Internship

Workplace

I bring strong laboratory skills to this internship, having worked in two different research labs prior to this role. In each lab, I gained essential foundational skills, as well as unique techniques tailored to the specific research focus. Additionally, I have developed leadership and problem-solving abilities through my roles as a recitation leader and lab teaching assistant on campus. These positions require me to guide students, address their questions, and ensure an equal understanding of the material. They also involve multitasking, maintaining lab organization, and ensuring cleanliness before concluding my work.

I believe my lab experience will allow me to have a great start at this internship, as I am already familiar with lab environments and protocols. My problem-solving skills will be particularly valuable when encountering challenges, such as collecting insignificant data. Rather than becoming frustrated, I will analyze what went wrong and implement strategies to prevent similar issues in the future. 

This year, I have been a dedicated and collaborative team member, consistently contributing to the lab’s research goals while adapting to major obstacles. At the start of my internship, my mentors emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation. To achieve this, they had me re-analyze a previously analyzed dataset to assess the accuracy and consistency of my data collection skills. As I gained confidence and proficiency, I took on more independent responsibilities, including analyzing new datasets and presenting findings to my mentor and supervisor. 

My efforts mattered because they strengthened the team’s collective progress. Whether through sharing insights during discussions or supporting my coworkers, I learned that every contribution is essential to achieving the bigger picture. This experience has reinforced my commitment to teamwork and collaboration, which are skills I will carry forward in my academic and professional career.

Successes and Challenges

Successes:

One of my key successes so far has been attending the monthly Research in Progress (RIP) presentations at the dental school, where DDS students present their ongoing research and findings. Although I attended as an observer, this experience was particularly meaningful because it aligns with my goal of pursuing dental school. Being exposed to these presentations has provided me with valuable insights into the research process and its applications in dentistry. 

Another significant achievement has been gaining proficiency in data analysis using Excel and deepening my understanding of cell biology. Since my major is closely aligned with the research conducted in the lab, I am already acquiring knowledge and skills that will be directly applicable to my future coursework as both an undergraduate and graduate student. 

One time I felt successful was when I first obtained experimental data that, upon analysis, supported my project’s primary hypothesis. This taught me the importance of persistence and adaptability in research. Despite initial challenges, such as inconsistent results, I refined my techniques and remained patient, which ultimately led to meaningful results. Additionally, I learned how to analyze data critically and interpret its implications for broader biological questions.

Challenges:

The first challenge that I had as an intern was time management. When I first started my internship, I had a hard time building my schedule because I had limited weekday availability due to my busy schedule. Fortunately, I was able to build a schedule and I have been consistently following that schedule and coming to the lab at specific times. The second challenge that I faced was communication. During the first week of September, I was trying to get ahold of my lab supervisors to figure out when I could come in for the first time to discuss my project, but we could never agree on a time and we only figured out a time that worked for both of us 3 weeks later because they were not emailing me back. Communication has gotten better ever since, but there is still room for improvement. 

One significant challenge I faced during my internship was analyzing a large dataset in Excel to determine the effects of Kalirin overexpression on osteocyte morphology. Initially, I struggled to organize and interpret the data effectively, as it included hundreds of measurements of dendrite length and soma size from multiple experimental conditions. I was unfamiliar with advanced Excel functions, which made it difficult to perform statistical analyses and visualize trends efficiently. 

My internship team helped me overcome this obstacle by introducing me to Excel tools that help keep data organized. My mentor also taught me how to perform t-test calculations and make relevant graphs in Excel. With their guidance, I learned to create clear, professional visuals that display the data and highlight significant findings.