A Postcard From: Victoria Culton ’18

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Name: Victoria Culton
Class Year: 2018
Major: International Studies
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.

Internship Placement: Control Risks
Job Title: Global Risks Analysis Team Intern
Location: New York, N.Y.

What’s happening at your internship?

Control Risks is a risk management consultancy that mainly focuses on security and political risk. I work on the Global Risks Analysis team, and I just finished a threat assessment for a client’s building. For the threat assessment, I gather data and make a report summarizing my analysis of the potential direct and indirect threats to the client. I also recently researched lawyers for a client that could potentially need legal counsel.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied to this internship because the focus of the company aligned with my interest. I knew I wanted to work for a consulting agency this summer to gain experience in that field. Control Risks was perfect. It has elements of political science, international affairs, and business. When I saw they had an internship for the Global Risks Analysis team, I knew I wanted to work there.

Living in a new city? What has that experience been like for you?

Living in New York City has been a great experience. I lived here last summer for the first time, but since returning I have been able to explore more of the 5 boroughs than I had originally done. I love how easy it is to get around the city and how close in proximity everything is.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

I think the most rewarding part of my internship was the most recent threat assessment, which was a team effort. This assessment was really important to my supervisor and it took a lot of hours to complete. When we finished and I was able to look back and see all of the work that we had completed, I was really proud of myself.

 

A Postcard From: Amana Abdurrezak ’19

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Name: Amana Abdurrezak
Class Year: 2019
Major: International Studies
Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia

Internship Placement: U.S. Department of State
Job Title: Public Affairs Front Office Intern
Location: Washington, D.C.

The views expressed are my own and not necessarily those of the U.S. Government.

What’s happening at your internship?

As a front office intern with the Bureau of Public Affairs, I have the chance to flex my writing muscles. Some of my responsibilities include helping draft and assemble official communications (such as memos), writing summaries on relevant news topics or statements made by important members of the administration, editing webpages, or sitting in on meetings. Each day is different, which means there is never a dull day!

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied to intern at the Department of State to learn more about how the U.S. promotes democracy and progress around the world through its foreign policy. I love to read, listen, write and research domestic and foreign politics, so I figured I would dive into how the U.S. communicates its foreign policy priorities to audiences around the world.

I also applied to intern at State because it is an internship structured as a program. Besides the day-to-day work, I also have the opportunity to learn from seasoned individuals who have worked all around the world. From “brown bag” lunches to trips to different D.C. tourist spots, I have time to learn on the job and see whether the world of foreign affairs is one I want to pursue in a few years. I applied to this internship on a whim, not expecting anything, but I’m so glad I didn’t count myself out! It’s been incredibly rewarding and unlike anything I’ve done before.

Was there anything special about how you found this internship?

Like many other government internships in D.C., I found out about my internship through the Department of State website and USAJobs. For any other students in the Bi-Co who are interested in government internships, I highly suggest tracking these websites throughout the fall because they close early.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

By far the most rewarding part of my internship is the people. Although I didn’t have many expectations coming into the internship, I did expect the building to be filled with people who a) were too serious, or b) were too far in their careers to care about interns. In my experience, it’s been the complete opposite. My supervisors have been very warm, welcoming, and always up to answering my questions. The different Foreign Service Officers and civil servants I have had the chance to talk to—on top of being incredibly well-informed—love to talk to interns about their careers. I’m happy doing my work because I get a wealth of information and advice in return!

 

A Postcard From: Ankitha Kannad ’19

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Name: Ankitha Kannad
Class Year: 2019
Major: Physics
Hometown: Bangalore, India

Internship Placement: Summer Science Research Program
Job Title: Research Assistant
Location: Bryn Mawr College

What’s happening at your internship?

I am doing atomic physics research with Professor Mike Noel in the Bryn Mawr College Physics Department. In the lab, we use lasers to excite rubidium atoms to very high energy levels called Rydberg states. We then apply electric fields to ionize the atoms and determine the energy levels of their electrons after ionization. This process is further complicated by the Stark effect that shifts energy levels in an electric field and makes it difficult to resolve closely-spaced states. A possible solution, employed by our experiment, is to vary the electric field in a particular manner so as to control the ionization process. These perturbations of the electric field are determined using a genetic algorithm that closely resembles gene transfer and mutation in biology. Our final goal for this experiment is to separate closely spaced states which will be useful for fields like quantum computing.

