Name:Richard DeShay Elliot
Internship, Co-op or Research Site:University of California-Irvine
Position Title: Research Fellow
Major(s)/Minor(s):American Studies
Work Term: Summer 2017
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
During the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, I expanded research on Republican speeches that I originally started at UMBC. I worked with Dr. Simone Chambers of the Political Science department at UCI and I thought she would be a good research mentor because our research is very similar. I also studied for the GRE.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I found out about this position when Daniel Fabrega, the Manager of Graduate Preparation and Recruitment, visited UMBC last year. I submitted my application in the beginning of the spring semester and was accepted near the end of the spring semester.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
I enjoyed the attitude of the UCI staff towards myself and the other researchers. They understand our skills and want to let us work at our own pace, and that's quite refreshing. I was also able to work with several professors who were quite insightful in the field of Political Science.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I continued my work in showcasing how Republican rhetoric by presidential nominees has shifted in the wake of the Tea Party's birth and the rise of Donald Trump. I hope to focus on political rhetoric as a field of study, particularly as America goes through the current political phase.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
I would highly recommend it! UCI is similar to UMBC in things like diversity, research opportunities, and age of the campus, but UCI has great weather and niceties such as the only Social Ecology department at any American university. Research is a great opportunity to delve into deep parts of your field that you might not know you were even interested in.
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