A summer of science and self-discovery

For Life Sciences’ Zayn Tong, spending a summer at Stanford University was more than just an exchange experience – it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse herself in the academic culture of one of the world’s top universities.

Zayn has budding interests in virology, pharmacology and bioinformatics and was keen to explore how these disciplines come together in advancing therapeutics and diagnostics. The Stanford Summer International Honors Programme, known for its distinguished faculty and diverse student body, presented the perfect opportunity.

A different educational culture  

“Stanford has always been synonymous with world-class teaching and research,” she says. “I was excited to learn directly from professors at the forefront of their fields, while also engaging in discussions with students from all around the world.”

During the two-month programme, she took Microbiology: Human Health & Society and Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Epidemiology. The microbiology course gave her valuable laboratory experience – from identifying an unknown bacterial sample to designing a CRISPR-based solution to increase electricity generation in fungal fuel cells. On the other hand, her statistics course gave her exposure to quantitative concepts she believes “will be invaluable in data analysis” in the future.

Collaborating on group projects with classmates of different ages, nationalities and working styles made team discussions more complex, she observes. “Initially it was challenging,” she adds. “We each processed information differently, generated ideas in our own ways and had unique approaches to executing deliverables. However, these interactions allowed me to work with others towards finding common ground, which I see as a form of personal development.”

Growing personally and socially

The academic rigour was matched by valuable personal lessons. Living abroad taught her independence – from planning road trips across Los Angeles, Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe, to participating in activities organised by Stanford University, including a trip to California’s Great America amusement park to celebrate Independence Day!

Looking ahead

Looking back, she sees the programme as a turning point in her undergraduate journey. “I gained so much academically but just as importantly, I grew as a person,” she says. “The experience showed me how science is a global endeavour, and how collaboration across cultures and disciplines is key to solving real-world challenges.”

In the future, she will be pursuing a research career in the field of biology.