As part of the ENS-IISER partnership, Prisha TANDA, IISER Mohali’s student her research focuses on understanding the enigmatic interplays between DNA replication during the S phase and condensin-mediated chromosome assembly during mitosis. She has completed her six-month internship at the Laboratory of Biology and Modeling of the Cell (LBMC).
In the frame of the international strategies and common actions of the Écoles normales supérieures in France, ENS de Lyon has taken the lead in the creation of a partnership with the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) in India.
In 2018 the ENS-IISER network implemented a framework agreement allowing their institutions to collaborate on different levels: development of exchange programs, joint training, seminars, joint research and publications, as well as research internships.
Prisha TANDA experience at ENS de Lyon
Prisha TANDA completed her six-month internship at the LBMC under the supervision of Pascale BERNARD. She is a student at IISER Mohali, and her research focuses on understanding the enigmatic interplays between DNA replication during the S phase and condensin-mediated chromosome assembly during mitosis.
She initially did not have any plans to come to France. However, some senior students and other interns had previously come to France, and it appears they had a very positive experience both in France and at ENS de Lyon.
ENS de Lyon is a prestigious institution, renowned and well-known for its cutting-edge research and the laboratory itself is excellent, well-equipped, and she is familiar with most of the equipment, which helped her adapt quickly.
She appreciated that her room was located next to the laboratory, which was highly convenient as it allowed her to save time in the morning and arrive at the lab on time.
The rooms in the residence are good and adequately equipped.
Prisha had also the opportunity to interact with two PhD students and an engineer from the laboratory. They were extremely helpful and always available to answer her questions. According to her, this internship has broadened her horizons, as she applied for a PhD and hopes that this experience will help her gain international exposure to further her studies.
It was both a fortunate and beneficial opportunity for her to undertake an internship at ENS de Lyon as part of the BIOSANTEXC project, as it will provide her with more opportunities compared to other students from IISERs
Outside of the laboratory, however, she faced difficulties due to the language barrier, as she found that many French people do not speak much English.
However, this did not prevent her from having an enjoyable stay and expanding her cultural knowledge of France. In France, she observes a lot of diversity, making it a multicultural country. She even had the opportunity to meet people from various countries, such as when she met someone from Switzerland. She also met some Indians.
« When I go grocery shopping, I have to rely on Google Translate to help me understand the labels on the packaging. »
Prisha highly recommends coming to ENS de Lyon for an internship as part of the BIOSANTEXC project.
I appreciate French culture, especially the city of Lyon. I find it to be a very beautiful city, full of international students and diverse cultures, which I believe is a positive contrast to India. Although it may be challenging at first due to the language barrier, it is definitely an experience worth having! If you are able to navigate things on your own, then you can do it !