“This experience has prepared me to enter a career where innovation and collaboration are key. I now feel more confident tackling unfamiliar problems, working across cultures and seeing engineering as not just technical but deeply human. These lessons will shape how I approach future research, design and teamwork in my field,” reflected biological engineering major Lauren Peters on the Kyoto University of Advanced Science (KUAS) internship program this summer.
During her 12-weeks in Japan, Peters’ internship focused on the design and development of a one-sided lower limb exoskeleton used for gait analysis and rehabilitation.
“My experience was memorable because it blended research and everyday life in a new culture. I was challenged in the lab with projects like designing a hip exoskeleton, but also found joy in moments like navigating Kyoto on my own, sharing meals with lab mates and learning small cultural habits that made me feel part of the community,” said Peters.
Peters further developed her technical skills, such as conducting mechanical analyses, finite element analyses, creating CAD models and prototyping. She will no doubt return to the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering with a new first-hand understanding of the industry.
“It was important for me to go abroad because I wanted to be given the opportunity to dive headfirst into a new culture. By pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, adapting to a different environment, communicating across language barriers, and taking initiative in the lab, I gained fresh perspective and discovered new limits of what I am capable of,” said Peters. “That challenge has made me more resilient, open-minded, and confident in the way I approach both life.”
Outside of the lab, Peters got to spend an extended period in a new culture, where she learned lessons about herself that will last a lifetime.
“I learned that I am capable of being independent in a completely new environment while still forming meaningful connections. Living abroad taught me to trust my gut when making decisions, whether in research or daily life, and to have confidence in navigating challenges on my own.”