Name: Emily Schultheis

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Position Title: Researcher

Major(s)/Minor(s): Chemical Engineering

Expected Graduation Year: May 2016

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

The best part of this experience has been learning how to use a plethora of equipment around the UMBC campus. Initially, I was introduced to an acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF) set-up. Troubleshooting this apparatus required me to become familiar with optical table equipment, light filters, and signal generators. I also interacted with a local company in Hunt Valley, called Brimrose, that manufactures AOTF devices. Eventually, I visited their headquarters in person during which I became acquainted with the CEO and toured the facility. I then spent several weeks performing typical chemistry tasks; these included the safe handling of caustic and/or carcinogenic chemicals, use of high-heat furnaces, centrifuging, and various ways of grinding things into fine powders.

I learned how to perform physical vapor transport (PVT), a mechanism by which I placed heavy metals into an extreme vacuum until they sublimated. The pressure in the chamber was raised again, so that the material deposited in a film on the substrate. I was excited to discover that I could apply my chemical engineering theory to this apparatus. Immediately upon learning about the process, I pulled out my Fluid Dynamics and Heat & Mass Transport textbooks in order to reduce the Navier Stokes equation and reference mass transport theory. This derivation resulted in the Poiseuille equation, which we had learned only briefly in class in a previous semester. It was incredibly satisfying to realize that all the hard work we've invested into learning abstract concepts in class is actually worth learning. Those abstract concepts become shockingly practical in the face of research.

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

While taking the required physical chemistry lab, CHEM 311L, one of my TAs gave me my mentor's contact information and told me that my mentor was looking for an undergraduate intern. My TA recommended that I might be a good fit, and I'm glad it's worked out so well thus far. I had not heard of my mentor before this, but was pleasantly surprised to find that his research specialized in material science: particularly crystal growth, which seemed intriguing.

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

There was one instance during which my lab-mates and I transported a scanning electron microscope (SEM) into its new home in the TRC. This piece of equipment appeared to weigh several hundred pounds. Moreover, due to the absence of a permanent ramp anywhere on the exterior of the TRC, we soon realized that it needed to be lifted up several small flights of stairs, all at right angles to one another. Several of these stairs were loose and the severity of the sun was no help either. However, we employed our collective knowledge of mechanical engineering to fashion a makeshift ramp out of plywood (which broke during the process), and were successful in transporting this surprisingly dense and precariously connected piece of equipment inside the TRC laboratory. After this experience, my lab mates and I developed a renewed sense of cohesion that only hard physical effort and free Subway sandwiches could have catalyzed.

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

I hope that my research will contribute to my mentor finding a lead-selenide based material that will be used in high operating temperature (HOT) infrared detectors for mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensors. These would have potential military applications. This advancement would reduce the need for cryogenic cooling, presently required in mercury-cadmium-telluride based systems. Eliminating cryogenic cooling would reduce expenses. Furthermore, lead-selenide materials would be much easier to grow.

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

Whenever there is a dull moment, it is always a good idea to observe peers' projects and see if you can help them. In moments that I could have otherwise spent wasting time, I tried to talk to other people in the lab about their research. On occasion, they invited me to assist in their various experiments. Through active networking with my peers, I learned how to perform chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which can be used to make diamonds (though not in our lab at the moment). I also learned about the Bridgeman Method, used to synthesize crystals. Finally, I learned about a brain-manipulation device that uses induction to adjust neuron firing.

The quality of internship experiences is primarily dependent on what you choose to do with your free time. There will always be lulls in work, but choosing to use these lulls to find more work is always the most satisfying. If this free time is wasted, it's easy to get trapped in a cycle of never having enough to do. Having free time seems nice, until it becomes a habit. Then, it merely results in boredom and a nagging sense that there are better uses of your time. If you don't actively seek out tasks, then it's likely you won't get the opportunity to learn anything new. Thus, when you're on the clock, it's most important that you always continue doing something - even if this something is a task as humble as scrubbing dishware, transporting gas tanks, asking a professor/graduate student in a different department for a tour of their labs, or chatting with a colleague in the hall about the current status of their research with the intent to give them a hand. Internships are always what you make of them.

