Kai Sato
Postdoctoral Researcher, Laboratory for Protein Conformation Diseases

Campus Visit

During the visit to four laboratories at the UCSF Mission Bay Campus, I observed a highly open and collaborative research environment. Each laboratory provided spaces designed to facilitate active discussions among researchers, fostering a productive and engaging atmosphere for scientific work. In one of the laboratories, I had the opportunity to learn about research using frog models for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Frogs are considered well-suited for studying neural development, and the work being conducted there was particularly interesting. I also had the opportunity to discuss my own research with members of the laboratories and received constructive feedback and suggestions that will be valuable for my future research activities.

Retreat / Poster Session

I participated in the UCSF Neuroscience Program Retreat held at Asilomar Conference Grounds, located approximately two and a half hours by car from San Francisco. The retreat featured a wide range of inspiring research presentations by UCSF faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students. In addition to scientific sessions, there were discussions regarding the current research environment in the United States, including topics such as research funding and employment conditions. These sessions provided meaningful insights into the realities of conducting research in the U.S. During the poster session, I engaged in extensive discussions with UCSF students and postdoctoral researchers, which were highly beneficial for advancing my own research. I was deeply honored to receive a Poster Award for the work I presented at the session.

How will the experience in the program benefit your career?

Participation in the UCSF–CBS Exchange Program provided an invaluable opportunity to interact with a wide range of researchers, including students, postdoctoral fellows, and principal investigators, who are actively engaged in the field of neuroscience. Through these exchanges, I was able to gain new perspectives not only on neuroscience research but also on the broader academic and social contexts currently influencing the research environment in the United States. I realized that many of these challenges and trends are also relevant to Japan. This program encouraged me to reflect deeply on global perspectives in research and career development. I believe that this experience will contribute significantly to shaping a career that is internationally oriented and responsive to the evolving global research landscape.