Harvard University

Research Intern

June - August 2023 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

The hands-on experience, the programming focused on my discipline, the personal mentoring opportunities

What I wish was different

More focus on the humanities

Advice

Apply! You never know what'll happen!

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Darin Butz Foundation Research Internship at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

May - July 2019 • Boston, MA

What I liked

The Arnold Arboretum is one of the world’s most comprehensive and best documented living collections occupying over 250 acres. . During my 10 week experience, I had Elizabeth Spriggs as my research mentor who focuses her research on phylogeography and recent evolution of the chestnuts and ashes (Castanea and Fraxinus) the iconic, but severely threatened, North American trees. My research objective was to analyze morphological traits and describe variability in the genus Castanea and understand trait relationships to observe the differences and similarities within species. During that program, I was exposed to using R to make a PCA of my data, while also learning more data analysis skills.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

August 2020 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I loved getting to know the lab's dynamics.

What I wish was different

This has been an online experience, I wish I was able to do it in person, but I still loved it.

Advice

It's important to reach out to researchers you're interested in work of. They might need some help and volunteers for the lab. It's important to knock on all the doors!

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Project Intern

May - August 2019 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

I liked the work (manually annotating electron microscope images of larval zebrafish brain slices, hereby referred to tracing), the flexible hours, and my coworkers, especially my boss (I feel that I got really lucky to have her in charge of me).

What I wish was different

I wish there were more undergraduates in the lab, and I wish that I did a few more things than tracing (I loved the tracing, but it could get a bit tedious).

Advice

It was definitely something that was out of my comfort zone, as this was at a school that I obviously don't go to, so I was worried that I would feel out of place and I didn't know what exactly I was getting myself into. It ended up being an experience that I had a lot of fun with, really grew from and was very valuable for learning about a lot of the cool research going on at Harvard and as a networking experience. It was admittedly hard at times, but the positive feelings enormously outweighed those negative feelings.

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Economist Research Assistant

May - August 2019 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

Lots of support from faculty. Excellent networking opportunities. Developed hard and soft skills. Worked with other researchers. Great community.

What I wish was different

No air conditioning in Harvard dorms over the summer.

Advice

Come in excited and ready to learn. It's a great opportunity. Have a positive attitude and make the most of it.

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Proctor

June - August 2019 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

The training and resources that Professional Staff provided to new hires was absolutely crucial to the work I did. I have never felt so supported by my supervisors before and I would not have changed a thing.

What I wish was different

I wish I had a different pay schedule so that I could do some deeper exploring into Cambridge and Boston.

Advice

Continue to focus in on your self-care. You must take time for yourself during any summer internship.

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Athletic Compliance Intern

August 2019 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

Everything!! The network is amazing and I love my supervisors

What I wish was different

Maybe to get paid more

Advice

Absolutely amazing

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DaRin Butz Fellow

May - August 2019 • Boston, MA

What I liked

It was a great research experience where I learned a lot about both the scientific process but also careers in ecology.

What I wish was different

Not much honestly. Maybe I wish the day to day was a little more exciting.

Advice

Talk to people who give talks at Oberlin. Thats how I found this job.

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Biology Research Intern

May - August 2019 • Petersham, MA

What I liked

Great people, lovely place to spend summer

What I wish was different

Better mentors

Advice

Go for it. Push yourself and apply

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Alumni Relations

May - September 2018 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Managing the Alumni Online Help Desk Handling front desk duties Assisting alumni & recent graduates with alumni relations Organizing alumni events Collaborating with reunions office, Harvard Alumni travel, and other departments

What I wish was different

I wish I could have stayed longer, but full time-student comes first!

Advice

Always get to know the people you work with! The woman I shared a work space with ended up having a son who graduated from UMass Amherst a few years back and she connected me with him and other successful alumni.

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Cognitive Neuroscientist Intern

June - August 2018 • Boston, MA

What I liked

The city The PI The program

What I wish was different

I wish I was more informed about the field or chose a field I was more knowledgeable of.

Advice

If you want to do it, do it. It is highly competitive but nothing great comes easy!

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Graduate Research Assistant

July 2017 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

Flexible Hours, good benefits

What I wish was different

Well grad school is really long

Advice

Think about if you absolutely need the degree for the job you want before you commit to something like this.

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Research Intern

June - July 2018 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

Mentorship under the doctoral student

What I wish was different

More interactions with the Lab Director

Advice

Try to engage with individuals outside of our immediate team or laboratory

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Intern at Harvard Pre-College Program

June - August 2018 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

I liked the independence in programming and mentoring students during this summer. I was exposed to potential career options in higher education student affairs and gained a lot of knowledge in the workings of the summer pre-college program.

What I wish was different

Advice

You are the first level of "authority" and spend a lot of time with the students that are in the pre-college program. You have to be both a rule enforcer and a mentor; someone who is respected but also approachable.

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Summer Student

July - August 2018 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

It was great getting hands-on lab experience with new science. I got to learn about cluster chemistry, and I gained glovebox experience.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Quantitative Finance Intern

September 2018 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Friendliness and exposure to new material

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Shoot for unexpected decisions and it might do you well

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Pre-College Program Proctor

June - August 2018 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

I loved living at Harvard, making friends with the other proctors, going on field trips with the students, and learning!

What I wish was different

I loved all of it.

Advice

Mather is the best house, don't be fooled. The JCR is my favorite place on Earth. And always go to Brain Break

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Research assistant

May - August 2018 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

Campus was nice. Research was interesting.

What I wish was different

More time.

Advice

Explore the city

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Resident Fellow

June - August 2017 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

Really great mentorship and fun coworkers, lots of innovation and creative freedom with events

What I wish was different

A bit more organization (it's the programs 3rd year and recently double in size)

Advice

Be organizaed and take advantage of every opportunity

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Summer School Proctor

June - August 2018 • Cambridge, MA

What I liked

I loved the autonomy that the program gave me. I was trusted to plan and execute my Entryway Programs as well as work within a team. It was a great addition to my previous experience in Residential Life at Wellesley and an opportunity that helped me to grow and develop confidence in my abilities.

What I wish was different

Honestly, nothing. I had an incredible summer.

Advice

I would tell people to invest more time in learning the resources that the campus has to offer. Since I was learning a new position and a new university at the same time it was at times difficult to manage both - but in time I saw how many resources and opportunities Harvard provides to its students over the summer.

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