Northwestern University

Research Assistant

January 2017 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

I loved the mentorship I received and the simultaneous independence I was allowed to explore within my research.

What I wish was different

I wish there had been more to do — I was being paid full-time to come into work 3 days a week, because I just finished all of my work on those days and had no need to come in half the time. It was nice to have a relaxing summer but I really just want to be conducting research and collecting data.

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask for help — it's weird if you don't.

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Research Student

June - August 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

Having the independence to conduct my own research project under the supervision of experienced and knowledgeable faculty.

What I wish was different

N/A

Advice

Research projects are as much or as little as you make of them---so put in all the time you can!

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Undergraduate Researcher

June - August 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

This research position was apart of an SROP program (Summer Research Opportunity Program). I loved the location, and the supportive graduate students and professors. I had an amazing time and became exposed to multiple biochem. techniques that will provide very useful for me in the future.

What I wish was different

I do not wish a single thing had been different.

Advice

You get out of it what you put in. The experience is what you make it, and it is up to you to utilize your time there wisely.

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Research Intern

June - August 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

I liked the work environment and how inclusive and helpful the culture is. I also liked how there was an emphasis on student life through different programs and organization to enhance and enrich student experience.

What I wish was different

I wish they paid me for the internship. It was intensive and a lot of work but i all I got is experience.

Advice

Try making as much connections as possible. one of my mentors at the program told me that all you need is competence and connections. Try to get onto linked In, wiser, and handshake. You should pursue anything that helps you increase your horizons.

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Intern

June - August 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

I have learned a lot about clinical research and had the opportunity to job shadow physicians.

What I wish was different

Advice

Absorb as much knowledge as possible.

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Cancer Research Intern

June - August 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

This program helped me delve into bench research. It fueled my passion for cancer by allowing me to use state of the art equipment and techniques to learn more about melanoma. They provided opportunities to learn more about Northwestern’s professional schools.

What I wish was different

I wish there were a few more structured programs/events. The internship was very one man for themself.

Advice

If at first you don’t succeed, try try again research can be disappointing if you don’t get results, but do not get discouraged. Keep trying!

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Research Intern

June - September 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

Enjoyed working on prototypical biomimetic robots - this field is expanding and I got the chance to work with this technology at the forefront. Team included a diverse array of backgrounds.

What I wish was different

I wish I'd gotten more tasks suited for the major I switched into prior to starting the internship - got mostly mechanical engineering related projects as a computer science major. This isn't so much on my supervisors as it is on me for not speaking up more and asking for computational work to do.

Advice

When given extremely unstructured research work, always keep asking to find more things to do, and don't be discouraged when there doesn't 'seem' to be a clear path ahead. The heart of research is experimentation and exploration, so it's okay to take risks so long as you document everything for other people.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June 2017 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

Independency

What I wish was different

Advice

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Rotational Summer Intern

June - August 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Make sure to reach out to the people working in your office to hear about their personal paths into the profession

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Research Assistant

May - August 2017 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

Location and peers.

What I wish was different

I wish the program lasted longer.

Advice

Ask a lot of questions and reach out to/connect with all the great resources and minds around you.

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Research Assistant

June 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

I loved taking an active role in meaningful research that brings attention to a demographic that is not normally studied in the field. It was also a great way to think deeply about particular subject matters and sharpen my analytical skills. The people in my lab are also wonderful to be around and talk to.

What I wish was different

I honestly wish that there was more work to do sometimes. It was nice to be in a relaxed environment and have space between tasks, but I like to keep busy.

Advice

I would encourage all research assistants to share their thoughts with their mentors even if that means questioning what the mentor believes to be correct. My mentors valued my opinions and were always impressed when I did this because it showed that I was actively thinking and wasn't afraid to speak up.

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Researcher

June 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

Great lab environment.

What I wish was different

Advice

Research takes a while.

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Academic Office Manager

June - August 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

Challenging, great supervisor and coworkers, rewarding experience

What I wish was different

More orientation, more organization from others

Advice

The center for talent development is a fantastic program and place to work.

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Researcher

June - August 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

The independence

What I wish was different

I wish I had more guidance

Advice

Be sure to be ready to be very independent and make your own schedule.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

I learned about what research means in an intellectual capacity, and got to go to a jewish theology seminar and see the result of research in action.

What I wish was different

I wish I had had more structured hours, as it was mostly me making myself do work, but I also gained skills in self motivation and structure

Advice

When working in an environment where you get to set your own hours, plan ahead, get to a space to do work, and treat the time you have set as work time as though you are in an office.

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Astronomy Resea

June 2016 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

Learning about a field I was interested in on my way into college

What I wish was different

Advice

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Research Assistant

June - September 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

I liked how I was able to explore my research interests with intelligent, dedicated, motivated coworkers.

What I wish was different

Advice

Try new things and show up every day - not just physically but mentally ready to work to get as much out of the experience as you can.

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Student researcher

July - August 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

Independent research experience

What I wish was different

More involvement in lab meetings

Advice

Be more open to opportunities

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Evanston, IL

What I liked

I liked how I was able to have a say in which aspects of my labs research I wanted to put more or less focus towards.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have worked with some of the participants, instead of all behind the scenes.

Advice

Take initiative and ask for more work. Often times at an entry level position like this it is hard for your supervisor to gauge how long a task will take you. They are also busy with their own work and you can easily be forgotten about if you do not make yourself known.

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Researcher

June - July 2018 • London, England

What I liked

I got to do a lot of traveling - bookended trips to Morocco and Iceland. I also got to talk to doctors and policymakers in the National Health Service and Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health.

What I wish was different

It was kind of a lonely experience - independent research abroad meant that I had to do a lot of work to build social circles.

Advice

I was nervous that pursuing research opportunities rather than a traditional internship experience this summer would put me back in terms of recruitment for full-time jobs during my senior year. Over and over again I have talked to different people in the industries I am interested in tell me that it is so much more important to pursue what I am actually interested in. Then it just becomes a matter of showing how the skills and experiences I have developed through those experiences are relevant to the work I am applying for. So my overall advice would be to do what you want to do - also for the juniors out there, this might be the last time you can get someone to pay to send you to London - take advantage of it!!

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