University of Virginia

Intern

May 2020 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

- Enjoyed engaging with people in the community

What I wish was different

Advice

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

January 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I really enjoyed the collaborative work environment in the lab that I worked in. Specifically, I worked in the Applied Metabolism and Physiology Lab within the Kinesiology Department. There were many hands-on experiences and the PI and grad students were extremely accommodating. Both were also supportive in helping me gain writing experience and figuring out my goals.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had more time to work in the lab as I was also working as a teaching assistant over the summer. In terms of the lab specifically, I wish that I had more opportunity to learn some of the concepts and science behind the techniques that I was learning but the Pi and grad students were always willing to explain and my master's classes explained a lot as well.

Advice

This was an amazing experience and recommend that anyone interested in doing something similar ask questions! This is a great opportunity to learn lab techniques and is beneficial for anyone who is a pre-health major or interested in going into research.

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Undergraduate Research Fellow

May - August 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I gained valuable experience doing research in the field of chemistry. My skills in programming were greatly increased. I made new friends with the other members of the research group.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Researcher intern

June - July 2018 • Kigali, Kigali

What I liked

Learning about the culture and experiences of the Rwandans I worked with.

What I wish was different

Wish I had been better prepared for some of the logistical challenges on the ground that we encountered.

Advice

Don't expect things to go the way you planned, be ready for a change on the ground and embrace it.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

Great coworkers, great location, great PIs, and fantastic guidance.

What I wish was different

Wish I took the time to meet people from other departments.

Advice

When you apply to an REU, your essay should really reflect why you want to work there specifically, and your refernce letters are important!

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University of Virginia Orientation Leader

June - August 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

This experience was extremely beneficial to me because it was a great way to ease into the professional field of work. Being an orientation leader did not force me to work in a professional environment, but it provided me with the skills so that I could do so in the future.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

May 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

Freedom to work on our own schedules and contribute our ideas.

What I wish was different

Spend less time outside in the heat.

Advice

Make sure you pick a research field/topic that is interesting to you. Makes the work much easier.

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Biology Research Intern

May - August 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I liked the field work opportunities

What I wish was different

I wish there were more undergrads around.

Advice

If you have the opportunity to experience field work take it. There's no way to tell if that's what you're into until you try it.

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Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I got to work one-on-one with a professor in my field of interest. I felt that my work was impactful and I learned a lot.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Research Assistant

May - August 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I liked the flexibility of working with my Principal Investigator.

What I wish was different

I wish I had started the summer before last.

Advice

Maintain good communication with your adviser.

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College Teaching Assistant

August 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I was a teaching assistant for organic chemistry over the summer but started in the fall of 2018. I really enoyed being able to help students build their own study habits and assist in teaching the course material by leading reveiw sessions.

What I wish was different

Sometimes I wish that I didn't have to grade but this did not dissuade me from the job or alter my positive experience.

Advice

Make sure that you have good interpersonal skills and genuinely want to help students before becoming a teaching assistant

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Biology Research Intern

June - August 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

The experience was very neat. I liked meeting new people and I loved the members of my lab.

What I wish was different

I wish I had more time to explore Charlottesville.

Advice

Get close to your mentors or graduate students. They offered a lot of candid advice that will help me make good decisions further along the line.

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Public Health Research Assistant

May - August 2018 • Basseterre, Saint George Basseterre Parish

What I liked

I thoroughly enjoyed working with a similarly motivated team of scholars with various academic and professional backgrounds, as we all brought something invaluable to the team effort. My research experience also took place in an incredible location. Working in St. Kitts and Nevis was absolutely brilliant. Additionally, the leadership for the research project cared deeply about our personal and professional growth, supporting us as we worked diligently to meet the expectations of the research.

What I wish was different

I wish the experience could have been longer, in truth, because it was so enjoyable.

Advice

It is important to build connections with people, from partners to politicians. These networks often serve as a source of support and opportunities, proving mutually beneficial for all who are invested in maintaining the connections.

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Engineering Camp Counselor

June - July 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

Making connections and supporting 1st year students

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Be open and honest to help the next generation of UVA students

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Research Assistant

May 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I loved the research process and independence. Being a part of academia feels awesome.

What I wish was different

Maybe I wish I considered research internships at other universities.

Advice

Don't be afraid to follow your own path!!

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Green Athletics Intern

June - August 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I liked being at UVA because I am familiar with how things work here. Also, the people in the Office for Sustainability were very welcoming and eager to answer my numerous questions.

What I wish was different

I wish I had more outside the office projects. Being a student-athlete, I was not prepared to be sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day.

Advice

Take advantage of the freedom to come up with your own projects!

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Physics Research Assistant

October 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I liked getting to work closely with physics faculty

What I wish was different

I wish I hadn't gotten a concussion in the middle of the summer

Advice

Find a mentor you enjoy working with

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conference assistant

May 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I enjoyed meeting a diverse staff of students that I would not have otherwise met. I am still friends with some of my coworkers. The professional staff is very friendly. It also gave us an opportunity to see the inner workings of Housing and Residence Life.

What I wish was different

I wish we had worked more or that I took a summer class. The amount of hours that we got each week varied between 20 to 40 hours on two very busy weeks. I wanted to be more productive at times.

Advice

I think it is crucial to come into this job with a positive attitude as it can be a long 10 weeks at times, but in general, have fun.

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Biology Research Intern

May - August 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

Flexibility

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Go in with a plan

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I liked doing the research and learning lab skills

What I wish was different

It was very short notice so I had to work another job outside of labwork in order to pay rent so it would be nice to try to get a grant for next summer.