University of Florida

research assistant

June 2019 • Jacksonville, FL

What I liked

I like the experience and being able to work in the health field.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Learn how to be comfortable talking with people of all walks of life.

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Undergraduate Researcher

June - August 2019 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

I enjoyed the hands on tasks of conducting experiments and learning about the scientific process in cancer research studies.

What I wish was different

I wish I completed more trainings to do hands on work with mice that we researched.

Advice

Get engaged in the work that your'e doing such as asking questions.

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Intern

May - July 2019 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

I liked working with the Agronomy Department a lot. The lab I was in had a good atmosphere and people got along well. I felt like the post-docs working with undergrads were enthusiastic about teaching us new things.

What I wish was different

I wish the research project itself had more of a timeline, or organized goals so that we could have used out time more efficiently. There were days that the weather was bad for field work, so we just took the day off instead of working on something else.

Advice

Take advantage of all the networking opportunities. Ask people about how they got to where they are, and get career advice.

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Research Assistant

June - August 2019 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

I served as a research assistant in a lab at the University of Florida Computer Science, Information, and Engineering Department. Here, I was given the ability to conduct and publish my own research on interactive storytelling.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been able to stay longer!

Advice

To get this experience, I didn't apply through a traditional program. Instead, I emailed professors whose research I was interested in and thus created my own opportunities.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

May - August 2019 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

It was amazing to be in a collaborative lab environment, where my ideas and input were valued! I am also working on a paper with the lab to submit for publishing.

What I wish was different

Advice

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REU intern

May - August 2019 • St. Augustine, FL

What I liked

I had the fantastic opportunity of working closely with a mentor who had experience in research. I was working in a research question that could have a significant impact on the developmental biology field. I was a part of a team that was supportive and welcomed me as one of them.

What I wish was different

I wish I had the opportunity of returning next summer and work with them again to continue the project.

Advice

Work very hard during the internship, it will be hard to get used to the project, but after reading on your own and doing a background search, you will learn all that you need. Be open to suggestions. Everyone has a significant input that can open your mind to new ideas.

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Research intern

May - August 2019 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

It was fun.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been more focused

Advice

Take advantage of opportunities.

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Summer Undergraduate Research Intern

May - August 2019 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

I enjoyed doing research and learning about the PhD program at UF.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Ask questions!

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finance intern

March - July 2019 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

I was treated as a actual employ, not as a usual intern.

What I wish was different

Being able to manage receipts from travelers that spend >$2000

Advice

Always be a hard worker although you feel like you are underpaid and/or not being demoted. Also, at first everything may seem overwhelming, but patience and communication is the most important part of being part of succeeding.

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summer health professions education program(shpep)

May - June 2019 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

I loved the campus and the atmosphere of the college of medicine and its faculty! i will definitely be applying there for medical school.

What I wish was different

Nothing really! I just wish they gave us back the travel reimbursement like they promised in the beginning.

Advice

Follow your dreams. Never let anyone stop you from pursuing the career you want to pursue.

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Agricultural and food science technician

August 2018 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

I got to participate and and cutting-edge research, I am also designing scientific equipment with AutoCAD and sourcing the injection molding companies to produce it.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Be persistent

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Research Assistant

May - August 2018 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

Learning about the University of Florida and it’s student body.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have taken more time to research opportunities and network.

Advice

Don’t be afraid to go out your comfort zone.

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Biology Research Intern

May - July 2017 • Fort Pierce, FL

What I liked

I enjoyed the discipline I received from my faculty mentor. I cultivated his strict research regiment to facilitate my understanding of how to conduct research and how research benefits the community.

What I wish was different

I wish the experience were a bit more lengthy. I would have finished my research if the timeframe was a few more weeks longer. The stipend should also be increased to compensate for the economic disadvantage of low-income students who seek to contribute to the STEM community

Advice

Remember the reason why you chose to participate in any experience opportunity. This reason will facilitate the work you put in the experience and contribute to self-development

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REU

May - August 2018 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

It was cool to meet other STEM students. I also had a mentor who I helped on the project. I learned how to do javascript and things to consider for graduate school.

What I wish was different

I wish I had more to do. I also wish it wasn't in Florida.

Advice

Attend any REU meetings they have on any topic, even if it sounds irrelevant. Those meetings are made for us, the interns, and are relevant to personal improvement, like how to create a CV ( a little more complicated than it sounds), fellowships, and more.

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Neuroscience

May - August 2018 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

Loved the entire experience. Being able to have a real on hands job helped refine what I want to study in the future.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have known that so much of the stipend is taken away in taxes

Advice

Ask questions about everything! Make sure you understand processes and meanings. Be the first to your job and the last to leave. If you have the opportunity to observe other people, do it!

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Camp Staff

May - August 2018 • Lake Placid, FL

What I liked

Creative problem-solving was key to success. Working with a team of 8 staff, we worked with 1200 patrons over the summer. I enjoyed how staff were tasked with individual projects but given the liberty to accomplish them according to their own methods.

What I wish was different

The most interesting and challenging aspect of this experience was working AND living with 8 people for 3 months. Living with each other ensured we constantly refined out communication skills. While most of learned new strategies - active listening, framing topics in a way the listener understood, and diplomacy - one team member rejected all critiques.

Advice

Instead of merely listening, listen actively. Don't just hear the words, but listen for "in-between-the-lines" messages which can provide contextual clues to the best way to accomplish your task(s).

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Summer Neuroscience Internship Program (SNIP) Research Intern

May - August 2017 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

- Access to cool research - Access to equipment that would not be readily available at Vassar - I learned a lot and was able to observe procedures done by other people in the lab - I lived in an apartment with housemates from the program, and it was great to experience what cooking for myself and budgeting is like. Through this, I got to know a few fellow interns well.

What I wish was different

- I wish there were more opportunities for one-on-one time with my PI - The program encourages applications from underrepresented groups in science research, however, there was not much career advice tailored to the needs of this group.

Advice

Make full use of this opportunity to get to know the people in your lab (grad students, PI, other undergrads) because their experiences in research might help you decide if this is the right career for you, and if your PI knows you personally, letters of recommendation will be of greater quality.

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Research Assistant

May - August 2017 • Gainesville, FL

What I liked

It was a paid research position in a neuropsychology multimodal neuroimaging lab that greatly influenced my approach to my future career. It was a meaningful trip that gave me a firsthand experience for a researcher in a larger multimodal neuroimaging lab, as well as allowed practical application of multiple techniques I had been developing as a young researcher.

What I wish was different

I wish the internship had been longer. Ten weeks is a really short period of time during which to get integrated into a lab, learn the research area, get approved for the studies, and get trained on duties, especially for labs that utilize human subjects. Had I been able to stay another week or two, I would have gained fantastic writing experience as well as been trained on administration of certain cognitive assessments.

Advice

Be aware of the time - if you can familiarize yourself with the research area and get IRB approval for the studies, try to do that before you arrive. The other interns in your program, more often than not, are a fantastic support system and will broaden your experience.

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