Currently, we are working on improving the optimization capabilities of the genetic algorithm so we can begin collecting data for an upcoming paper!

Why did you apply for this internship?

I worked in Professor Noel’s lab over winter break and really enjoyed experimenting with the various optical instruments used in their research. With some lab experience under my belt and a more solid grounding in quantum mechanics, I wanted to further explore the theory behind their work in the lab and also take part in answering some of the tough questions the field poses.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

I have really enjoyed working with our entire team at the lab. When problems arise in our experiment, we usually discuss them together and the process is especially helpful at revealing gaps in my understanding of the physics behind our research. I also like that we are given the responsibility of running the experiment and the time to make mistakes, which are always great ways of learning especially in the sciences!

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?

By working in Professor Noel’s lab, I have been exposed to many different aspects of research, from computational, experimental work necessary for studying quantum phenomena to understanding the electronics and other machinery we use, which is equally important. As someone exploring physics research as a possible career path, this has been invaluable. It has also given me greater appreciation for the process of science, which can sometimes mean spending a day testing out hypothesis and realizing that it makes little change to the experiment or gives poor data. It requires a lot of patience and hard work but is certainly worthwhile in the end!

 

A Postcard From: Nayanthi Peiris ’18

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Name: Nayanthi Peiris
Class Year: 2018
Major: Economics
Hometown: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Internship Placement: Global Fund for Children
Job Title: Programs Intern
Location: Washington, D.C.

What’s happening at your internship?

At the Global Fund for Children (GFC), the interns are immediately fully incorporated into the systems and processes. Thus, I have been able to attend staff meetings and be a part of the work that goes into running a nonprofit and GFC in particular, which has provided me with the great opportunity of gaining an insight into the inner workings of a nonprofit organization. I have also been able to attend an event at the World Bank on the economic impact of child marriage, which was extremely enlightening.

This summer there are two interns at GFC and we have been assigned a few joint projects to tackle together as well as individual projects that were assigned to us based on our interests. Accordingly, I have been working with the Asia regional team conducting preliminary scouting research on South Asia. I will also be writing a few blog posts to highlight the work of GFC’s grantee partners in the region.

Moreover, I have also been working on creating a composite index and conducting regression analysis to measure the effectiveness of the specific services GFC provides to their grantees.

Some of the joint projects include putting together certificates and welcome packets to send to all of GFC’s partners for the financial year 2016 and taking on a project to assess and propose methods to improve the level of health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Why did you apply for this internship?

In the process of researching and applying for internships, I came to realize that I had been subconsciously filtering out most for-profit companies and that a vast majority of the places I had chosen to apply to were in the nonprofit arena. I then remembered that a couple of my friends had told me about their summer internship at Global Fund for Children and that it was a LILAC affiliated internship. I started looking into GFC and the work they do and was drawn in by their model of fundraising and financing grassroots organizations on the ground. On speaking to my friends who had done this internship and hearing them speak so positively about their experiences, I decided to apply.

Living in a new city? What has that experience been like for you?

Living in D.C. has been an exciting experience so far. Although my time here has been riddled with more than its fair share of housing complications, I have also been able to reconnect with some former Mawrters, and explore parts of D.C. I had not been to before. Although the complications that arose regarding my accommodation for the summer were extremely taxing at the time, in retrospect I came to the realization that it resulted in me improving my problem solving skills.

For the remainder of my time here I look forward to further exploring the city, meeting up with new and old friends and finding more great restaurants.

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?

Through my work at GFC I have been able to further improve my statistical and data analysis knowledge. Prior to this internship I had taken a couple of classes on statistics and econometrics, and I was extremely excited by the prospect of being able to apply that knowledge to solve real world problems. I am hoping that this practical knowledge will come in handy when I write my thesis next semester as well as when I am on the job search next year.

Due to the independence we are given as interns and the level of self motivation that is required, I have also been able to work on getting rid of my tendency to procrastinate as well as develop capabilities such as setting my own deadlines and meeting them.

Overall, my experience at GFC has been a great experience thus far and I look forward to learning more during my remaining weeks with GFC.

