March 24, 2024, by Mei Kee Lee
Experience Sharing: Summer Internship at UNM
By GangHyeon Cho, who is currently a Year 3 Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) student at the UK campus.
Where did you do your summer internship?
I did my summer internship at the University of Nottingham Malaysia to work on a review article.
What did it involve?
It was my inaugural venture into crafting a review paper, and it was quite an undertaking, particularly when delving into a complex subject like HIV. Assigned with seemingly straightforward tasks such as exploring natural compounds effective against HIV and creating illustrative diagrams, I soon realized the depth of research required. To grasp the intricacies of the topic, I scoured through a myriad of sources including academic journals, books, and existing review articles, striving for a holistic understanding before commencing my work.
What did you find interesting throughout this experience?
Before embarking on this endeavor, my perception of HIV was steeped in fear and hopelessness, viewing it as an incurable affliction primarily transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, notably blood. Various news outlets and magazines had reinforced the notion that individuals diagnosed with HIV faced the grim prospect of lifelong immune system compromise in the absence of effective treatment.
However, amidst the prevailing narrative of HIV’s incurability, I was heartened to uncover a wealth of research indicating the efficacy of numerous natural compounds in combating the virus. These compounds demonstrated the ability to impede HIV replication and disrupt its interaction with cellular receptors, thereby offering a glimmer of hope for HIV patients by potentially delaying and preventing the progression to AIDS, thereby affording them the possibility of leading fulfilling lives.
What is one take home message you obtain from this experience?
Reflecting on the experience of crafting this review paper, I find it to be both challenging and immensely rewarding, imparting invaluable lessons in research methodology, critical reading, and meticulous editing. I eagerly anticipate applying these newfound skills to future research endeavors, striving to yield impactful results. Furthermore, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the primary and secondary authors, Siew and Elishea, whose invaluable contributions significantly enriched the quality of this article. Their mentorship has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of this complex subject matter.
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