Name:Vincent Brown

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Towson University

Position Title: Research Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s):Biology

Work Term:Summer 2018

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

I am conducting research at Towson University in the Devadas Lab. My research consists of synthesizing and characterizing gold nano-clusters which can be used for energy responsive applications such as light harvesting and theranostic applications with specific aims: (i) to enhance light collection efficiency using quantum sized clusters, (ii) to develop better labelling agents with enhanced two-photon cross-sections, and (iii) to generate efficient nano-vehicles for targeted drug delivery. My day-to-day responsibilities include synthesizing the gold nano-clusters, and purifying the products before characterizing them with UV-VIS Spectroscopy.

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

I was able to obtain this research position because my brother attends Towson University and has been apart of the research group since the spring semester. He was the one who told me about the opportunity to work in the lab for the summer and told his research mentor about me. I then scheduled a meeting with Dr. Devadas and she allowed me to join her lab for the summer.

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

What I have enjoyed most about my position is the fact that I am learning something new everyday. I am a biology major working in an inorganic chemistry lab so I didn't understand a lot of the things I had to do in the beginning. However, after performing my day-to-day responsibilities and reading research articles, I have gained a strong understanding of the reasoning behind my research. It has been very enjoyable to go through this process and I look forward to continuing to learn throughout the summer.

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

I believe that I have brought in my hardworking character and my love for learning to my research lab. I hope that my biggest impact I make through my work is that I accomplish all the tasks I have been assigned for the summer and fulfill what has been asked of me to the best of my ability.

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

Don't be afraid to ask for internship or research opportunities! The easiest way to get involved is to simply ask a professor or faculty member if they are looking for an intern.

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Name:Jordyn McKenzie

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: myTV Baltimore

Position Title: Production/Promotion Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s):Media and Communications / Minor: Creative Writing

Work Term:Winter 2018

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

I worked for BMORE Lifestyle which is a show with myTV Baltimore, a sub-station of FOX45. Everyday I went in and checked my email before doing anything else so that I could stay up to date with the shoots, guests, and if I was going to shadow someone in a different department. Then I would head down to the studio a little while later with the rest of the Lifestyle team and help prepare the guests for their segment. During filming of the show, I would usually run the teleprompter which is the screen that has the on-air talents script. We would do this for about two hours a day until heading back upstairs for the post-show discussion. During this time, we discussed what we thought of the guests, any issues that arose, and also planned out new segment ideas for the following weeks. After this, I would normally spend the rest of the day at my desk reaching out to potential guests, working on writing my original promo that would eventually go on-air multiple times on WBFF’s station, or I would help the production crew with special tapings of events the station was hosting.

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

I met with a recruiter for FOX45 during the Fall 2018 Career Fair and remained in contact with him for a few weeks until the station’s internship positions were posted. From there, I applied online and then told my contact that I submitted all the necessary materials for the position and he forwarded my information to the hiring manager. About a week later, I received a call from my soon-to-be supervisor and set up an interview. We had the interview and not long after I was contacted again and told that they wanted to offer me the position.

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

Honestly, the people that I was able to work with every day were probably the best part of the internship. Of course, I was able to learn so much about the industry and I am so grateful for the opportunities I had, but I think your experience has a lot to do with the people you interact with and learn from every day. The on-air talent, producers, and production crew were incredibly welcoming and ensured that I felt like a valuable asset to their team from the beginning. I can definitely say that I made some great connections which added nothing but eagerness and excitement for my position.

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

Throughout the few months I worked with BMORE Lifestyle, I was able to pitch multiple segment ideas to the producers and talent, and was able to bring in new guests the show had never worked with before. I was also able to create an original promo for one of the station’s shows that actually aired several times. With all of this, I believe I was able to help the show establish new contacts for potentially segment ideas down the road, and also help promote an existing show for FOX.

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

I would advise to start feeling comfortable with the uncomfortable. Starting out at UMBC, my major was on the opposite spectrum of MCS and I had career goals nowhere near what they are today. I was lucky enough to discover a passion for television and entertainment early enough to change my path during my undergrad career and have been able to obtain various experiences relating to that. However, it wasn’t easy getting to where I am now, but I’ve learned that it’s okay to not have everything planned out. It’s okay to change what you thought you wanted to do, and it’s okay to explore opportunities that are outside your field of study. Also, definitely utilize the Career Center and their events because you can absolutely find invaluable experiences like the one I had with BMORE Lifestyle. The staff at the Career Center are more than willing to help you whether it’s reviewing your resume, finding an internship, or helping with the transition post grad.

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Name:Kene Modilim

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Cummins Inc.

Position Title:Supplier Quality & Improvement Engineer

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

Work Term:Fall 2018

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

From a top level view, I support the components business strategy, evaluating supplier product quality & capability via production part approval processes (PPAP) and advanced product quality planning.

