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University of Virginia

Graduate Research Assistant

May 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

Great experience for grad school

What I wish was different

Advice

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Hannah Graham Memorial Scholar

June - August 2019 • Kigali, Kigali

What I liked

It was an academically stimulating and incredible adventure to navigate the beautiful country of Rwanda and look at charts first hand. These brought so much of what I learn in my Public Health and other classes to the forefront and was quite the application of the skills I've been studying for so long.

What I wish was different

The program prior to departure was quiet unorganized.

Advice

It'll all work out, even if things aren't quite as you planned.
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Undergraduate Researcher

May - August 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

Getting to work in a lab over the summer and experiencing things that I never would in a classroom setting. For example, I learned how to use ANSYS which is valuable for companies but not taught regularly in Mechanical Engineering classes.

What I wish was different

Taking fluid mechanics first as all my research related to it when I hadn’t taken it yet.

Advice

Getting to do research at school over the summer can expose you to skills that you would never gain in a regular internship at a company, making it sometimes even more valuable than a regular internship.
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Student lead of Virginia CubeSat Constellation

May - August 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Apply to the Research opportunities offered by the Mechanical and Aerospace engineering department for the summer. It's a great opportunity to have.
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Patient Care Technician

May 2017 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

Units can be flexible with your summer and /or academic year schedule.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

There are so many opportunities at the hospital. If possible join the float pool so you can see more of the hospital.
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Conference Assistant

May - August 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

The whole team was great to work with and made the summer fun!

What I wish was different

I wish our schedules had been released sooner than they typically were

Advice

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Biology Laboratory Assistant

October 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I like investigating questions through trial and error and learning new techniques.

What I wish was different

I wish I had done this for longer in the summer.

Advice

Always ask questions!
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Research Intern

June - July 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I loved the work I was doing as it was an entertaining one

What I wish was different

Honestly, wish more people had applied

Advice

Have fun and be open minded about research
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Camp Counselor

June - July 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I loved working with high schoolers and getting to be in Charlottesville for the summer!

What I wish was different

Advice

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Biochemistry Research Intern

May - August 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Network as much as you can
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Undergraduate Research Assistant

July 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

I really enjoyed that I was given the opportunity to make significant material contributions and to understand the nature of my work, rather than being subjected to endless days of darkness and sample polishing. I have instead been given ample opportunities to learn about the reasons for and uses of our research and to make my own measurable contribution.

What I wish was different

This is very much a research position - all the best and worst parts of research are there - you'll get opportunities to work on the cutting edge of research, but at the same time you have to be able to stay on that edge of research - there is a lot of information, nearly overwhelming sometimes. Sadly department policy puts a bit of a stranglehold on pay - it is not terrible, and as a matter of fact quite near REU levels, but there are significantly higher paying jobs.

Advice

Don't walk in trying to find yourself a glowing resume entry or being the ultimate researcher - walk in ready and willing to learn, and the results will become self-evident.
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SLI

June - July 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

The class was a harmonious group of fellow students and graduates. We held lots of interesting activities and learned about cultures together.

What I wish was different

I wished we could have longer time staying together, learn from each other more and be able to experience a variety of festivals related to Chinese culture.

Advice

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Research Intern

May - August 2019 • Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

What I liked

Remote, flexible

What I wish was different

Wish I had received more work to do.

Advice

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

February 2019 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

It was really good experience for my career path

What I wish was different

The pay was just a courtesy, not in alignment with the amount or level of work that I did

Advice

Talk to as many other people as you can!
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Research Assistant

June 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

Good experience

What I wish was different

Advice

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Charlottesville, VA

What I liked

The chance to learn about animal behavior in a laboratory setting and the chance to get hands-on experience on a research experiment.

What I wish was different

I wish there's more interpersonal interaction and more opportunity to collaborate with other researchers.

Advice

Reach out and contact researchers who's experiment you find interesting and wants to be part of. 1/10 chances you will get the position if you want it bad enough.
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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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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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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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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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