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Institution
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Host
Institution(s)
Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
Research: Children's Memorial Institution for Education and Research (CMIER)
Mentor: Bernard Mirkin, Ph.D., M.D.
My work in the lab of Dr. Mirkin is adjoined to his current work which follows the recent finding of EGF-receptor-downregulation on both MDL- and the Doxorubicin-resistant neuroblastoma cell lines. Our work investigates now how this down-regulation is linked to drug-resistance and if there are ways to re-express the receptor with a common method for both kinds of resistance. A long-term goal is the reversal of drug-resistance neuroblastoma cells into drug-sensitive cells. At present the main techniques I am using are tissue culture, doubling time determination, cell membrane extraction, protein determination and Western blotting, but in vivo studies are also planned.
Two Questions: Are all American medical students as dull as in Chicago? Were can I get black bread? OK, seriously, this time is definitely worth it and I would always do it again. But the whole program is unaffordable if you don't have wealthy parents or are supported by any other sources.
To understand black people (even when you just want to buy a hamburger), to get successful results in my experiments, and to get on a friendly basis with Americans (most of my friends here are foreigners or are attached to Europe)
I was cleaning my dishes in the girls' bathroom (as usual I was too lazy to go to the far away men's bathroom) as I heard someone coming in. There was no other way than to hide in the toilet and when the incoming person decided to have a session on the toilet next to me I felt save to come out and escape. But unfortunately she had not closed her toilet door so both of us were paralyzed seeing each other's scared expression in the bathroom mirror. Finally I decided to leave with a charming smile but was wondering if open toilet doors are the common female answer to the yellow spots on the toilet seat.
Chicago is definitely a cool place to work hard AND(!) have lots of fun. This city never gets boring but I have to say that my living expenses are about $ 1300/month although I really try to spend as little money as possible.