Reflecting on the 2024 Undergraduate Thesis Presentations – A Round of Applause for Our First Graduating Class!

The 2024 undergraduate thesis presentation session has successfully concluded. It has been a whirlwind year and a half since the launch of our new laboratory, filled with countless challenges and memorable moments.

This year’s presenters were our very first cohort of students. As a newly established lab, we faced numerous obstacles—limited equipment, undefined experimental protocols, and an evolving research direction. Without senior students to guide them, I imagine there were many uncertainties and anxieties. Yet, they diligently read through the literature, engaged in thoughtful discussions, and carved out their own research paths with admirable independence and resilience.

During their final presentations, each student delivered their work with confidence and composure, responding to questions with sincerity and clarity. I was deeply moved not only by the content of their research, but also by their professional attitude and remarkable growth over the past year.

In an environment without upperclassmen, they also took it upon themselves to navigate the differences between undergraduate and graduate-level research, building a foundation for the lab's culture through collaboration and initiative. Their efforts have laid the groundwork for what will become a lasting tradition in our lab.

As this was the first year for all of us, there were certainly many things I, too, could have done better. But the time we spent overcoming difficulties together has become a truly invaluable experience.

Each student will now follow their own path after graduation, but I sincerely hope they carry with them the confidence and experience they have gained here. Once again, congratulations on your achievements—and thank you from the bottom of my heart.