Davidson College

Research assistant

May - August 2019 • Asheville, NC

What I liked

I enjoyed the topic and projects.

What I wish was different

More structure and more people.

Advice

Work hard and follow your instincts.

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Project Management

June 2019 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

I liked having the chance to formulate my own experience of what I wanted the job position to look like. There was a lot of flexibility in the position and the ability to lead projects that I was passionate about.

What I wish was different

Advice

Make sure you are connected and know who to reach out to for getting different projects started that will be a necessity for getting them off the ground.

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Research assistant

July - August 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

I liked the ability to do chemistry research and get paid for it. It was something fun a productive to do over the summer and I learned a lot from it.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Biology Research Intern

June - July 2018 • Galveston, TX

What I liked

I enjoyed getting hands on experience to see what it is like to work in a research lab studying rickettsial diseases.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have stayed for a longer period of time so that I could accomplish more research goals.

Advice

When in Texas, wash your hands after going outside. Even though the chances are extremely low, there is still potential for a rickettsial infection.

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Davidson Summer Research Fellow

May - July 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

As a student research, I really appreciated and enjoyed the effort made by Ms. Mayes and Ms. Synder in having weekly lunches for discussion. I was able to learn more about the investigations and projects of my peers from other disciplines. Furthermore, I gained a lot of useful practical experience through my learning of film/documentary equipment while also building my understanding of film theory plus historical memory. Lastly, the ability to travel to conduct my investigation with my research partners was such an adventure and great opportunity. I am excited to see what our final project will look like!

What I wish was different

With all the hiccups and highlights that we had this summer, I wouldn't have changed anything because I view it as a growing experience with great partners. If there was more time in the summer, we could've done a lot more research but I am supremely happy with our current content.

Advice

I would absolutely tell any future DRI research fellows to take advantage of all the resources made available by the program and your advisor. Utilize the time and money allotted to you to discover or stumble upon amazing pieces of knowledge. With that new information, be open-minded and willing to share your thoughts/confusion/conclusions with others, listening to their understanding of it too.

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JEC Archival Assistant

May - August 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

I loved the people and the working environment. It was a great experience that will help me with jobs and working with others and specific applications later in my career.

What I wish was different

Honestly I wouldn't change anything.

Advice

Just be ready to work hard and enjoy what you're doing.

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July Experience Counselor/Mentor

June - July 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

The leadership and event organizing opportunities, working as part of a team, mentoring students

What I wish was different

The length of time was awkward to start and finish a job but it was overall a good experience

Advice

Know that this is a very hands-on, full-time position for the three weeks you are involved, the fact that you only meet these students for three weeks does not mean that they will not need you for the entire experience. The supervisors also expect a lot out of you but it is rewarding

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Summer Admissions Ambassador

June - August 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

I like that I had the opportunity to share what I love about Davidson and learn about a lot of the different departments both academic and non-academic.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

Doing research at Davidson over the summer allows you to boost your CV; an important part of becoming a competitive grad school candidate in future application cycles. It was also really nice to be able to explore Davidson and Charlotte more fully without the stress of a Davidson courseload looming over your head.

What I wish was different

Next year, folks should try to connect more formally with all the other students doing research here over the summer. I found friendly faces from class were around that I didn't even know about until the Summer Research Symposium in the fall!

Advice

This is a good option if you have found a grant or professor which is willing to compensate you for your time and labor. Do not do this unpaid, and make sure you have access to transportation - relying on the buses is not a feasible way to live in this area during the summer.

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July Experience Counselor/Mentor

June - July 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

I appreciated my experience with working with rising high-school seniors and being able to influence their preparation and choice of college.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have spent more time with my students one on one in order to build even stronger relationships with them.

Advice

In any experience where growth can be attained, remember that progress is more important than perfection.

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Research Fellow

May - August 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

It was great that I alone was responsible for my research and I learned how to work efficiently to advance my project and working independently and creatively.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Student Tech

May 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

Accommodations were easy and relatively cheap to find. I had other friends working with me. The work environment was really collaborative. I learned a lot of transferable skills that employers have seemed to appreciate.

What I wish was different

I wish it had been a bit more structured in terms of our daily expectations. Not everyone was motivated to do well at the job, so selection could have been more selective.

Advice

Have clear goals set for what you want to get out of the job.

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Research intern

May - July 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

I liked doing field research outside.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Always go talk to your professors and advisors about where you should get internships. They tend to have a better network than we have yet.

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Social Science Research Assistant

May 2018 • Davidson, NC

What I liked

Being able to make decisions about what my research is focused on.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Lifeguard

May - August 2018 • Mooresville, NC

What I liked

Helped me learn the ins and outs of being a lifeguard and their responsibilities. I became a certified lifeguard and CPR certified which will be a useful skill later in life. The employer and other employees had a great relationship and the work environment was better than I could ask for for the summer.