A Postcard From: Theresa Diffendal ’18

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Name: Theresa Diffendal
Class Year: 2018
Major: Comparative Literature
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Internship Placement: Au’Loni Magazine
Job Title: Editor and Staff Writer
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

What’s happening at your internship?

As the Editor and Staff Writer for Au’Loni Magazine, I am primarily responsible for writing 3-5 articles a month to be submitted to and then published on Au’Loni’s website, aulonimagazine.com. Au’Loni Magazine is dedicated to highlighting game-changers, entrepreneurs, and innovators in every industry, so my articles largely center on small business owners, startups, and events that would interest or benefit them. For instance, I have interviewed an 8-year-old who owns her own lemonade business, the youngest individual to own a sports franchise in the U.S., a man who only employs formerly incarcerated individuals, and an event held by Philadelphia Assembled on co-ops for economic sovereignty in gentrified areas. I am also responsible for running a mini social media campaign; I post on the company’s Facebook and Instagram accounts two or three times a week.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I am interested in pursuing a career in journalism after college and, as it is the last summer before I graduate, I knew I wanted an internship that would allow me to write articles and be published. I was aiming for more of a news internship, but I’m happy to have published works on topics on which I haven’t writer before.

Was this internship what you expected it to be?

I expected the internship, as the magazine is for and about entrepreneurs, to glorify making lots of money. I did not necessarily want to write about those who profit from capitalism and the exploitation of others. So I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that my boss has encouraged me to research those who have a philanthropical side, such as the man who owns a sports franchise and uses his revenue to aid his hometown of Flint, Mich., during the water crisis, or under-represented communities, such as people of color and those disenfranchised by the school-to-prison pipeline.

A Postcard From: Yazhe Feng ’19

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Name: Yazhe Feng
Class Year: 2019
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Hangzhou, China

Internship Placement: Summer Science Research
Job Title: Summer Science Research Intern
Location: Bryn Mawr College

What’s happening at your internship?

My research topic focuses on mesh generation, specifically, converting existing triangulation to quadrangulation. Throughout the summer I have learned a lot more about graph theory and algorithms in mesh generation. I have learned the basic functioning of software, including Triangle and CQMESH. After studying lots of existing works in this field I have decided my direction, which focuses on converting triangulation to quadrangulation with the help of a minimum spanning tree.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I have never learned anything about graphics before, and I thought it might be an interesting subject to try.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

It is amazing how our professor gave us considerable space for us to investigate in whatever topics that we are interested in, and told us that science research does not necessarily lead to positive results, and proving something does not work is also one kind of accomplishment.

 

A Postcard From: Helen Whitty ’18

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Name: Helen Whitty
Class Year: 2018
Major: Geology
Hometown: Silver Spring, Md.

Internship Placement: Paleomagnetism Laboratory
Job Title: Research Assistant
Location: Bryn Mawr College

This summer, under the guidance of my mentor, Professor Arlo Weil, I’m continuing to explore questions regarding micro-scale deformation in sedimentary rocks caused by tectonic stresses. Last summer, I traveled to Argentina to collect data and rock samples from two systems of mountain ranges, called the Sierras Pampeanas and the Precordillera. Since then, I’ve been running numerous magnetic experiments on the cores we collected, in an attempt to determine what factors control the deformation styles seen in these orogenic systems. As this is a position I hold during the school year, it’s great to be able to continue my research throughout the summer, thanks to the Summer Science Research program here at BMC.

The most exciting part of this summer so far has been the way in which it has shaped my understanding of geologic research and why we pursue it. Two years ago, when I started working in the paleomag lab, I quickly became enchanted with the idea of scientific research as a possible career path for myself. My work there gave me a sense of pride. My self-confidence skyrocketed. Eventually, though, I began to question what impact, if any, the results of such research would have on my community. I began to feel like I was putting a lot of my resources into a pursuit that means very little to anyone other than me and my boss and a few other structural geologists.

But, this summer, through conversations with both avid rock-lovers and non-geologists alike, I’ve uncovered several satisfying justifications for why I have not been wasting myself on this research. And these realizations have led me to new questions — about the ways in which scientists communicate their findings, as well as how we approach scientific education in elementary and middle schools — which have ushered me into new networks of people who are exploring ways to make science education more accessible for young folks, especially for those who belong to demographics that are continually underrepresented in STEM fields. Now, more than ever, I’m excited to fold these questions into the process of writing my senior thesis, which will be a challenging yet personally meaningful culmination of my time spent in the paleomag lab.

