Final report I started searching for internship somewhere in December. I was looking for internship at least 8 weeks long and first hoped to find something that would be paid, however it is a complicated task and I decided to stop on some research institutes with good basic research and then worry about money. As I was thinking about summer internship which would possibly take part of the holidays I start to look for a warm place where I could also have a good rest. And then I thought that possibly Israel is a perfect overlap of all these ideas in my head. I heard about Weizmann institute from my friend and while looking through direction of their research, facilities and policy I found the lab that perfectly matched my interests, wrote to professor letter that would explain my background and interest in the topic of his work. He answered in no time. By the end of January everything was decided. He was just very welcoming person and helped me with all documents needed for scholarship as well as search for accommodation. It was of big importance to see that Prof. cares about some visiting student from other country. I arrived to Israel, Tel Aviv airport, on the Friday evening. And it is the first thing to consider when coming to the Israel. No public transport on Shabbat (Friday evening and whole Saturday). Later you will find that there is always Sherut shared taxis which follow the normal bus routes and work through the whole week and all time. But until then you will see the devastation of the Shabbat. So you take a cab or a friend that lives in Israel and ask to drop you near the Weizmann institute. Half of an hour-long ride through strange unusual deserted landscape and most possibly it will be your last problem for the whole stay. I lived in the dorm in the campus. My PI immediately after our agreement on my work during the whole summer sent contacts of the person who helped me with accommodation. Keys were waiting with the guard near the Main Gates. You just show your ID and that s it! Just follow the map that goes with your keys and you will easily find the place. However, don t believe the map fully, it can be older than you think. Dorms are cosy spacious and quite comfortable. The most important thing is an AC, you will definitely need it to survive the summer heat. Most possibly, the first thing you notice about Israel is a number of cats around. Small big tobby striped etc. And no stray dogs at all. Don t feed these cats they are already fed. You may try to count all of them on the campus. Campus of the Institute is a magnificent place. More like a botanical garden or a park. With orange and pomegranate trees, with sculptures and benches and pools and fountains. I really advice to walk around on the first day, just to estimate the size and get some understanding of the map. It is also very relaxing view. As for the city Rehovot, it has the main Hertzl st. where almost everything is situated. Just walk up or down. Don t forget about Shabbat cause most of the shops are closed after 2pm on Friday till Saturday evening. However, Russian shops such as supermarket Tiv Tam are opened through the whole week. 1
On the first day in the lab I was acquaintanced with all the members and told to ask whatever questions I have. My lab was thought to be the friendliest lab in the whole building. By the way, Benozio building for Biological Sciences is the most modern building in the campus. You would be extremely lucky to work there, it is spacious and beautiful and what is most important very smartly build according to the placement of all facilities. So, from the start lab members of all ages, believes and races took a good care of me. We would have lunch together and some drinks somewhere outside on special occasions. It was easy to contact anyone with questions, I would always get help and advice. In the end I think that Israel is one of the most cheerful and easy-going places I have ever been. But never forget about work. I didn t notice how much we did while enjoying the topic and work itself. When people discuss their subject with dedication and enthusiasm it encourages you to do everything properly. I didn t know what to expect from the place. I just knew that they do pretty complicated science and hoped to be involved in it as a part of the group not like a lab technician rather a real scientist. And yes, in the end I was expected to think and analyse. I worked a lot but the most significant part is analysis of all data by myself. In the end internship was better than I thought, because we did much more than I ever thought we could do. There was never a question if I want to go to the lab or not. I literally ran to the lab every morning because I had a list of things to do and wanted to see the result of work. I wanted to see my colleagues and have a nice small talk during breakfast coffee or in the gap between experiments. 2
