Nara, October 2, 2024 – Two alumni from the Master’s Program in Biotechnology at the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Febri Yuda Kurniawan, M.Biotech. (Class of 2020) and Fita Nilasari, M.Biotech. (Class of 2021), have officially commenced their doctoral studies at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan this October. This significant milestone marks a new chapter in their academic journey, reflecting their dedication to advancing their knowledge and skills in biotechnology.
The journey towards their doctoral studies began with their participation in the NAIST-Biological Science Pre-Screening Internship for Master and Doctoral Courses in 2022. Both candidates successfully passed the university-level selection in December 2022, which allowed them to participate in the Online Pre-Screening Internship held by NAIST from January 16-19, 2023. This internship included various activities such as research presentations, lab tours, interviews, and sharing sessions with international students at NAIST.
Following their successful completion of the pre-screening internship, Febri and Fita were selected for the pre-screening examination for the 2023 Special Recommendation Screening for Foreign Students for the Ph.D. Course at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, NAIST, on January 28, 2023. Their hard work and perseverance paid off when, on November 6, 2023, the International Education Committee at the Division of Biological Sciences, NAIST allocated MEXT scholarships to both students, enabling them to begin their studies in October 2024.
Febri Yuda Kurniawan will first undergo the Research Student Program before continuing to the Doctoral Program at the Laboratory of Plant Stem Cell Regulation and Floral Patterning under the guidance of Prof. Toshiro Ito. His research interests lie in plant biotechnology, a field he has been passionate about since his time in the Master’s Program at UGM. Meanwhile, Fita Nilasari will pursue her Doctoral Program and conduct research at the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Cell Biology under the mentorship of Prof. Shiro Suetsugu, focusing on health biotechnology. The selection of their respective laboratories aligns perfectly with their interests, where Febri has an interest in plant biotechnology and Fita in health biotechnology. Both of them continued their knowledge in linear fields since taking their Masters in the Study Program of Master in Biotechnology UGM.