I have much more knowledge about the process of pursuing a PhD.
Name: Emily Leo
Major: Bioengineering
Company: Center for Wireless Health REU Program at UVA
Location: Charlottesville, VA
What have been the most interesting aspects of your internship? The most interesting aspect was interacting with graduate students and sitting in on weekly lab meetings with the P.I. It was rewarding to work on one project for 8 weeks and have tangible results communicated in a poster, report, and presentation.
Did the internship provide a solid education in professional ethics? If so, how? Yes, there were workshops for all of the REU students and two of those workshops were solely about ethics. There was a professor from Lehigh University that came in to present to us.
Was there a formal program for all interns at the organization? Was peer support available throughout the internship? There were formal programs for college REU students, high school students, and local high school teachers. Peer support was available throughout the internship through graduate student mentors and fellow interns. More than one intern was assigned to each P.I., so support within in the lab was helpful.
How have your career or academic goals changed as a result of this internship experience? I have much more knowledge about the process of pursuing a PhD. I'm not yet sure if I want to pursue that option personally, but I have much more insight if I decide to choose that path.
What advice would you give other UMD engineering students seeking an internship or co-op position? Do your research both online and in person. Collect as much information as possible about all positions you are interested in. Keep strict timelines to ensure that you have enough time to complete applications and request recommendations if necessary.
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