My knowledge from bachelor degree helped a lot as it had straight connection to the main topic of the lab I was working in. Some practical skills from WS in the LMU were also applicable, however in the end I was learning new more than used previous knowledge. In the middle of my stay I realised that time runs fast, and I forgot to count days. It was sad. But I knew the reason of this perception of time. Work never stops in the Weizmann. There was no such situation as an absence of some chemical, primers, damage of some device. Never. Everything works like clocks. If you have a problem, you report, and it s repaired on the same day while you can use another machine or ask help in the nearby lab. Coordination of works is a strong side of the institute. Strong communications inside the institute are another benefit. You will ask for help with some technique in another department and you will get it. I helped one of the post-doctoral students with his experiments. It was around six projects that he ran, also I was given my own task to screen effect of some proteins on the level of metabolites in the tomato plant. I had more and more independence with the time, however, I found time for my project only on the last month of the stay. Relationships with my supervisor were good, he asked a lot, but he worked a lot himself. That was motivating. He was also very friendly and would share thoughts on biology as well as life with me. I was never pressed to stay longer or stay if I had something else to do. There was no pressure on what to do. I was free to share my ideas. It is very important to be respected in that way, especially while I am still in my master. Although, there was no obvious pressure you would feel it as everyone works hard. That is why I caught the rhythm and still felt shy to say out-loud if I felt tired or bored. I think long-stay internship gave me an opportunity to work my way out of these relationships in the scientific society. I had to explain my position, insist on some ideas, defend myself. I learned how to coexist with others and find my place. It is still not perfect, I still have some wrong ideas on the position of the student among scientists of higher degree. But respectful way of treating all members without exceptions in the lab helped me a lot. Returning to the organisation of the life in Weizmann campus I want to say that it was perfect. It was easy to contact dorm coordinator, feedback was immediate. All the information was written on the web-site of the dorms, in the dorm itself and also in the letter that was send to you before arrival. There was no way to get lost. After arrival I was immediately included in the list of respondents and sent info on the trips or events in the campus and Rehovot. I can t remember any real problems during my visit. However, I think that maybe it would be better to buy an insurance in Israel via the Student coordinator of Weizmann institute as there was such an opportunity. Weizmann institute is an international place, at least half of the employees are from places outside of Israel. They are willing to employ foreign scientists. I never had a language barrier 3
problem while working in the lab or contacting people outside it. Devotion to the topic is what matters. If you are interested in the future career in academy Weizmann is the place where you would like to work for at least a short period of time. Israel itself is a welcoming country. First it appeared to me as a pale dusty place with some weird plants here and there. In the end of my internship I realized that it is more like oasis than a desert. It is a place cared about, there are plenty of gardens, they don t have problems with water, it has high level of life. Isn t it marvelous how people created a good home for themselves in extreme conditions? It s absolutely not European in appearance and life style but in organization it is. Transport system is well organized, easy to use. People speak English, there are no problems in searching for information you are interested in. To travel around it s better to have a car, though. Trains and buses do not go on Shabbat and many places are impossible to reach without a car. Of coarse guided tours can be a possibility, however it is expensive. Israeli territory is an interesting place with a long history. During my stay I was to some very special places like Masada fortress and Herodion. Both are castles build in the mountain around 2000 years ago. There are many tours to the first one while the second is not very famous and what is even more sad impossible to go to without personal transport. Haifa, Akko, Yaffo, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Cesarea those are cities I was to. All of them has their own faces. Haifa shares the story about Bahai religion that doesn t distinguish genders, colour and love preferences of its followers. Haifa s beautiful symmetrical garden is partially 4
a legend. It is said that to make it perfectly symmetrical part of the city was moved. Nearby Akko has another story to share, more about medieval ages, pilgrimage, and battles while Yaffo fortress now is an art market place and part of party-maker Tel Aviv. You won t get bored there: beach in the morning, bars and dance-clubs in the night. Also, there are plenty of national reserves in Israel. One of them En Gedi, near the Dead sea, is situated in the mountains. You can organize a trip around its territory observing the landscape, flora, and fauna, or just enjoy waterfalls and trees shade. In the end I want to say that it was a pleasant stay. I learned many new technics, worked a lot, talked to intelligent people about biology. In the dorm I met new friends and still had plenty of time for myself. Summer went by fast, leaving memories about young country with long history, about people that spend their time in research and hopes for the future. After internship in Weizmann I have energy and strong motivation to continue work in my field of study. 5
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