​ASE intern wins top prize for presentation at Young Marine Scientist Symposium

Congratulations to Halimah Razali, ASE intern from Republic Polytechnic (RP), who won the top prize at the Young Marine Scientist Symposium (YMSS) for her presentation "Isolation and genomic characterization of phytoplankton viruses in Singapore waters”. The YMSS is organized by St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, under the auspices of the National Research Foundation’s Marine Science R&D Program (MSRDP) as a platform for students to share their research findings and aspirations for the marine environment. It was the first nation-wide marine science student symposium open to students from all institutions across Singapore, and Ms Razali, who just graduated from RP with top marks, presented her research to an audience of >100 undergraduate and graduate university students.

We asked Ms. Razali about her experience doing both internship and FYP at ASE, here is what she said:

1. How did you come to do your FYP in Assoc Prof Federico Lauro’s lab?

It all started with a small project I was asked to handle in Prof. Federico’s lab during my internship. Towards the end of the internship, we could not bear to abandon the project entirely. It was at this point where an RA from the lab proposed that I carry on with the project for my FYP. Being able to continue with what I’ve been working on for over 5 months, alone, has given me a great sense of satisfaction. The idea of being able to continue working on the project in such an amazing work environment and laboratory meant so much to me and was more than what I could ask for!

2. How long have you been interested in marine microbiology? What sparked your interest?

From a young age, I have always been fascinated by the marine environment, its vastness, the weird and wonderful creatures it holds unlike any other on land and its complex links with our environment. What sparked my interest was my very first diving trip to Malaysia at the age of 9. Seeing the beautiful coral reefs and marine life, it changed something in me. Ever since, my curiosity and love of the ocean kept growing and the interest for marine microbiology developed upon the start of my internship. To discover and understand communities that cannot be seen by the naked eye has always intrigued me and with the study of marine microbiology, it gives me the opportunity to study both the marine environment and its biological links with interesting microorganisms residing within it.

3. I know you are about to start work as a research assistant; could you see yourself having a career in research?

I definitely see myself working in research as my passion lies within a work field that identifies and finds key solutions to conquer emerging issues, especially of those related to the environment. When it comes to the ocean and its marine life, much is yet to be uncovered despite for all of our reliance on it. Being part of a field that constantly discovers and work with the unknown enthrals me and pushes me to continue on with this journey.

4. Anything else you would like to add?

I’d just like to say that I am very grateful for all the opportunities Prof. Federico and ASE has given me. For always pushing me out of my comfort zone to strive for things I once thought were unattainable!

 

Ms Razali currently works as a research assistant in the Integrative Microbiology Lab at ASE, where she continues her research on marine viruses. In the future she plans to study marine biology at university.