Working at the “front lines” of cancer research in Taiwan: One student’s lesson in innovation and initiative

Any student who has studied abroad will tell you that stepping outside your comfort zone is a necessary part of the process—and worth it. But many of them do so in the company of other students, often even friends, who are in the same program. When Jennifer Leon '27 decided to do the Global Research Experience in Taipei, Taiwan, she learned she’d be the only Notre Dame student in her placement at OBI Pharma Inc., a global clinical-stage oncology company. But that didn’t stop her from moving forward with the opportunity.

“My friends would ask me, ‘Are you nervous? Are you scared?’ And I would just respond, ‘No, not really,’” she admits. “I think ND Global does a good job of connecting us with really great opportunities, and I trust that they know what they're doing.” She was coming into the program with some study abroad experience thanks to her time in the Global Professional Experience (GPE) program in Mexico last summer, and as an Asian studies minor, the program would provide a great opportunity to practice her Chinese.

“I took my time in the program to learn how to spend time with and trust myself more,” she shares, emphasizing how the experience ended up being a great lesson in independence and self-reliance. “The program and its location felt like a safe environment to be uncomfortable and get out of my comfort zone to try new things.”

The program started with an orientation in Hong Kong, where she was welcomed by Catherine Leung, director of Notre Dame Hong Kong, and had the opportunity to mingle with the GPE students staying in Hong Kong for the summer. After a few days, Catherine personally accompanied her to Taipei and helped her get settled in the city that would be her temporary home for the summer.

Even though Jennifer had prior research experience—two years working in the Wang Lab at Notre Dame doing drug delivery cancer research—she soon realized the process looked a lot different in a company setting versus an academic setting. At OBI, she was on the front lines, testing new theories and making changes as challenges arose. She described the research they’re doing at OBI as “super innovative,” and she got a taste of what it was like to be a part of that.

In addition to adjusting to a different approach to research, she also navigated cultural changes. She says how she learned the importance of recording daily notes on each and every experiment, and asking questions up front instead of throughout the project. “You really have to be proactive and make sure you understand something the first time they're giving you instructions,” she says. “‘I had to ask those questions right then and there, because if I didn’t, I didn't have anyone else to go to. So for me, it was an important lesson on being proactive in the workplace.”

While she faced hurdles at OBI, Jennifer was also welcomed and made to feel like an important part of the team. She shares her gratitude for her mentor, who “did an amazing job of orienting me to the new work environment,” and the HR department, who allowed her to leave for a couple of days to pursue another opportunity in the area. Thanks to funding from the Liu Institute and the Notre Dame Scholars’ Program (Scott Scholarship), Jennifer was able to attend the International Conference on Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science (ICPPS 2025), an exciting experience for an undergraduate student like herself.

Despite a packed schedule while in the GRE program, Jennifer’s summer of research didn’t end there. A few days after returning to the US, she was packing her bags again—this time, for an opportunity a little closer to home. She’s finished her summer at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, researching drug product patents with the Program on Regulation, Therapeutics, and Law.

“I felt the difference immediately,” she says, sharing the “reverse culture shock” she experienced upon arriving at the lab in Boston. Still, she recognizes how her time in Taiwan has served her. She records notes on a daily basis, writing down everything. She takes more initiative in projects than she did before, and she shares that her work ethic and future career have benefited. “I know a lot about drugs, both science-wise and legal-wise,” she laughs, but emphasizes how interesting and valuable it is to do research that looks at the different sides of the same coin. “I'll be able to discern my career path a lot better.”

While Jennifer is still determining what’s next for her, her experience in Taiwan has cemented one thing: she wants to keep pursuing global affairs. This experience is making her reconsider her major and consider some pretty big questions about what she wants to do in her professional life, like, 'What industry would align with my values? Where am I the happiest?' She doesn’t have the answers yet, but she’s confident she’ll find them as long as she keeps putting herself into situations and places where she can grow. “At the end of the day, this is a Notre Dame program. There will be people to support you.”

Originally published by Jessie Carson at hongkong.nd.edu on August 20, 2025.