Name:Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman
Internship, Co-op or Research Site:Summer Research Initiative (SRI) at the University of Maryland, College Park
Position Title:Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Department of Economics
Major(s)/Minor(s):Mathematics and Economics
Work Term:Summer 2017
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
I worked on an independent project under the supervision of Dr. Judith Hellerstein and Sai Luo in the Department of Economics at the University of Maryland, College Park's School of Behavioral and Social Sciences. My project focused on labor force non-participation rates among prime-age men (ages 25-44) in the United States. On a daily basis, I used the statistical software, STATA, to clean up the raw data from non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, and Hispanics. I eventually conducted statistical tests on the overall declining trend in labor force participation rate (LFPR) and the racial/ethnic gaps in that exist in LFPR. Other components of the program included attending graduate school preparation workshops and meeting with leaders in the field.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I found out about this position through Dr. Tim Gindling of the Department of Economics and a friend, Brandon Enriquez. Dr. Gindling informed me of Dr. Jessica Goldberg, a development economics professor at the University of Maryland-College Park. She and I spoke over the phone for short time about her research. Eventually, she passed me to her colleague, Dr. Hellerstein, because she didn’t have work for me to do. Brandon also informed me to apply to research positions through the Big 10 Network. Both situations worked together for my good, and I obtained the position right before Spring Break. Before I submitted my application, I reached out to my go-to Career Center advisor, Ms. Susan Hindle. She is a reliable resource and assisted me in countless drafts of my essays and resumes.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
Perhaps what I enjoyed most about my position was the research, mentoring, and networking. Before this summer, I had not taken a statistics course in over five years and I was unaware of how to code in STATA. I appreciated learning about the statistical software and was excited to eventually use the software to answer the questions I had about the data. Secondly, I had a fantastic mentor: Dr. Judith Hellerstein. Her and I met on a weekly to bi-weekly basis to discuss my progress on the project and career goals. She and I still talk regularly to this day, and I can say that she has fundamentally changed the course of my career. Lastly, I loved how the SRI program required us to go out of our comfort zone and reach out to leaders in the field. At first it was daunting, many of these folks are in high positions at important organizations. However, I am glad I participated in this aspect of program. I was able to visit the World Bank for the first time and speak with an economist that worked closely with President Obama during the financial crisis.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
The steady decline in LFPR for all prime-age males is concerning since we expect these men to be working and contributing to society in a productive way. Understanding why American prime-age men are leaving the labor force helps us better understand the flaws that exist in our current labor market. For example, the United States does not have many programs that help people find jobs or improve their skills. Sometimes when we hear that the unemployment rate is low, we associate that with job growth or economic stability. However, the labor force participation rate (LFPR) is a much more telling statistic that shows us who is actively looking for work or who is employed. In regards to the racial gap in LFPR, I found that educational attainment contributes to some of the gap between Blacks and Whites. This finding could be used by policymakers to advocate for educational initiatives for black males who have obtained a high school degree or less.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
My advice is to not be afraid to call someone and strike up a conversation. I doubt that I would have been accepted if I had not spoken with Dr. Goldberg. Our conversation was 12 minutes, but it launched into an 8-week internship (of course, I had to be qualified too!). I believe that the power of networking can change your circumstances. I also advise that when you obtain an internship, do the best that you can and do not be afraid to ask questions. How you perform in the internship can open doors for you in the future and take you to the next level professionally.
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