Name: Amul Choudhary

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: National Institutes of Health/NCI

Position Title: Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Biochemistry / Molecular Biology

Work Term: Fall 2016

Briefly describe your internship, co-op,  or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

My internship took place inside the Division of Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis at the NIH Headquarters in Bethesda, MD. Daily, my main project at the start was development of a searchable database of patients so that the department could observe trends in demographics, cancer types, and trial enrollment as well as work on speed in onboarding new patients. To accomplish that, I had to first overhaul some of the onboarding procedures the DTCD was using. While developing the database, I worked on a Phase II trial analyzing patient responses to a drug and eventually my analysis was used as part of a published (pending) manuscript. I presented my findings at Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD to some of the administration of the NCI as well as participated in the NIH Poster Day. This was all during the summer and now I am back there during the Fall continuing to refine and expand the powers of the database as well as shifting through results of other trials hoping to add to other ongoing publications..

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I applied through a personal contact, then was asked to gather letters of recommendation and submit to a background check before being given an interview.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

Meeting some amazing people and expanding my network

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

The analysis I completed for the Phase II trial will most likely play a major role in having the drug in question approved by the FDA.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Be ready to commit time outside the office and do lots of research on your own time to be always up to speed. After all, "opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." A lot of work is the pure drudgery of pouring through patient files, but also some of the most interesting discoveries are made at the 11th hour.

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Name: Chip Rittenhouse

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Renegade Productions

Position Title: Production Assistant/Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Media and Communications/ Anthropology

Expected Graduation Year: Spring 2017

Briefly describe your internship, co-op,  or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

At Renegade, I enter a workplace that is full of eccentric creators where an atmosphere of collaboration and creativity are contagious! Not only do I enter each day at Renegade with excitement at what the day ahead may hold, but I also know that I will learn something new each time I am there. Whenever filming a project for a client I am on set as a supportive member of the production team who has input in terms of how something looks on screen but also I gain first hand experience with set design and handling professional level equipment which has been an immeasurable opportunity. Whenever not on set with a client filming, I can be found in the production department seeking out future clients for the company; or taking part in pre-production, where I'm working on sound tracks or stock footage that fit a genre of projects we are working on. On top of that, having the chance to work with directors and producers at Renegade on a day-to-day basis and having the opportunity to ask them questions about the industry firsthand is something I am incredibly thankful for.   

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I attended a social event in Baltimore city through the Maryland Film Industry Coalition. I also utilized UMBC Career Center to learn how to approach the internship professionally.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I am working in the field with professionals in the industry of commercial and cinematic production and so having the opportunity to learn from them first hand is what I enjoy most. At times I feel as though I should  pinch myself because all the new things I am learning at such a rapid pace seems unreal.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

Keeping a client's project on schedule making sure it doesn't go over and cost them more money than what was projected is a major goal of mine each time I'm on a live set. However, moments that stick out to me the most is when I am thanked by the others on set for doing my job well; it makes all the hard work that I am doing pay off and it is in that moment where I feel as though I've made a true impact and have represented myself as a valuable member of the production.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

This is a dream internship that I feel incredibly thankful to have gotten. With that said,  I attained this internship through a very unique circumstance. It was complete happenstance that the last person to leave the Maryland Film Industry Coalition event was a director with the Renegade Productions department. Moreover, little did I know this person who I struck a random conversation with would help me in attaining an intern position with Renegade. So I suppose my bit of advice to any other student struggling to find their ideal internship, or an internship in general, perhaps taking a step outside of their comfort zone and thinking outside of the box in terms of reaching out to prospective internships will garner the dream internship they are seeking. Put yourself out there, whether it's in person or having a strong social media presence, and I can almost guarantee that your your name will come across someone’s desk along the way.

P.S. Sending a wide expanse of self introduction emails doesn't hurt your chances either!

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Hello everyone,

This is a reminder that the applications for STRiVE Leadership Retreat and Alternative Spring Break close this Sunday, November 6th at midnight! Make sure to get your applications in before the deadline. This is an leadership opportunity you do not want to miss! The descriptions and application links are listed below: 

Alternative Spring Break

A week long service-learning trip that challenges students to combat civic issues underlying larger societal concerns. ASB will leave participants with a sense of comrade, compassion, and empathy for the people of the world.

This year’s trips: Homelessness, Public Health, “Seeing Baltimore,” and Gesundheit.  

Application: https://docs.google.com/a/umbc.edu/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftIs0j3qqd7eNTcNFfARA8InnI-tBBf1ffjjU1S9jvC4DstA/viewform

STRiVE Leadership Retreat

STRiVE participants hone leadership skills, develop campus and social change projects, build community and have a lot fun. STRiVE's many activities will keep you engaged, and you'll emerge feeling confident, inspired and connected. Participants' ratings of the retreat have been off the charts. 100% of former participants say they'd recommend STRiVE to a friend. 

Application: https://studentlifeumbc.wufoo.com/forms/2017-strive-participant-application/

Interviewing & Communication Skills Workshop

TODAY- Thursday, November 3 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Shady Grove, BLDG. III—3230

Learn the secrets to a great interview and communication strategies to effectively market yourself