Whitman College

Historian Research Assistant

May - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

It helped me learn how to perform research in the library.

What I wish was different

It was isolating at times, so I wish I could have worked with another researcher.

Advice

This is a great experience, which will prepare for senior year thesis research.

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WCTS Technical Consultant

May - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

The overall environment was very low-stress. Robert Fricke, Cate Lyon, Mike Ostermann, and pretty much everyone else at WCTS was great to work with and under. The work itself was also nice, as I knew I was helping out the college and not just doing meaningless busywork.

What I wish was different

I wish I had had more of a well-defined role within WCTS. I started off doing mostly helpdesk work, helping people who walked in with computer problems, but moved to working in the back room processing new computers and retiring old ones. During that time, I had 3 or 4 simultaneous superiors I reported to at different times, and juggling whose assigned tasks took priority when was difficult.

Advice

Overall the experience was great, but I'd recommend telling your supervisor about what you are and are not good at right at the beginning of the summer. I had a fair bit of experience with computer hardware going in, and about halfway through the summer I was moved to the back room because that was what my skills made me best at. This move to the back room would have happened much sooner if I had been more upfront with my skills.

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research assistant

May - September 2019 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I liked the exposure to the material and the guidance of the professor to gain an alternative perspective and the freedom to make mistakes intellectually and develop more effective systems for processing the material for future use. I liked the exposure to academic research, I feel it helped me develop skills for future research projects, and a better awareness of what works and what doesn't.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been able to spend more time studying material than struggling to utilize technology for converting the material to a publishable state. I wish I had been introduced to a network of researchers who would have been able to share what worked well and what didn't, rather than having to figure it out on my own. I did eventually, but it was very time consuming and more stressful than it needed to be.

Advice

I would emphasize being patient with yourself. Developing a proficient process is part of the point, but can feel frustrating and isolating. Network for methodological resources. You may be learning about yourself as much or more than the material or specific process itself. This is an opportunity to gain a perspective on how best to approach the structure of future research. Imagine how you would want assistants to contribute to your project if you were the professor.

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Admissions Intern

May - August 2019 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I really enjoyed getting to know new people and see an entirely different side of Whitman. Talking to prospective students allowed me to talk about my own experiences on campus and reflect on my time here.

What I wish was different

Wish it was not so hot mid-summer when I was out giving tours

Advice

Take this time to appreciate what Whitman as a super cool environment that enables us to engage with a variety of different things. Also buy sunscreen!!

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Conferences & Events Staff Member

May - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

The welcoming work environment and my coworkers.

What I wish was different

Greater accountability and variance in work duties.

Advice

Work as hard as you can, and appreciate how great of a job it is.

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Summer Research Intern

June 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

The flexibility; the teamwork aspect; the practical application of theories I have learned

What I wish was different

Organization of time and tasks to be completed

Advice

Don't expect research to be straightforward and clearcut. Flexibility and adaptability are necessary

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Student Researcher

June - August 2019 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I really enjoyed being able to work in a team and problem solve along side my peers. The feeling of having a common goal and work ethic was very satisfying. Due to the nature of the research, I learned a lot about neurobiology and the physiological pathways regarding eye movement and sight. I also learned more about experiment design and different ways to critically analyze data.

What I wish was different

A summer in Walla Walla is well spent, however it can be lonely sometimes. I wish that I had gotten out into the community more and enjoyed activities I don't have time for during the school year.

Advice

Do one new thing each week. Whether it's hiking a new trail, meeting new people, volunteering, learning a new hobby.... get creative :)!

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Perry Scholars Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I enjoyed my work was pertinent in my educational interests and career goals.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

May - July 2019 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I had the opportunity to learn and use R, which was extremely fun. I cleaned forest service and school district data and then mapped it using leaflet in R. It always felt like a puzzle--I needed to write just the right code to get the map I wanted!

What I wish was different

Advice

Talk to your professors and see if they need any research help! I learned an immense amount from Professor Mueller.

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Summer Admission Intern

May - August 2020 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I loved the opportunity to interact with prospective students as they were going through the college process, as well as being able to get to know my fellow Summer Admission Interns better and make connections within the Admission Office.

What I wish was different

Although the internship was entirely virtual because of COVID-19, I appreciated the experience, as I think it provided me with a better handle on virtual meeting tools and technology. It was nice to feel like I mastered those things before the school year started again and everything was also virtual.

Advice

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Research Assitant

May 2020 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

Flexibility of schedule. Common understanding. Challenging.

What I wish was different

More technical duties than learning duties.

Advice

Research is fascinating at Whitman and you should take an advantage of it. Professors are helpful and flexible!

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Sociology Research Assistant

May 2020 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

Working with a diverse team of researchers and academics.

What I wish was different

I wish we could've conducted in-person work as the job was remote due to COVID-19.

Advice

When working from home, find ways to set clear boundaries with family members/roommates as to when you're available and when you're at work.

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Biology Laboratory Assistant

June 2020 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I liked being able to develop my thesis and perform data collection for research.

What I wish was different

Working on campus would’ve been nice compared to off campus.

Advice

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Summer Research Student

May - September 2021 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I gained valuable research skills and developed a closer relationship with my professor.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Microbiology Research Intern

May - August 2021 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I enjoyed the experience of working in a microbiology lab, and learning how to follow and create SOPs while working independently.

What I wish was different

I wished I had more guidance during my research experience, and could have received detailed instructions on how to undertake more complex experiments.