Internship

Workplace

• At the beginning of the internship, I was primarily a learner and observer, focused on understanding laboratory protocols, experimental design, and the overall goals of our drug research project. I made it a priority to be reliable, detail-oriented, and open to feedback, especially while developing new technical skills. As the year progressed, I became more independent and confident in executing experiments, analyzing data, and troubleshooting when procedures did not go as planned. My role shifted from needing close guidance to contributing more actively in discussions, asking critical questions about our results, and taking greater ownership of assigned tasks. Over time, I grew into a team member who could be trusted to complete responsibilities accurately and thoughtfully while supporting the overall workflow of the lab.

• My contributions supported the larger goals of the lab in both foundational and project-specific ways. Through routine responsibilities such as collecting DNA samples and maintaining a clean, organized laboratory space, I helped ensure that experiments could be conducted efficiently and without contamination or procedural delays. In a research environment, organization and consistency directly affect data quality and safety, so even these seemingly routine tasks played an important role in maintaining the integrity of the lab’s work. In addition, my independent project testing the drug PRT062607 in AD02 cells for osteopetrosis contributed directly to the lab’s broader research focus on understanding and developing potential treatments for osteopetrosis. By generating data on how this drug affects cellular behavior in a disease-relevant model, my work added to the ongoing research efforts of the lab and supported its mission to better understand therapeutic strategies for this condition. Together, both my supportive and independent contributions helped move the research forward in meaningful ways.

Learning and Growth

• Since the fall semester, I have grown significantly in my dependability and perseverance. While working with laboratory protocols, I have become much more confident and independent. My manager can now rely on me to complete protocols accurately and carefully with minimal supervision. This increased responsibility has helped me build trust within the lab and strengthened my attention to detail. I have also developed greater perseverance in my research work. For example, during the first round of my experiment, the results did not turn out as expected. Instead of becoming discouraged, I evaluated the possible sources of error, modified my experimental approach, and repeated the procedure. This experience taught me the importance of persistence and adaptability in scientific research, and it helped me grow more confident in troubleshooting and refining experimental methods.

• One skill I would like to continue developing is building professional relationships. During my internship, I often become very focused on completing my procedures and experiments, which sometimes limits the amount of time I spend interacting with peers and colleagues in the lab. Moving forward, I plan to be more intentional about engaging with others in my research environment. This may include asking more questions about their projects, discussing ideas during lab meetings, and collaborating more actively with teammates. Strengthening these connections will help me learn from others, improve my communication skills, and become a more collaborative researcher.

Experiencing these concepts outside of the classroom has made the material from my biology courses more meaningful and practical. It has shown me how the foundational knowledge I learn in class connects to real-world medical research and has strengthened my interest in pursuing a career in the medical field.