Name:James Rogers
Internship, Co-op or Research Site:SilcsBio, LLC
Position Title: Software Development Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s):Mathematics Major, Computer Science Minor
Work Term:Summer 2017
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
The end goal of my work is to contribute to software that is used in molecular modelling. My primary project is to code a couple files that will eventually integrate into existing software and expand the range of models that it can support. On a more day-to-day level this means examining and testing the existing code base to determine what is expected, then matching that with my code. In addition the experience includes an introduction to startup culture; sitting in on strategical meetings, learning about the usefulness of startup incubators, and other similar soft lessons.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I found the position while searching for summer internships on UMBCWorks. I had already gotten my resume reviewed by the career center, so when I saw this position listed I was able to apply almost immediately.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
I love getting to see how so many different concepts and skills from my classes play a role in designing even small pieces of industry projects! Everything from the most in-depth lecture on pointers to a side note on the homework about Linux is proving relevant here, and it's exciting to see the synthesis of it all.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I believe I made an impact through bringing in a more basic understanding of programming; since most of my classes are still fresh in my mind, it's easier for me to see the technical details in the code and how it interfaces. I'm able to pick apart to small bugs and edge cases that may be harder to spot when looking at it from the perspective of the entire software package.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
When in doubt, submit an application. You never know how many applications you'll have to go through before finally landing a position, and you never know whether you'll like the job or not unless you get it, so why not try?
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