“When meeting other students at my host university and elsewhere through my travels, I became aware of how easily friendships can form when two parties come together with open minds and open hearts.”
Mirika Jambudi, 2025 Research Assistantship Program Participant
November 4, 2025
Having the opportunity to visit China for the first time was an eye-opening and incredible experience. This summer, I was a research intern at a prestigious university in Hangzhou, China, through the generous support of the Harvard China Fund’s Research Assistantship Program.
My summer in China allowed me to delve deeper into environmental research in the lab. I learned about Pteris vittata, a hyperaccumulator plant that has been used in phytoremediation for removing arsenic from contaminated soils. A highlight of my research was collaborating with my mentors in the greenhouse to measure the concentration levels of arsenic and other heavy metals in the soil using portable X-ray Fluorescence (p-XRF), a technique for chemical compositional analysis. I also contributed to a literature review on human health applications for p-XRF, which significantly improved my ability to synthesize scientific papers into a cohesive narrative.
Beyond the academic and professional growth, the cultural experiences and friendships I formed were the highlight of my summer. During the weekends, I was able to explore many cities in China — Xi’an, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Nanjing, Suzhou, Huangshan, Zhangjiajie, and Chongqing. I got to see the Terracotta Warriors for the first time in Xi’an — fulfilling a childhood dream of mine. Each city that I visited offered a unique perspective into China’s rich history and diverse cultures.
My time in China truly showed me that language isn’t a barrier to forming friendships. When meeting other students at my host university and elsewhere through my travels, I became aware of how easily friendships can form when two parties come together with open minds and open hearts. It simply requires a willingness to learn and be open to new experiences. The most memorable moments from my summer were the spontaneous interactions with the people I met — chatting with DiDi drivers, conversing with families who wanted their children to practice their English with me, and sharing meals with my lab members. I made so many friends through these encounters and still keep in touch with many of them through WeChat!
I’m so incredibly grateful to so many individuals and organizations — the Harvard China Fund, Emmeline, Professor Gao, Professor Ma, Professor Jiang, my mentors at my host university, and so many others — who gave me the opportunity to visit China this summer. I know I’ve gained countless lessons, friendships, and memories — it’s undoubtedly an experience I will reminisce over for the rest of my life. I hope to return to China soon and look forward to catching up with the friends I made!
To learn more about the Harvard China Fund Internship program, click here.