内容提要：艾本（Ebenezeri Erasto Ngowi）男，系坦桑尼亚人，1992年生，是河南大学2018级硕士生，由国际汉学院协助录取，专业是生物化学与分子生物学，获得河南省人民政府留学生奖学金资助。在读三年期间积极克服语言障碍，刻苦学习实验技术，主动与周围师生加强沟通交流，从一个科研生手逐步成长为优秀研究生，以第一作者在国际期刊上发表和接收综述6篇，参与发表5篇，成为外籍研究生中的佼佼者，带动了河南省核蛋白基因调控国际联合实验室其他留学生的成长进步，使实验室形成了国内、国际学生齐头并进、互帮互学的良好氛围。毕业之际，艾本深情地回顾了在中国的留学生活，流露出对河南大学导师、同学的感激难忘之情，表达了回到坦桑尼亚后继续进行科学研究的个人计划，以及渴望回到河南大学攻读博士学位的美好愿望。
艾本参加河南大学研究生学位授予仪式与校长合影
艾本参加硕士研究生毕业答辩
艾本与导师姬新颖合影留念
艾本与导师吴东栋合影留念
以下为作者原文：
Be Passionate, Positive, and Persevere
My Research Journey as an International Graduate Student in China
Ebenezeri Erasto Ngowi
Master Student, Grade 2018,
Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
My yesterday
：
before arriving at Henan and those days of hardships and struggles are days of my yesterday. In background, to introduce myself, I am pleased to write about my passion in science and journey to join Henan University. My passion in science started when I was a child, and it increased as I was getting progressing from one education level to another. In high school I majored in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology subjects. After, two hard years in high school, I successively joined the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) to undertake the bachelor degree in science with education majoring in Chemistry and Biology subjects. After completing my bachelor degree, I was lucky enough to secure a job at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education which is a constituent college of the UDSM to serve as a tutorial assistant in animal physiology, position which I serve to date. While working I applied to undertake further studies in different universities in countries such as USA, China, and Canada. After two years unsuccessive years, I was able to secure a master degree position at Henan University (Henu) to pursue MSc. In Biochemistry and Molecular biology under the university scholarship. Soon after arriving in Henu, I was introduced to the school of basic medical sciences for my coursework, and later joined the Kaifeng Municipal Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction for practical lessons and carrying out my project. In the lab I met amazing teachers, Chinese and other foreign students from different countries such as Ghana, Egypt, and Pakistan, and together we worked as one family under the supervision of Prof. Xin-Ying Ji (MD, PhD).
My today： Today, I am writing about my research journey at Henan after achieving my transcript is today. I have successfully completed my Master’s Degree in Biochemistry and molecular cell biology from the Henan University China. This experience was a journey which will be forever etched in my memory. Throughout this journey I have grown in to a better and more knowledgeable individual. While it was hard work it has also been extremely rewarding. The course itself gave an extensive view of the cancer cell proliferation and inhibition studies throughout the time. Being curious for most hate full word cancer and its therapy was part and parcel with the course and this continued to deepen my understanding of the complex heterogeneous multifactor and generis nature of the cancer itself. Not only have I become more aware of the basic and fundamental routes of cancer onset and growth but I have also come to think about recent advancement in the treatment of cancer especially prostate cancer.
Although, it is very hard for me to put my thoughts and feelings about the journey of master degree and life in China into words, I would like to express and break my chapter of life into three sub-chapters, first, second and third years,
My first year in China was the most exciting year for me since everything was new to me. I really enjoyed the courses that I was taking since they were very inspiring and engaging. I was introduced to the school of basic medical sciences for my coursework, and later joined the Kaifeng Municipal Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction for practical lessons and carrying out my project. In the lab I met amazing teachers, Chinese and other foreign students from different countries such as Ghana, Egypt, and Pakistan, and together we worked as one family under the supervision of Prof. Xin-Ying Ji (PhD). It was first time for me to meet to student from all around the world. It was exciting to sit with foreigners’ student in classes, attending, seminars, symposiums and workshops. It was interesting to see that we all portrayed teachers in different ways, and I learned a lot through interacting and collaborating with other students in class. In my first year of study, I not only gained the knowledge and skill that I need for doing educational research, but also learned the importance of embracing teaching as an opportunity to inspire, engage, and empower students.
In second year, I began to start my Master’s research project. My project was about exploring the “Effect of the pharmacological inhibition of hydrogen sulphide-producing enzymes in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
It was third semester and I was supposed to be interviewed once in two weeks and to present my work report in twenty minutes presentation- called bi-weekly work report. It was very unfortunate, after working four months on my project directions, we come into front of deadly covid-19 era started in December 2019 and then our laboratory gets closed for next six months. Being biology student, those six months of pandemic lockdown in China are days of lessons, experiences, hope and courage for me. I pay countless thanks to university international office for our thoroughly look after and great concern for the safety of foreign students in dorms. I utilized those six months on screen work for literature review and writing review articles. I restarted my experiments on June 2020 on resumption of educational institutes in China after six months.
