Name: Olaedo Onukwubiri
Internship, Co-op, or Research Site: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Position Title: Research Lab Assistant
Major or Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Pre-Pharmacy)
Current Class Level: Freshman
Work Term: Spring 2022
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
I am currently in charge of assisting postdoctoral fellows with various lab procedures such as immunohistochemistry, brain slicing, and performing routine handling and behavioral training of mice on a broad range of reward-related tasks
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
Ever since I got onto the UMBC campus, I knew I wanted to start research early and gather some experience in my major, so I began applying to every volunteer/research opportunity that came my way. Anything that had to deal with working in a lab, you always saw me there! It is hard to do this with no experience since I am a freshman, but through a lot of unsuccessful attempts, I finally got an interview and the rest is history. I was able to obtain my internship through UMBCworks and it was mainly due to my published resume and cover letter meetings with Ms. Susan Hindle.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
Witnessing how research is executed in a lab and getting the chance to learn a new set of skills that are not particularly taught at my level. I also find it interesting to collaborate with others in terms of handling mice and performing other tasks, but I am also given independent work, which creates a sense of trust between my supervisor and me.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
It's a bit too early to say I have made an impact, given I just started in January. I can say that this internship has changed my mindset in which I have always been someone who is afraid of criticism, but this lab has taught me it's okay to make mistakes and it's okay to ask for help when needed because that is truly how you learn and become more successful in any of your endeavors.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
It truly depends on your goals, but I would say start making a vision board/plan early. If I didn't search for this opportunity, I would have never gained much experience at such a young level. Also, try to keep yourself busy, you should always be thinking of the next best thing even though it might seem so hard to achieve!
Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
My supervisor told me one of the reasons she hired me was because of that determination in me and my plan for my future. With this being said, sometimes skills do not matter, sometimes all it takes is that one person willing to help you out and see you grow.
Check out this post on our social media platforms!
Like the Career Center on Facebook
#UMBCintern
Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Monday!