An internship at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) has given a biological science student hands-on experience in laboratory research and strengthened her interest in molecular biology.

AnnaLois Aba Anderson, a Biological Science student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, undertook the internship at KCCR during the long vacation, where she worked in a laboratory handling patient samples.

“I took wound samples from patients,” she said.

She explained that swab sticks are gently passed over wounds to collect samples, which are then labelled, stored in an ice box and transported to the research facility. The samples are incubated, after which any bacteria present are cultured for further testing.

Anderson said the work demanded precision and strict adherence to laboratory protocols. During the internship, she learned key techniques, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), which is used to amplify DNA sequences.

In addition to technical skills, she said the experience improved her communication, teamwork and understanding of laboratory safety protocols. She practised procedures repeatedly, both independently and with fellow interns, under close supervision.

“My supervisor always double-checks my primers and reagents,” she said.

She described DNA extraction as one of the most fundamental techniques in molecular biology and said the opportunity to work with it was a major highlight of the internship.

Anderson recalled making a mistake while following a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) after skipping a step, an error that was quickly identified by her supervisor.

“My supervisor realised that something was wrong and alerted me,” she said, adding that even minor mistakes can affect the quality of results, making patience and consistency essential in laboratory work.

The experience, she said, deepened her appreciation for accuracy and attention to detail.

“I learned how to pay attention to detail in the lab to obtain accurate samples,” she said.

She added that daily laboratory work reinforced her interest in molecular biology and helped build both her technical competence and professional confidence.

“The lab practicals shaped my skills,” she said.

Anderson expressed gratitude to the researchers at KCCR for the opportunity and the training she received during the internship.

By: Ama Pokuaa Mensah