All people around me were very supportive; I still felt a sense of brotherhood with my Chinese classmates and love and humours from my Pakistani colleagues. This all-friendly environment of our laboratory helps me to polish the basic cell biology techniques: PCR, Western Blot, Cell Culture and Tumor growth analysis at the end of second year of my degree.
Last year of my study was very challenging and tough for me. I did so hard work each day of this year and succeeded to complete my research project and wrote the thesis. Now in the third year, I have become used to living in China, and I regard Kaifeng as my “second home.” Currently, I have submitted my thesis and preparing documentation for graduation. It been three years in Henan University and I think this research journey was like a hiking trail. When you stand at the starting point, you are not sure what you will experience, whether you will see good scenery, and how long it will take to finish your journey. I see new research projects as a new journey. No matter how much research you have done before, it is great to start with a fresh mind and to allow for unexpected experience. There is list of people to whom, I should pay thanks but special thanks go to the Henan Provincial government scholarship scheme. This funding has certainly helped in my continuation of studies and made my experience smoother and successful.
My thoughts and experience about studying in China
I love to write about Chinese education system, management and my thoughts about pursuing science majors in China as compared to Africa
The technological advancement is the key difference between the education offered in Africa and China especially in science subjects. With the rapid change in technology and the innovation of highly sensitive and accurate scientific instruments, studying in China offers easy and quick availability of consumables, chemicals, equipment, and modern laboratories which makes it easy to perform experiments and obtain good data in a short time.
I think, as a student the university support is key in achieving my goals, here, the university offers good and safe learning environment and accommodation services. It also funds my studies and provides assistance when needed. Besides, it also carries out culture festival, which is an important event that helps to socialize and learn interesting cultural values of other countries and to make new friends.
In the lab, I get to learn current molecular techniques by using modern instruments and equipment. Under the management of teacher Tao Li, the lab provided me with all the necessary materials, reagents and any assistance needed timely. In addition, through international salon and weekly meetings I get a chance to learn presentation skills and interact with students and teachers from other labs.
The seniority and guidance of the amazing teachers from the first day I arrived in the lab have been very crucial in guiding me and my colleagues to become the best in the field by mastering both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills. In doing so, my supervisors prof. Xin-Ying Ji (PhD) and prof. Dong-Dong Wu (PhD) have been very helpful and supportive in many ways such as providing review writing trainings and experimental guidance. Also, they provide motivation in form of bonus for good performance and encouragement words which have been essential in raising my spirit and providing my basic needs.
Since I was one of the first foreign students in the lab, I learned most of the techniques from Chinese students. The guidance of Peng-Zhen Dong and Ya-Ge Chen, Nazeer, Salma and among others have been essential in improving my technical skills, understanding the lab and interacting with other students. I love Henan University. I love China. I will never forget the fruitful and happy experiences in Kaifeng, Henan, China.
What I Give to Henan University: My Achievements
It’s not offered able for a student to pay back the institute what he receives from that. I earned huge respect, love, skills, professional growth and more important learned science with in its best form. As for my scientific training concerned, since I joined the laboratory, I learned a lot of advanced techniques and scientific content writing which helped to improve my writing skills as well as my technical ability. Along with the accomplishment in research project “Effect of the pharmacological inhibition of hydrogen sulphide-producing enzymes in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer” I published many SCI (science citation index) research papers in prestigious journals as first author and as co-authors with other team members: Nazeer Hussain Khan, Saad Ullah Khatak. I am very glade to share this list of my publications and I believe this will be the source of horned and rank for my institutes.
Ngowi, Ebenezeri Erasto, et al. "The Application of Nanotechnology for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Diseases and Disorders." Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 9 (2021): 83.
Ngowi, Ebenezeri Erasto, et al. "Impact of the factors shaping gut microbiota on obesity." Journal of Applied Microbiology (2021).
Ngowi, Ebenezeri Erasto, et al. "Role of hydrogen sulfide donors in cancer development and progression." International Journal of Biological Sciences 17.1 (2021): 73.
Ngowi, Ebenezeri Erasto, et al. "Roles of hydrogen sulfide donors in common kidney diseases." Frontiers in Pharmacology 11 (2020): 1706.
My dreams and Future Plans
My dream is to become a successive researcher and a scientist with the ultimate vision of helping to solve chronic health challenges facing the world. In chasing my dream, I joined the Cell Signal Transduction laboratory to study the regulation of cellular oncogenic markers and their resulting effects. To improve my skills, I also dedicated my free time in learning up to date knowledge and skills by reading articles and publications related to my field.
Holding my dreams, my future plan starts with contributing to the scientific community by not only publishing in bigger journals, but also publishing useful and meaningful data. Ultimately, to use the knowledge and skills I have learned to help solve different health challenges facing the world. With hard work and dedication, I believe that my dreams will be fulfilled. I am also looking for big scientific collaborations in future around the world and especially with Chinese institutes and more especially with Henan University faculty of school of basic medical sciences. My all dedications and efforts will be streamed to win big funding projects to establish well equipped research laboratory of my domain.
