Name:Noel Getachew

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: HHMI Dr. Summer’s Lab

Position Title: Researcher

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

Work Term:Summer 2017

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

I work in a structural biology lab that studies HIV. I work under my PI Dr. Michael Summers and my grad student, Christy Gaines. My group focuses on tRNA and Matrix (a domain of an important HIV protein) interactions. I often work with trying to purify proteins and isolating certain tRNAs so that they can be used for experiments. Synthesizing these molecules take many days

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I have many friends who are in Dr. Summers lab and they spoke highly of their experience working here. After hearing about how much they enjoyed Summers lab, I eagerly applied to be a researcher there. I was interviewed by Dr. Summers and even though his lab was pretty much full for the summer, he was kind enough to offer me a spot.

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

I love feeling like I am part of a machine that works towards understanding and curing HIV. As I work more in the lab I begin to realize that I really am on the "front lines" of HIV research and knowing that makes me feel honor to work in research. I also love working with my peers in my lab. Some of my closest friends are my co-workers in Dr. Summers lab and they have been a great support both in and out of lab.

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

I have helped my group characterize tRNA-matrix interactions. Understanding this complex is a step towards us figuring out the structure of this interaction which will provide information for drug companies. Once drug companies obtain this information they can potentially design some sort of molecule to structurally prevent the interaction or come up with some other treatment method.

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

Don't get worried if things don't go right the first time! HIV research is complicated and errors are be expected but even from mistakes knowledge is gained so just keep persevering! I remember during the summer I struggled for a period of time with getting a certain experiment to go right. At the time I felt sad because I was not able to help my group progress through our project and guilty because I was holding the group back. But thanks to my perseverance at the experiment and the continuous positive support of my group, I was able to succeed and get the data we need and that achievement was worth the struggle to get there.

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What does it mean to dress professionally? How about business casual? What’s the difference? Why is this so difficult??? If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re certainly not alone. One of the most difficult things about transitioning into the professional world is figuring out how to dress like a professional. I’m still figuring out the best way “professional dress” works for me, and even though there are some basic rules, your professional style can be just as unique as your personal style! If you want to help out your fellow students with their business attire, be sure to donate your professional clothes for the UMBC Suits You: Professional Clothing Drive with multiple donation stations set up across campus until March 8th. And as always, please feel free to comment any opinions or ideas you may have.

I’d like to preface these tips by saying that the standard rules for business attire are pretty set in traditional gender roles, so even though I’m giving you the basics, you should be able to express yourself through your attire in a way that makes you feel comfortable and confident!

Shoes: your shoes should be closed-toed, and the heel should not be very high - the last thing you want is to stumble and fall on your way into the interview. Flashy colors or sparkle aren’t recommended, because you don’t want the employer staring at your feet the whole time!

Bottoms: The biggest thing here is simply don’t wear jeans. A lot of “dress pants” come in a huge variety of styles, so as long as they fit properly and match with the rest of your outfit, you’re probably fine. Your bottoms should be full length, and definitely shouldn’t be shorter than capri length. Generally, if you are wearing dress pants, you should also be wearing a belt. Skirts and dresses should hit around the knee (even better if they have pockets!)

Tops: There’s a lot of flexibility here. Recommendations would be to have a collared shirt with buttons, a nice blouse, and a blazer if you’re really feeling it. Doing some research about the company can also go a long way, because some companies have stricter dress codes than others.

Accessories: This is another area where I really don’t want to discourage your personal style, so all I can say is don’t make it distracting. If you want to wear a spiffy bowtie or a statement necklace, go for it! But first, get in the mind of the employer: could this be distracting? Will they be blinded by the glint of your jewelry instead of listening to what you have to stay? This is important to consider.

DISCLAIMER: You should not feel the need to censor your attire in a way that masks your religious affiliation or national origin, and discrimination based on creed, religion, or nationality is against the law. For more information, read UMBC’s Statement on Non-Discrimination.

The main takeaway here is that business attire doesn’t have to be that restricting. There is a certain level of modesty that is expected, but you should still be able to show off your personality. If you still have questions, you should attend the Adjust Your Mirror: Dress to Impress Workshop on March 26th in Commons 331. These tips are simply guidelines to follow, because the way you dress should not be the thing between you and your dream job.

Name:Luke Kessler

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: W.R. Grace

Position Title: R&D Engineering Intern

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

Work Term:Summer 2017

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

I performed rheological testing and data analysis on a wide variety of polypropylene products that are produced through Grace's UNIPOL PP process. The equipment I operated on a daily basis included a rheometer, differential scanning calorimeter, and industrial compression molding machine. I constructed a database in Microsoft Sharepoint to house all of my results and analysis. This database is now accessible to Grace and its clients who need the data to design the extruder-pelletizing units used in their production process.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I applied for an on-campus interview through UMBCworks and met with the career center to fine tune my resume. Then a human resources representative at Grace reached out to me about two weeks later to arrange a phone interview with the hiring manager.

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

Experiencing science outside the classroom was an exciting and valuable experience.  I am the kind of person who understands a concept better when there is a direct application of it sitting in front of me. This experience was full of hands on learning. Additionally, all of the employees I interacted with loved talking about what they did and always encouraged me to ask them questions about their work or my own.  

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

I performed work for Grace that they said was high on their priority list due to recent increases in the capabilities of their technology. Engineers at Grace are currently using the rheological database I constructed to help Grace’s licensees get the best possible performance out of their plant equipment.  I also made an impact on myself by building my soft skills in the workplace.  At the conclusion of my internship I had to present my work in front of the CEO and all of the managers.  Preparing for that really helped me refine my presentation skills.

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

Start applying in September and don’t give up! I applied to over 30 positions until I got a call back offering me the job. Do anything the gain experience, whether its TAing, working in a professors lab, or some form of unpaid shadowing. These experiences can help you grow your network and potentially lead to things like internships.  

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!