A Postcard From: Danielle Xie ’19

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Name: Danielle Xie

Extracting glucose from blood samples.

Class Year: 2019
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minor: Music
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.

Internship Placement: Children’s Hospital Colorado
Job Title: Summer Research Intern with Pediatric Endocrinology
Location: Aurora, Colo.

Putting organic lab skills to use with Dr. Melanie Cree Green ’99.

What’s happening at your internship?

I’ve been having a wonderful time here at CHC! This summer, I’m conducting translational research in the pediatric endocrinology department. I work closely with Dr. Melanie Cree Green ’99, whose research focuses on hepatic metabolism in adolescents with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).

There are so many various aspects to this internship:

Research: My research project involves investigating whether the standard 2-hr OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) used to test for diabetes might have additional clinical applications in the PCOS setting. For example, whether the shape and/or timing of the glucose peak observed during this test might reflect certain physiology in these girls relating to hepatic function. We examine several metabolic markers (C-reactive protein for inflammation and the hormones adiponectin and glucagon-like peptide-1, etc.) as well as evaluate several mathematical models for assessing insulin secretion and sensitivity. By running statistical analyses on all these data, we can identify certain relationships and ultimately gain a better understanding of the physiology that causes altered metabolism in these girls.

I get to present the progress I’m making every week at lab meeting. Lab meeting is also a chance for me to learn about all the other research going on in the department.

Shadowing: The clinical aspect of this internship involves shadowing at the PCOS multidisciplinary clinic. Patients who come into the clinic for PCOS are seen by endocrinology, dermatology, gynecology, and psychology. Sometimes they are also seen by nutrition or exercise physiology, depending on their specific needs.
A video from the clinic: https://www.facebook.com/childrenshospitalcolorado/videos/10154697836376166/

Conferences and Lectures: Between Children’s Hospital and Anschutz Medical Campus (located right across from us), there are always great research talks going on. Additionally, I’ve enjoyed attending the weekly endocrine grand rounds, in which a specific patient case (problem, diagnosis, and treatment) is presented to an audience of doctors, medical students, residents, etc. The cases are always interesting, and it’s allowed me to glimpse critical thinking and clinical reasoning in action.

Research Study Visits: Currently we have two ongoing studies. Whenever we have a research patient scheduled, I try to tag along to observe how these studies are conducted. These days tend to be long, since we arrive early in the morning for the first blood draw. After the nurse draws the blood, we take it to the processing room to have it spun on the centrifuge, plasma extracted, then stored for analysis. In addition to the blood draws, there’s a lot else going on in the room: oxygen masks and metabolic carts, food frequency/mood questionnaires, collection of melatonin samples, etc.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I was first connected with Dr. Green through Bryn Mawr’s winter externship program. I applied because I had an inkling that I wanted to pursue an MD/PhD and eventually a career like hers, involving both research and clinical practice. I had a wonderful time, and I was thrilled to learn that I had gotten the funding to continue with her during the summer.

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?

As I mentioned earlier, there are so many different aspects to this internship, and each experience offers something new. Throughout my time here, I’ve come to realize how important skills like writing, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking are in the medical and scientific fields.

Collaboration: Whether it’s a grant proposal, data results, a manuscript draft, or a patient diagnosis, ideas are always run by several people, sometimes across departments and fields. With the current data set I’m working on, it’s been so valuable to talk through the data/results with other team members; everyone brings unique perspectives to the table.

Communication: Through writing up an abstract and now drafting a manuscript, I’m really honing those writing skills. Additionally, I will be learning how to present research by preparing a 20-minute oral presentation on my project. This will be presented at lab meeting during my last week here.

Thinking outside the box: there’s a lot of trial and error involved in research. Data and results don’t always come out as expected; the relationships aren’t always straightforward. We’ve often had to reframe our hypothesis, or consider the data from a different perspective.

Living in a new city? What has that experience been like for you?

I take advantage of the amazing public transport system to explore the city on the weekends. There’s always lots to do here in Denver — from music festivals to hiking to good restaurants. I often meet some pretty cool strangers during these solo excursions!

