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Not merely content with gaining global exposure, she made her mark in the international research arena by publishing a scientific paper in Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, a reputable Q2 journal. This remarkable achievement took place during her participation in the 2024 Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) program in Taiwan.

For many IISMA participants, the program represents an opportunity to explore new cultures and expand their networks. But for Edeline, Taiwan became a vast laboratory—one that challenged her to push the boundaries of her scientific knowledge.

Diving into the World of Polymer Research

Upon her arrival in Taiwan, Edeline wasted no time. She quickly joined the laboratory of a professor at National Taiwan University (NTU)—a bold decision, considering the research field there was far removed from microbiology, her main area of study at ITB. It was here that she immersed herself in the world of radical-based polymer synthesis, a field that demanded quick adaptation and a steep learning curve.

Under her professor’s guidance, Edeline became an integral part of a research team developing a manuscript. This collaboration eventually culminated in a publication titled “Synthesis of Poly(vinyl acetate)-Based Block Copolymers for Highly Stretchable Film by Troponoid-Mediated Radical Emulsion Polymerization.”

This research was far from an ordinary experiment. The team introduced an innovative method to produce highly elastic materials: Poly(vinyl acetate)-Based Block Copolymers. By employing a troponoid-mediated radical emulsion polymerization technique, the process proved to be more environmentally friendly, as it avoided the use of heavy metals or hazardous organic solvents.

The outcome was nothing short of remarkable, the resulting material could stretch up to 1507% when cast into a film. This represents a significant breakthrough, opening the door to the development of materials with exceptional mechanical properties and more sustainable potential for large-scale production in the future.

A Graduate Level Academic Journey

^{Edeline Clarissa Adhidjaja delivering a presentation in class (Photo courtesy of Edeline).}

Outside of her research commitments at NTU, Edeline also pursued academic experiences at Taipei Medical University (TMU). There, she enrolled in four graduate-level courses—Medical Photonics, Special Topics in Drug Delivery System, Cancer Biology from Tissue Engineering in Perspective, and BioMEMS.

“The courses offered by TMU for IISMA participants are mostly unavailable at the undergraduate level—unless you’re taking computational science. That’s why the four courses I took were at the Master’s or PhD level,” Edeline explained.

The academic and research demands at TMU were equally intense. Despite still being an undergraduate student, Edeline was expected to meet graduate-level standards. Her days were filled with in-depth classroom discussions, grasping complex engineering concepts, and supporting research in the field of Translational Medicine. This included quickly mastering materials for discussions, contributing to manuscript development, and performing wet lab techniques such as sandwich ELISA. Even the commute between her residence and TMU posed its own challenge—making her academic journey all the more demanding and enriching.

Valuable Lessons from the IISMA Journey

Edeline candidly admitted that her IISMA journey was not always smooth. “Many people think IISMA is mostly about traveling. But for me, the experience was quite different—if not the complete opposite,” she revealed. There were moments when she felt a tinge of envy seeing fellow participants explore iconic spots across Taiwan. In contrast, her own outings were limited to a few visits to art museums in Taipei and occasional meetups with other awardees during rare moments of free time.

Yet behind all the pressure and time constraints, Edeline found the experience profoundly transformative. She gained firsthand insight into the rigor of international academic and research standards—from conducting literature reviews and collaborating within a team to troubleshooting experimental issues and understanding the global research landscape.

Her journey stands as living proof that IISMA is not just about cultural immersion—it is a platform to challenge oneself, expand scientific horizons, and ultimately, push personal limits to achieve accomplishments worth celebrating.

Translator: Indira Akmalia Hendri