Class: 2027
Concentration: Double concentration in Computational Neuroscience and East Asian Studies
House: Eliot
Hometown: Coppell, Texas
Favorite Japanese food: Azuki (red bean) taiyaki
Japan-related experiences: 2024 Japan Summer Science Undergraduate Research Program (JSSURP)
What connections to Japan, if any, did you have before coming to Harvard? I had a lot of close Japanese friends in high school, so I decided to learn the Japanese language to try and communicate with them in their own language. This turned into a positive feedback loop: I started getting more interested in the Japanese language as I could converse with more and more people. My family and I had also gone on a 2-week trip to Japan, which sparked my interest in Japanese culture.
What drew you to Japan, and how did you decide on participating in JSSURP? JSSURP was the perfect opportunity to connect my two passions for research and Japanese linguistics. For one, the University of Tokyo has an amazing neuroscience center with world-leading research on neuro-computational topics! Further, since I only spoke Japanese in the lab and in class, I was able to take my Japanese language skills to the next level. My motivation for participating in JSSURP was 60% research and 40% Japanese language.
What was daily life like in Tokyo? Life in Tokyo was spontaneous, fun and immersive. For one, there are almost unlimited opportunities to explore and have fun in Tokyo: from Akihabara to Shibuya, my most spontaneous decision to visit small spots around Tokyo became my fondest memories. Take for example the time I decided to stop in Ginza to walk around for a bit.
What was it like being part of a lab abroad, and how did it differ from your lab experiences thus far? My Japanese lab experience was extremely different from prior experiences in labs at Harvard or UTSW. For example, the lab had over 20 grad students that I collaborated with and learned a lot from.
What are some highlights from your summer? Some highlights from my summer include climbing Mt. Fuji, exploring Atami (a beach city), surfing in Kamakura and Usami, and attending the 2024 IRCN Neurointelligence course. This course was a week-long intensive course where leading faculty from MIT, Harvard, UTokyo, and other institutes gave talks on computational neuroscience subjects.
Was there something that surprised you about living in Japan? Public transportation blew my mind in Japan. You can leave the Tokyo area and explore other parts of Japan within 2-4 hours of commute and around $20 worth of fees! The public transport not only helped me commute within Tokyo (for example the Ginza line to Shibuya for badminton practice) but also encouraged me to explore Japan outside Tokyo as well!
What advice do you have for others considering going abroad? I would advise people considering JSSURP to go to Japan with an open mind. Japanese society and culture are much different than a lot of other cultures and customs which is a beautiful thing. Try new things and write your thoughts and reflections in a journal so you can always look back on them.
How have you stayed involved with Japan at Harvard? I am taking Advanced Japanese (140a) currently and am considering a double major in neuroscience and East Asian Studies (Japanese literature and linguistics).