltration.

During the course of my research, I made several findings by successfully expressing wild-type and HER2-specific affibodies. I also successfully produced affibody-fluorescent conjugates using OaAEP-mediated ligation. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of affibody applications in medical research. Affibodies can be used as affinity tags for protein purification, facilitating the isolation of specific proteins. Additionally, affibody conjugates can serve as targeted drug delivery vehicles and fluorescent probes for visualising target molecules in cells and tissues.

Photograph with my supervisors, Dr Antony Kam (centre) and Dr Shining Loo (right)

While the research was rewarding, I encountered several challenges along the way. Initially, I felt uncertain about the project's scope, as this field was relatively new to me. I was unfamiliar with the principles and protocols of the experiments. However, through extensive online research and the invaluable guidance from fellow SURF peers and postgrad students at XJTLU, I was able to overcome these challenges and successfully navigate the project.

During my free time, I had the opportunity to explore China with friends from Taylor’s University. I experienced the unique lifestyle and culture of the country, particularly in Suzhou, a picturesque city renowned for its stunning classical gardens, intricate canals, and rich cultural heritage. The memories I created there will last a lifetime.

Group photograph with Dean of the School of Science, Professor John Moraros (back, centre), coordinator of SURF programme, Dr Weiwei Dai (fourth from the left), and SURF supervisors after the final presentation

In short, the SURF programme has been an exceptional experience that has greatly enhanced my research skills. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Dr Antony Kam, Dr Shining Loo, and the research team. The knowledge and skills I have gained will be extremely valuable as I pursue my academic and career goals.

Final day at XJTLU