Name: Mustafa Akpinar
Pronouns: He/Him
Semester of Internship: Summer 2025
Major: Information Systems
Current Class Level: Senior
This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship
Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): AstraZeneca
Location of the Organization (City, State): Gaithersburg, Maryland
Title of position: Cyber Threat Intelligence Intern
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:
This summer, I am interning at AstraZeneca as a Cyber Threat Intelligence Intern, where I support the global security team in identifying and analyzing cyber threats. My day-to-day responsibilities include creating reports on Advanced Persistent Threats (APT), third-party assessments (3PA), and vulnerabilities. I use tools like Confluence and Jira to document findings, track progress, and contribute to team workflows. In addition to technical work, I regularly respond to emails, attend team meetings, and participate in collaborative discussions with security professionals. Beyond the technical experience, AstraZeneca offers engaging intern events such as rooftop socials, site visits, and even a team outing to a baseball game, which have helped me build connections across the company!
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I discovered the internship on LinkedIn and applied cold in November 2024. The process moved slowly, and although I initially received a rejection, I was later thrilled to learn the position had reopened—and I was offered the role in March 2025! The interview process consisted of one Zoom meeting with my department manager, where she asked questions about my resume and my experience with tools listed in the job description. I officially began the internship at the end of May and will continue through the end of August. It’s been an exciting journey, especially with the unexpected turn of events that led to this incredible opportunity!
What resources did you use to find your current experience?
LinkedIn or other social media
What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
What I’ve enjoyed most about my internship at AstraZeneca is the balance between technical growth and community engagement. Not only have I been able to develop my skills in cyber threat intelligence and work on real-world reports that contribute to the organization’s security posture, but I’ve also been part of an incredibly welcoming and supportive team. The intern programming—from rooftop socials to site visits—made the experience even more memorable and helped me feel like a true part of the company.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
Through my reports on APTs, third-party risks, and vulnerabilities, I’ve helped inform decision-makers and enhance AstraZeneca’s ability to stay ahead of potential threats. By organizing detailed and timely information, I’ve contributed to risk awareness and mitigation efforts across the security team. My work has supported real action—and knowing that my efforts help protect a global healthcare organization makes the experience incredibly meaningful.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Don’t be afraid to cold apply and keep putting yourself out there, even if you face rejection. Rejections are not the end—they’re often redirections. Make sure your resume is clear and tailored to the role, and be ready to speak confidently about your experiences and the tools you know. Also, don’t underestimate the value of persistence. My internship offer came after I had already been rejected, which proves you never know when the door might open again.
Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
“What I liked most about my position was being trusted to work on real cybersecurity challenges that matter. The Career Center’s resume guidance and internship tips helped me feel prepared when opportunities finally came my way.”
]]>Shakira Davidson, executive administrative assistant I, Vice President for Student Affairs Office, and Amanda Turner, administrative assistant II, Student Conduct and Community Standards, were selected to the fall 2025 Building Bridges Across Maryland Program.
The Building Bridges Across Maryland Program for administrative support staff fosters professional/leadership development, collaboration, and idea sharing between select employees at McDaniel College, Loyola University of Maryland, Goucher College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Towson University, the University of Baltimore, the University of Maryland Baltimore and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Up to five individuals from each university are nominated by vice presidents, vice provosts, and deans to participate each fall.
The program includes a cohort of individuals from each institution and includes a combination of in-person and virtual sessions. Topics include Discovering Your Strengths, Living the Productive Life, Gaining the Skills that Lead to Success, Networking, Becoming a Champion of Inclusion, Career Planning, and Self-Care.
Program graduates are sometimes invited back to continue their professional development, reconnect, and meet members of other cohorts. Building Bridges Across Maryland alumni who are interested in reconnecting with the group or meeting new cohort members, can email Amy Levine, training and professional development coordinator at Towson University.
September 22, 2025 | 12-1pm | AOK Library, Room 259 or Webex
What are some of the best strategies and tips for writing a literature review? Whether you are just starting out with your research or have been involved in your project for a while, this workshop is for you.
Note: This workshop is being offered in a hyflex modality, so feel free to join either in person in Library 259, or online via WebEx.
Use our guide to reflect on each of the works from this section.
Co-evolution of humans and disease, human intervention and unintended consequences, inequitable burden of disease
Reflection Questions:
How did learning about the history of malaria change your perspective on the disease and its impact on human civilization?
Sonia Shah argues that our relationship with malaria has been one of constant adaptation, rather than eradication. Do you agree with this premise, and what are the implications for how we approach global health crises today?
Discuss the ethical and social dilemmas presented by historical and contemporary malaria interventions, such as the use of DDT and the Gates Foundation's efforts.
Social and political context of disease, disease and mortality as a catalyst, emotional, mental, and physical manifestations of infirmity
Reflection Questions:
Gabriel García Márquez uses the cholera epidemic as a backdrop for the story, but it also functions as a metaphor. What do you think the cholera represents in the novel, and how does it relate to the themes of love, aging, and memory?
How does the book's portrayal of illness and public health compare to the scientific realities you learned about in The Fever? What do these differences say about the role of fiction versus nonfiction in understanding disease?
Fermina Daza and Florentino Ariza's love story is a long, complicated one. How does the social and historical context of the cholera epidemic influence their relationship and the decisions they make?
Danger of misinformation and stigma, community and social responsibility, heroism of ordinary people during times of crisis
Reflection Questions:
The film focuses on the human element of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, India. How does the movie's approach to storytelling, which highlights the personal sacrifices of healthcare workers and community members, differ from a more scientific or historical account of an epidemic?
The film portrays the challenges of a public health crisis in a developing country, including misinformation and social panic. How are these themes evident in the world we live in today?
The film is based on a real-life event. How does knowing this impact your experience of watching the movie, and what does it say about the importance of accurate, yet emotionally compelling, portrayals of public health events?
All three works explore how humans cope with infectious disease. What are the key differences in their perspectives? For example, how does a work of nonfiction, a fictional novel, and a docudrama each shape our understanding of a pandemic?
Consider the role of fear and hope in each work. How is the public's response to an epidemic portrayed in each, and what factors (scientific knowledge, political action, or human connection) seem to be the most powerful in overcoming it?
From the lens of these three works, what does it mean to be a hero in the context of an epidemic? Are the heroes the same in each work, or do their actions and motivations differ?
The Economic Studies Program at the Brookings Institution is conducting our fall Research Assistant recruitment, for positions starting in summer 2026. We are recruiting for ten research assistants for one- or two-year appointments, preferably beginning between June 1 and August 1, 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates!
Read more here: https://www.brookings.edu/join-the-top-ranked-think-tank-for-domestic-economic-policy/
Apply here: https://careers-brookings.icims.com/jobs/3711/research-assistant-%28job-id%3a-2025-3711%29/job
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree by summer 2026 in Economics, Mathematics/Statistics, Public Policy, or other Social Sciences with a minor in Economics and will need to submit a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation, and an unofficial transcript. The application deadline is October 15, 2025.
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