Sarah Behbehani reflects on her time interning Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait.
In the summer of 2024, I interned at the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait. The institute is well-known for its research in preventing and managing diabetes and other metabolic diseases. I was based in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department and my research focused on a protein called Isthmin-1. As part of the program, our research focused on three main areas: the function of Isthmin-1 in type 2 diabetes, its influence on fatty liver disease, and its correlation with obesity. During my first week of the internship, I was placed in a group of six other interns, and projects were assigned to us in pairs, where I examined the impact of the protein on obese and non-obese participants.
The internship concluded with a poster presentation day, where I presented my work alongside 30 other interns from different departments. My research found that non-obese participants had lower levels of isthmin-1 protein compared to obese participants, who exhibited elevated protein levels. All the posters and scientific discussions that day gave me a sense of hope about how different metabolic disorders can be managed by scientific advancements.
In the future, results from my findings could help scientists investigate the protein’s function as a biomarker and develop a targeted treatment in metabolic diseases
To help us create our final posters, my supervisors organised a weekly workshop to guide us interpret data from the results. The workshop taught me how to create plots and work with different software. I found that to be extremely helpful since I’m in my final year of studies, and will soon be extracting data for my final year project.
On my first day as an intern I was surrounded by around 30 other interns, all seated in a seminar room. As everyone was introducing themselves, I noticed the diversity in the room. We had students from all over the world, some were pursuing their masters, some were technicians, and even a registered nurse! The induction lasted six hours, during which I was introduced to the technicians on campus. They spoke to us about their role at the institute, which included maintaining laboratory safety, emergency codes, and hospital hygiene.
I came across this internship opportunity through the Dasman Diabetes Institute’s social media, where they posted about hosting an annual summer internship in Kuwait. The application process was relatively easy, and all of their interview questions were based on the information provided on the website. There are two sectors to choose from: medical and research. Since my goal was to gain knowledge in laboratory skills and have experience for my final year, I chose the research sector. The research sector is divided into various departments, including microbiology and immunology, animal and imaging care facilities, genetics and bioinformatics, bioenergetics, and population health.
A typical day during my internship began with chatting with my peers and PhD students about our projects. Then, I would usually make my way to the lab and practise performing Western Blot, which I used to detect a specific protein in a sample. We often had to wait an hour for the protein to run through the gel, and during this time, some of us would go to the nearest coffee shop to enjoy a break before returning. My time at the lab was always eventful, no two days were the same. Some days our time at the lab was short; on others it could take hours. When I wasn’t working in the lab, I liked to volunteer my time to help prepare and label samples for PhD students to ease their workload.
As I reflect on my internship, I have come to realise that working in the research industry is important in trying to find answers to worldwide problems. From being a first-time intern to dealing with failed experiments (I once accidentally trashed a test tube I needed to continue the experiment) I learned many valuable lessons, the most important being that any progress is still progress. Gaining this understanding led me to find deep respect and appreciation for research. I’m extremely grateful to my supervisor, whose constant support and encouragement have helped me gain confidence in my own abilities.
The advice I would give to anyone looking to intern at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, or anywhere in general is to not be afraid to ask for help from your supervisors and peers
Coming from microbiology, I was initially apprehensive about interning in the molecular biology department, but I was warmly welcomed into the team and learned many techniques I thought I couldn’t master on my own. This experience taught me the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone, as this is where personal and professional growth occurs. By networking with my fellow Kuwaiti peers, I was able to learn about internships and ask questions about them.
I highly encourage reaching out to fellow students and lecturers—it will help you discover different projects and find an internship that aligns with your long-term goals.