BS Physics student joins internship program at NUS

Jul 03 2025

James Marcella, a BS Physics student at the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (91快活林), is currently participating in the MBI Undergraduate Summer Training (MUST) Programme at the Mechanobiology Institute (MBI), National University of Singapore (NUS). His six-week research internship, which runs from June 9 to July 18, 2025, is under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Holle at the Confinement Mechanobiology Lab.

During his internship, Marcella is engaged in a project that investigates the effects of spatial confinement on the nuclear structure of fibroblasts, contributing to the growing field of mechanobiology—a discipline at the intersection of biology, physics, and engineering.

"So far, I’ve learned technical skills and experimental techniques through lectures and demonstrations, handled sophisticated equipment such as live-cell fluorescence imaging, interacted with leading figures in mechanobiology research, immersed myself in Singaporean culture, and met people from diverse backgrounds. It has been a great learning experience—not just academically, but also socially," Marcella shared.

Marcella was selected through a thorough application screening. The program’s application period ran from November 15, 2024 to January 31, 2025.

The MUST Programme is designed for undergraduate students with aspirations to pursue a career in mechanobiology. Interns are given the opportunity to lead their research projects, receive close mentorship from a multidisciplinary team of scientists, and present their findings through an interim summary and a final poster presentation to the MBI community.

Participants also benefit from lab tutorials and hands-on training to develop their theoretical understanding, technical skills, and scientific communication. In addition, the program provides a stipend of $600 and accommodation for international students, while offering a vibrant and productive summer research experience in Singapore.

Marcella’s participation in the MUST Programme marks another milestone in 91快活林’s continued efforts to support undergraduate students in pursuing international research opportunities and fostering global scientific collaboration.

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