KOZYBAYEV UNIVERSITY STUDENTS COMPLETED A RESEARCH INTERNSHIP AT KAUST

Students from the double degree program of Kozybayev University and the University of Arizona — Amir Agzamov and Daniil Gerasimov — successfully completed a research internship at one of the world’s leading research universities, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), located in Saudi Arabia.

The internship took place in the laboratory of Professor Jesse Poland, which specializes in the genetics of agricultural crops and the application of digital and biotechnological methods to increase plant productivity. During the program, the students collected phenotypic data from agricultural crops, such as sesame and wheat, using modern software and specialized equipment. In the initial stages of the internship, they studied applied statistics, worked with the R programming language, and learned how to analyze experimental data, visualize findings, and build reproducible scientific workflows.

The next stage involved fieldwork, where the students collected plant phenotypic data using KAUST mobile applications, enabling accurate and standardized parameter logging. Furthermore, they participated in laboratory research, focusing on high-molecular-weight DNA extraction and sample preparation for sequencing.

Weekly research group meetings were a vital part of the internship. During these sessions, graduate students, postdocs, and interns presented their ongoing results, which provided the students with an opportunity to receive feedback from experienced scientists, discuss new ideas, and critically analyze various scientific approaches.

This internship served as a unique opportunity for Kozybayev University students to apply their knowledge to real-world projects, deepen their scientific and analytical competencies, improve their academic English, and experience being part of an international scientific community.