A Postcard From: Diamond Ray ’18

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Name: Diamond Ray
Class Year: 2018
Major: Linguistics, Minor in Spanish
Hometown: Philadelphia

Internship Placement: American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania  (ACLUPA)
Job Title: Intern in Legal Intake, Duvall Project, and Development
Location: JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia

What’s happening at your internship?

I actually just finished my internship earlier this week. While there I did many different things. I worked with legal intake, which involved me reading legal complaints and summarizing them for the legal department. I often read letters, emails, and had phone conversations with people who felt that their constitutional rights had been violated. This aspect of the job was both interesting and emotionally exhausting. I learned how to speak on the phone with people who felt that they had been wronged by their country. Although I was afraid at first I became comfortable engaging in these sometimes unforgettable exchanges. I also worked with reproductive rights which, which was the Duvall Project. This included collecting data on state representatives and legislation as a means of strategizing the next steps in lifting abortion bans and other issues associated with women’s health. I tabled at the HIV/AIDS Prevention Summit and the Prison Healthcare and Reentry Summit at the convention center. Lastly, I helped the development department by taking minutes at the bi-monthly ACLUPA executive board meetings.

Why did you apply for this internship?

As a low-income Black undergraduate from Philadelphia, I have experienced the positive and negative effects of government legislation for the better and worse. I have worked with advocacy and social justice before as a Community Diversity Assistant, and as a facilitator for Dimensions of Diversity. These experiences taught me that civil rights and social justice were always important to me. I applied to intern with the ACLU because I was interested in learning the nuts and bolts of this type of work on a statewide scale.

Was there anything special about how you found this internship?

Prior to hearing about this opportunity I had never heard of the ACLU. Immediately after starting I learned how instrumental the organization was and continues to be in protecting the civil rights of Americans.

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?

Deliberate, relentless, patient and freedom, dissent, power

A Postcard From: Christa Schmidt ’18

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Name: Christa Schmidt
Class Year: 2018
Major: Psychology and International Studies
Hometown: Hong Kong

Internship Placement: Children’s Bilingualism Research Center, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong
Job Title: Intern
Location: Hong Kong

What’s happening at your internship?

Since mid May I’ve been working at the Children’s Bilingualism Research Center at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The overall purpose of the institute is to research language acquisition for children in the languages Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. Although the days are long, I really look forward to going to work everyday because everyday we’re doing something interesting and new! I’ve been put on a couple different projects, which have really showed me the different facets of research in this field! For example, we did language testing on kids from a kindergarten in Hong Kong on all three languages. I was very fortunate to administer one of the tests and we’re still working on the results from this test. Another project that I’ve tagged along on is that they’re creating a Mandarin playgroup curriculum and I’ve been assisting one of my coworkers on this. Although I’m not as involved in this, it’s been intriguing to see what it’s like to create a curriculum from more of a research standpoint.

Why did you apply for this internship?

Being a psychology major, I’ve been intrigued by the possibility of pursuing research as a career. I really wanted to get a research internship this summer so that I could get a glimpse into the research world to see if this is something I enjoy. From this experience, I can say I’m definitely interested in pursuing research and would really like to continue this path. I applied to this specific institute because they are on the only institute specifically researching these three languages, where these languages hold a special place in my heart. I’ve studied these languages almost all of my life and this internship allowed me perfectly to combine my language and research interests.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

To be really honest, every part of this internship has been my favorite part. From going out to do recordings, to running tests on kids, to being in the office doing transcriptions, I really can say that I have enjoyed every part. It’s all been just like a roller coaster with no down point and a ride that I don’t want to end. Of all the work that I’ve been doing, I really can say that I’ve enjoyed it all. Outside of the work I’ve taken part in, I have really enjoyed the people I’ve been working with. My bosses and coworkers have been nothing but helpful, positive, supportive, understanding, empathetic and just such nice people. They have created a work environment that is inclusive and inviting, making me excited everyday to go in to see them all. I really appreciate the guidance and support I’ve received from them all.

Was this internship what you expected it to be?

I don’t have any experience working in a lab before this summer, so I didn’t really have any preconceived thoughts to create an expectation for this internship. However, one thing is that the ways they acquire research is different than what I’ve been exposed to from my classes at BMC. For example, one way that they conduct their research is through recording kids and transcribing the data. Before starting this internship, I didn’t know researchers used this type of methodology. It’s difficult work, but interesting!