As part of the job description, part designs/process redesigns are reviewed to ensure conformance to specifications and ensure process capabilities for a reduced chance of product defects. I review plant manufacturing non-conformances via a manufacturing review board (MRB) while driving suppliers (using data analytics) to enact improvements and controls to processes, ensuring that business targets such as defects per million (dpmo), OEE, throughput etc. are reduced and/ optimized. In my spare time, I provide facility tours, educating middle school NSBE students on our operations as part of the NSBE initiative.

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

NSBE Conference 2018. I joined the UMBC chapter of the organization for the conference in Pittsburg, PA. I had an interview with the company at the conference and was extended an offer a couple months after.

The process lead time between the first interview and offer extension was roughly  4 months as I had other obligations via a co-op with Johnson & Johnson. Constant communication with my recruiter was pivotal during this time.

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

I enjoyed the culture, relationships, cross functionality and flexibility while at Cummins. I supported unique roles which affected process and product quality and worked on developing KPIs to evaluate improvements.

In terms of culture, it was great, a good mix of work and fun. Outside my base business, I engaged in the EEEC (every employee every community) initiative for communities in Charleston, SC as an outreach program.

More importantly, I got offered a full time role so I guess I really enjoyed it.

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

I worked on several projects geared at cost reduction, supply chain improvement and defect reduction. These projects were in line with our strategy for 2018 and adopted the six sigma approach to quality, minimizing process variation and improved line uptime. I also developed good relationships with functional leaders and plant leadership.

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

Be aggressive in applications to organizations of interest. Begin with the end in mind. Understand your role of interest via research and work on learning the skills required for that role. Perhaps you are interested in a Data science role, it would behoove you  to have a good grasp of DS and ML tools. In addition, apply to as many positions and tailor your resume to each position you applied for.

Lastly, follow up with people especially after discussions. This helps keep you in the conversation.

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Name:Ghazal Becker

Internship, Co-op or Research Site:Summers Lab, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Position Title: Research Assistant

Major(s)/Minor(s):Biological Sciences Major, Chemistry and Psychology Minors and Honors Certificate

Work Term:Spring 2018-Present

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

I joined Dr. Summers lab in January 2018, right after I finished my first semester as a transfer student at UMBC. At Dr. Summers lab, each graduate student and postdoc has their own group. When I first joined the lab, I was able to shadow different groups and ended up being part of Dr. Joshua Brown’s group. Being a part of this group, allowed me to learn to become independent, work on a project on my own and train other students. This research opportunity has allowed me to improve my public speaking, critical thinking, communication and time management skills. Since I joined the lab, I have been able to present my research poster 4 times including at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). Joining Dr. Summers lab has allowed me to learn and develop many laboratory skills such as Pipetting Techniques, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Trial Transcription, Large Scale Transcription Reaction, Gel Agarose Electrophoresis, and Bacterial Transformation. My day to day responsibilities in my group includes preparing samples, performing gel studies, planning my every day in advance and writing and reflecting on what I do daily.

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

I transferred to UMBC from Howard Community College (HCC) fall of 2017. As a pre-med transfer junior student, I did not know much about research opportunities on campus but I knew I wanted to do research and I saw a lot of UMBC students being involved in research. I asked around and learned that I should just email different professors in Biology and Chemistry departments and ask to see if they have any research opportunities available for undergraduate students. I specifically learned about Dr. Summers lab through a teacher assistant from one of my classes. I emailed my resume to Dr. Summers, specified my interest and asked if I could join his lab. I received an email couple weeks after I applied, had an interview, and was able to start working in the lab right after the fall semester ended, in the beginning of January 2018.

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

I have enjoyed learning, collaborating and sharing ideas in my group, being assigned my own project, and being able to train other students the most about my position. I also enjoyed traveling to go to a conference, presenting my research at a national level and learning about what other students all over the Unites States are performing research on. What I enjoy the most about the lab that I work in is the fact that it is a very supportive and friendly environment and that we have fun activities such as going on annual ski trip or a picnic or eating at a restaurant together.

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

Working hard toward a certain goal and trying to test if a hypothesis is correct or not helps me to believe that I have made an impact. Structural studies that are performed in our lab are done to solve a specific structure and function of 5´ leader of HIV-1 RNA genome. Once a structure is determined more specifically, better therapeutics could be find to help individuals infected with HIV. Aiming and working hard to study a certain part of the  5´ leader of HIV-1 RNA genome help me to believe that I have made an impact.

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

My advice would be to ask around, be persistent, email different professors and send them your resumes that highlight your strengths. Also, do not give up easily and keep searching until you find a research experience that you are looking for.