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Name: Marissa Colella

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: The Coordinating Center

Position Title: Communications Specialist

Major(s)/Minor(s): Media and Communication Studies

Expected Graduation Year: Fall 2016

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

The Coordinating Center is a nonprofit organization that works with people of all ages and abilities and those who support them to promote health, happiness, and meaningful community life. As a Communications Intern, I maintain and routinely update the organization's intranet site, write and maintain content for internal communication materials, conduct research when necessary, and craft various informational and promotional videos for both internal and external use. A typical day consists of checking the site for relevant updates, adding or removing online content as necessary, and working on the video projects at hand. Specific tasks and materials vary, so no two days are exactly the same!

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

The first thing I had to do to get ready was meet with someone from the Career Center. I had a resume to show, but it definitely needed to be updated and re-worked! Once my resume was suitable for the job search, I attended a few workshops and fairs on campus to gain experience and exposure. The workshop that I attended offered tips and tricks to use when networking, and the internship fair gave me a good sense of what was available and interesting to me. The fair was not only a chance to meet recruiters, but an opportunity to experience and get comfortable with introductions and interviews!

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

Working at The Coordinating Center has been a great experience, and one that I am thankful to be continuing. The Coordinating Center operates under an outstanding mission and everyone there is so compassionate and dedicated. I really enjoy the environment and the morale at the office. It’s been wonderful--I’m quite lucky!

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

Particularly with fundraising videos, my task is to help raise awareness of The Center's work so that clients of the organization may benefit from furthered donations. Money raised helps families and individuals with complex medical needs receive equipment and services necessary for their health and quality of life, so it’s great that I can work with The Coordinating Center in their mission to make a difference.

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

My advice would be to start the search early and keep on top of it to the best of your ability. If you find that you're interested in something but need more information or have specific questions, don't be afraid to send an introductory e-mail to the organization's HR department. Once you’ve landed an interview appointment, be sure to collect as much organizational knowledge as possible so that you’re ready to impress!

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Name: Chris-Anne Correa

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Mindgrub Technologies

Position Title: Associate User Experience Designer/Information Architect

Major(s)/Minor(s): Human Centered Computing Master's

Expected Graduation Year: May 2016

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

This summer I will be completing two years of interning with Mindgrub Technologies as a User Experience Designer/Information Architect. During the course of this internship, I have worked with clients on a variety of projects which has given me the opportunity to wireframe for websites, iPad, mobile and even smart watch applications. My responsibilities include:

• Sketching with my teammates as well as independently

• Deep dive brainstorming sessions with my teammates

• Research on the product, users, and competitors

• Creation of sitemaps and functional requirements

• Determination of Level of Effort (LOE) for the project

• Wireframing the product in iterations (typically 3 iterations which are then presented to clients)

• Internal presentation of my work to the team

• Ping Pong tournaments (Mindgrub loves Ping Pong)

To sum it up, I work with clients to define the problem, conduct research on the user’s needs and create a vision of the product.

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

In the first semester of my Masters program in Human Centered Computing, I heard about Mindgrub through one of my class project mentors - Cassie Thompson from Student Support Services. I researched the company and found the type of work they do very appealing. I also liked their work environment and noticed that they had a User Experience team. I was excited about the prospect of working with them, so I sent them an email inquiring if they would consider hiring me as an intern on their User Experience Team. Human Resources at Mindgrub responded saying that they are always looking for interns and that they would get back to me about any potential opportunities that may arise. A few weeks later they emailed me saying that they now have an internship available on the User Experience Team and were interviewing candidates. I interviewed with them towards the end of my first semester as a grad student and started working with them during the summer of 2014.

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

I have enjoyed the company’s fun and enthusiastic work environment the most - many ping pong tournaments, monthly meetings with catered lunches, and plenty of team building outings. My favorite part is that interns are given hands on work with clients which has given me the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects. This has enabled me to develop the skills and experience I need early on in my career.

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

One of my favorite mobile application projects that I worked on was a social project that helped prevent newly released prisoners from recidivism. I was able to design an experience that best suited their needs and helped connect them with resources like jobs, health care, food, and housing in their neighborhood. It made me happy knowing that my work was going to make a social impact by helping the users of this application to get back on their feet.

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

My advice is that it is very important to gain experience in your field while in school. It helps you define your career path and gives you a sense of direction. If you like your internship experience, it helps you understand what you want to do after you graduate. On the other hand, if you dislike your internship experience, it helps you narrow down your career choices. I feel both outcomes are a win-win situation and any experience you gain whether good or bad, you learn something from it. If you come across a company or an organization that you would like to work with and you don’t see any open intern positions, don’t hesitate to contact them expressing your interest. That’s what landed me my internship.

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