When applying to this internship I was not exactly sure what I was going to get myself into. All I knew was going to go to Saudi Arabia to do research in a new lab run by Dr. Leena Ibrahim that works with mice and neuroscience. I was nervous but excited. This was going to be an eye-opening experience as it was my first time leaving the country without my family. I wanted to make the most of the experience and learn as much as possible about research at very renowned research campus such as KAUST.

Working in a campus specifically designated for research was a new experience for me. For my colleagues this was a 9 to 5 job that had to be done every single day.  It was challenging at first to be one of the first researchers in a newly-opened lab at the University. Some of the challenges were: supplies not being delivered yet, protocols not being optimized yet, and colleagues still learning as you are learning too. 

Within just three days I was an expert on perfusions conducting them with no help to keep the pace of the lab going. After perfusions, I was taught PCRs, sectioning, immunostaining, imaging, and cell counting. I impressed myself and colleagues in how fast I learned how to do those tasks. However, what impressed me most was that I was assigned as the mentor for two PhD students that came in during my last month there. I taught them everything I learned. My PI was surprised in how well I could communicate my learning and the steps to them. She was also impressed that I was writing and modifying protocols for the better in the lab.

I still believe that research is not my goal for a career in life, due to my love for dentistry. However, this experience showed me that it is a very viable plan B. I loved my time at KAUST, and I loved waking up to do research 5 days a week. This internship was set up to give you a closer look at how a full-time job in research looks like, and to be honest, I did not mind it. While this may not be the case for all researchers, but I got to do something new every day.

In Dr. Leena’s lab I wanted to learn as much as possible in the 2 months that I was there. I was able to accomplish that and so much more. I got to learn skills not only in a laboratory setting. Having to live in a graduate campus, I was forced to interact with people older than me and adapt the way I think and talk in order to be respectful of them. Furthermore, this all took place in Saudi Arabia which is very different than the environment I live in here in the United States. I had to have an open mind and always ask questions when needed. I definitely came out of my shell when living there, and for that I am very thankful. Dr. Leena asked me to come back next year in the summer to finish some of the research I started and I honestly can not wait to be back there.

Diyar Dezay

GlobalWorks Internship in Saudi Arabia, Summer 2022