I liked shadowing at inpatient and outpatient medical institutions and getting to see the healthcare system in action.
What I wish was different
I wish we had started clinical observations sooner so that we could see a larger range of patients.
Advice
Research who/where/what procedure(s) you will be observing so that you are more informed beforehand and can come prepared with specific questions.
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Research Programmer
June 2018 • Pittsburgh, PA
What I liked
I wrote code for a Russian professor, so my hours were flexible and I worked from home about 95% of the time (the rest were in-person meetings). It was fun because I'm studying Computer Science and Russian at Pitt, so I got to mix the two together and get paid for it.
What I wish was different
I wish I had a little bit more background in data visualization beforehand, but I eventually figured it out. Finding a good work area and blocking out time is also something that took some adjustment.
Advice
Make the most of it, and suggest new ideas to your advisor. Maybe they'll be open-minded about it.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
May 2018 • Pittsburgh, PA
What I liked
Allowed me to work flexible hours in a nascent field. The medium was a video game which I was very comfortable with.
What I wish was different
More organization.
Advice
Ask about the trajectory of a project.
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Research Intern
June - August 2018 • Pittsburgh, PA
What I liked
The support I received from my advisors and PhD students I worked for.
The independent environment.
I was encouraged to take a project that I found interesting.
What I wish was different
I wish I connected more with other Professors, not just the ones I was working with.
Advice
Make connections! They are the most valuable part of research internships.