Learning new techniques. The focus on novel high profile projects.
What I wish was different
I was given a more important role within the lab.
Advice
Do you research well. Talk to people who might have worked in the place your a going to. Even though you agree on doing something before you join a lab, things might be completely different once you join, and you are asked to do very different things, that my not even be relevant for your career path.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
wave fellow
June - August 2021 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
I loved being exposed to a new research topic in an environment where all interns matched my personal and academic goals. It was the first time I was in a community where I genuinely could relate to every single person on a level I did not know could go that deep.
What I wish was different
Advice
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Undergraduate Research Assistant
June - August 2021 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
I enjoyed my research topic.
What I wish was different
I wish I didn't need to do it virtual.
Advice
Take advantage of all the resources and connect with professors
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Undergraduate Researcher
June - August 2019 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
I enjoyed learning many new research techniques and being in an intellectually stimulating environment where I was constantly challenged to solve difficult questions and problems. The writing workshops and graduate school application workshops offered by the school helped me to improve my scientific writings and prepared me for graduate school.
What I wish was different
Advice
1
One person found this helpful
Student
June - August 2018 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
I liked the people in the lab, and the research was really interesting.
What I wish was different
Advice
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Biology Laboratory Assistant
June - August 2019 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
I enjoyed the busy work atmosphere and having something challenging to do during summer. I felt Like I had an opportunity to thrive in a lab environment.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more time to do even more challenging experiments. I would have liked to collect enough data to publish a paper.
Advice
I would advise to brush up on embryology, cell function, and microbiology before hand. It is a very fast paced environment and it is easy to get lost with all the new information.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Researcher
June - August 2018 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
It was very enjoyable - interactive and I felt I learned a lot.
What I wish was different
Some days I did not have as much work to do as others - I wish the work had been more balanced.
Advice
Try and a have a set goal of what you want from the summer
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Summer Research Intern
June - August 2018 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
The independent experience of doing research. Caltech was a great place to make new contacts, we had weekly seminars and workshops held by the current faculty on pursuing graduate schools and how to search and apply for them. A very inclusive environment, with very humble and helpful people.
What I wish was different
Nothing. It was amazing!
Advice
Learn as much as you can, do not slack off just because work load is light, it might get tough in the next few days. Ask questions, do not be shy about asking "silly" questions! Do not hesitate from asking about other people's background and their research, make as many contacts as you can!
2
${count} people found this helpful
Accounting Intern
June - August 2018 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
I acquired significant practical accounting experience in a variety of accounting topics. I also had the opportunity to interact with coworkers of various backgrounds.
What I wish was different
None!
Advice
Get as much as you can out of this internship! Talk to coworkers about their experiences and be openminded and excited to learn as much as possible!
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow
June - August 2018 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
I was exposed to an academic environment as I worked alongside researchers, postdocs, and professors. I think this was a valuable experience as it provides me an opportunity to learn and do projects that were outside my studies and learn how to collaborate and share ideas with a team.
What I wish was different
I wish we had more opportunities to work with interdisciplinary researchers -- such as doing small projects between the social science and computer science team. I was a little confined to my little bubble within the ten weeks as I was working very closely with the astrophysics team.
Advice
This summer experience made me find my love for data science and I am now pursuing projects in the realm of data, social science, and art. I think it is always important to go out of your comfort zone and try something different, that's the only way you can find the little, speciality thing that you'd later fall in love with.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Research Asisstant
June - September 2018 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
Research experience
What I wish was different
Advice
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Research Assistant
June - August 2018 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
Pasadena is a beautiful town. My advisors and coworkers are really friendly and supportive. I have the opportunity to try out machine learning and gravitational-wave research at LIGO, the biggest gravitational-wave facility in the world. I feel I had a balance between working and exploring Pasadena and Southern California.
What I wish was different
I wish I'd worked outside of the office and off-campus more.
Advice
Step out of your comfort zone and try out everything. You will find the most amazing things in the most unexpected place.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
WAVE Fellow
June - August 2018 • Pasadena, CA
What I liked
I really like the sense of community and the many opportunities provided by the program.
What I wish was different
I wish there had been more regulation or set expectations about how the intern was to work over the summer.
Advice
Take advantage of all the outside opportunities offered, that way even if your individual work placement is not that fulfilling you get to learn a lot in other ways.