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Name:Rachael Sanchez

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: UMBC Event Center

Position Title:Marketing Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s):Business Technology Administration/Media and Communication Studies

Work Term: Spring 2019

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

My internship encompasses a lot of different aspects of Marketing, PR, and event promotion. I have weekly office hours where I come in and am assigned a task to do either individually or with my supervisor. I've worked on media lists (finding contacts for event media coverage) as well as editing photos for social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. My main responsibilities are during events, such as Men's basketball games and concerts. I'm often running around taking pictures or coordinating games and activities during basketball games. It's a fast-paced job, but I love it!

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

I heard of the position through a past professor, who has emailed it out to the Media and Communication studies list proc. I then looked up the position through UMBCworks and applied. I also contacted Marie, my supervisor and the Marketing Manager, directly to discuss more details about what the internship would entail.

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

I love getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a successful, large-scale event and getting to know the people that make it happen. Concerts are definitely a favorite, as I get to be right in all the action of what goes on in the production side of things and get the opportunity to assist with things like press photos and social media.

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

I believe I've made an impact through my internship by showing students that if you put yourself out there, you're able to not only learn a lot but gain valuable experience that will only help you grow both personally and professionally. I want to show others that it's possible to make time to do an internship and balance it with other things, like part-time jobs and academics.

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

I really enjoyed the opportunity to gain valuable experience through my internship that not only provided me with fun times but also a chance to discover more about other career fields that I am interested in pursuing and learning more about.

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Name:Steven Bailey

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: UMBC Event Center

Position Title: Operations and Events Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s):Psychology

Work Term:Summer 2018, Fall 2018

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

My internship was an unstructured yet hands-on experience that introduced me to all aspects of operations and events management at the UMBC Event Center. This internship, being unstructured, allowed me to be incredibly flexible in what I could do or wanted to learn. In this case, when I started the internship in July 2018, I was already employed as an Operations Supervisor at the Event Center, so this internship in a way served as more of an extensive training program for my current role, as well as allowing me to get my feet wet in a career path I’d never considered: venue management.

My duties varied by day, though a huge part of my internship was taking over all of the hiring for all part-time staff positions at the Event Center, particularly in Operations and Event Services. I completed administrative tasks, such as updating inventory for the Event Center, assisting with the creation of training manuals for both Operations and Event Services, processing on-boarding paperwork for new hires, and working on small tasks as assigned by management. One of the bigger projects that I was working on was a project my supervisor assigned to me to find out more information from how other venues worked from different venue management firms in the United States that worked with university athletic departments.

A lot of my time in my internship was spent working events. Since I was already a supervisor, I was directly responsible for overseeing anywhere between 2-20 part-time staff during events in both Operations and Event Services, whether it be a concert or family show (such as Double Dare Live!) or a game. I worked and still work a wide variety of events, ranging from UMBC Commencements to circuses to university games. As part of my internship training, I received hands-on instruction on the operation of the Daktronics ribbon and video boards that we have in the arena, and received training on the operation of the Allen Heath soundboard. Depending on the event, I would sometimes obtain alcohol or other items that the artist requested. On rare occasions, I would be called on to work certain roles, such as a Runner or a Camera Operator, though this was only if the production didn’t have anyone else or if someone called out. Even though the internship was unpaid, I was able to basically make it paid due to working so many hours as a Supervisor during operations shifts.

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

It was really straight forward. In May 2018, I had just been promoted, and realized I needed an internship. The intern before me had just been hired full time at the Event Center, and I saw an opening and went for it. I spoke to the Director of Operations and Events about it, and he brought me on. He saw that I was doing a good job as a Supervisor, and didn’t require me to turn in an application.

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

The people, including both the Operations Manager and Events Manager, and the Director of Operations and Events. These three managers, especially the Operations Manager, essentially took me under their wing and showed me the ropes of the industry, while also teaching me professional skills along the way that I didn’t realized I lacked at, such as professional dress and working with large groups of people.

Along with the people was the opportunity. The building is so new, and Oak View Group Facilities, the company managing it, was formed only in the past decade, so there’s so much room to make an impact and truly show off your skills. My internship allowed me to truly test myself in what I could do both physically and mentally, and allowed me to make great connections along the way. Despite being the first UMBC student to be the Events and Ops Intern at the Event Center, and not have any background in this field, I never felt like I was falling behind, despite the fact that I was facing such a steep learning curve

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

I was the first UMBC student to intern in Events and Operations,  and have hired dozens of UMBC students throughout my time there, and have inspired other UMBC students with similar backgrounds like mine to pursue this opportunity. I’ve worked at the Event Center since before it opened, and have seen it grow in both personal and its operations,  and I have been fortunate enough to be directly involved in this process. Because of my efforts in hiring, our Event Services department grew by over 20% over three months, and my hard work resulted in praise and increased opportunity from my superiors. I was able to use my experience in my internship to create a new position in which I currently work, the Events and Operations Coordinator, where I continue much of my work from my internship, though my responsibilities have expanded to focus more on staff development and accessing both staff performance and the guest experience.

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

Ask questions, keep an open mind, work hard, and don’t be afraid of trying something new.

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