Student Spotlight: Lehigh University 8-Week Internship Program in Osaka, Japan 2025

Lehigh University collaborated with Global Career Center (GCC) on an 8-week internship program in Osaka, Japan. This blog post features a profile of Computer Science and Business (CSB) Honors student, Sophia Chen.

"I’m thrilled to share my 8-week internship experience at Hello xLAB in Osaka, where I worked as a Full Stack Intern on their MRSV*SPACE project under the guidance of CEO Dwayne Grech. This incredible opportunity was made possible through the Iacocca Institute at Lehigh University and the Global Career Center (GCC) — thank you both for this life-changing experience!

Sophia with Daruma dolls at Katsuoji Temple. This temple boasts thousands of Daruma dolls scattered around the temple. Daruma dolls typically symbolize perseverance and good luck. 

Over the past eight weeks, I dove deep into full-stack development, tackling challenges that pushed my technical skills to new heights. I've helped refactor the controller interface, replacing a dial with buttons while maintaining a responsive design across devices and built a dynamic slider for time, weather intensity, and volume controls (demo-ready), while optimizing performance by reducing server requests.

From left to right: Osaka Castle; Sophia and fellow students enjoying dinner in Osaka; Sophia on the steps at Shubodai - Ayaha, Ikeda; Minamitenma Park during Tenjin Festival (one of Japan's "Three Great Festivals").

Beyond the office, I took every chance to explore this beautiful country. From the bustling streets of Tokyo and the historic Osaka Castle to the serene Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park, the cultural richness of Kyoto and Uji, and the vibrant cities of Kobe and Ikeda—every destination left me in awe. A special highlight was attending Malta’s National Day at the Osaka World Expo 2025, courtesy of Dwayne Grech, the director of the Malta Pavillion—an unforgettable celebration of culture and innovation.

From left to right: Mimuroto-ji Buddhist Temple in Uji; Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park International Garden; Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park Windmill with sunflower garden.

A massive thank you to Dwayne Grech and my fellow interns for making this experience so enriching. To the Iacocca Institute at Lehigh University and GCC —none of this would have been possible without your support. This internship wasn’t just about professional growth; it was a journey of discovery, resilience, and unforgettable memories. Japan, I’ll be back!"