Name: Vigna Majmundar

Pronouns: She/Her

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): Hughes, EchoStar Corporation 

Location of the Organization (City, State): Gaithersburg , MD

Title of position: Software Automation Intern 

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

My internship at Hughes Network Systems as a Field Services, Billing Automation, and Development Intern has been focused on transforming manual business processes through automation technology. During my summer internship, I worked closely with my mentor Dave Thompson to tackle a significant operational challenge where billing analysts were spending over five hours weekly on manual SAP data entry, a process that was both time-consuming and error-prone due to inconsistent data formats from different Project Managers across departments. My primary responsibility involved designing and implementing Hughes' first SAP automation solution using Robot Framework as the RPA engine, n8n for workflow orchestration, and Docker for containerization. On a typical day, I would start by analyzing existing business processes, identifying bottlenecks in the Salesforce-to-SAP workflow, and then developing automated solutions to eliminate manual intervention. I spent considerable time writing custom Python libraries and Robot Framework keywords to handle complex SAP GUI interactions, particularly focusing on transaction VA01 for sales order creation. The technical work required me to understand both the business logic behind order processing and the technical constraints of enterprise systems integration.

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

I first discovered Hughes Network Systems at UMBC's career fair in 2023, where I completed my initial internship with the company. That first internship experience gave me valuable exposure to Hughes' operations, company culture, and technology focus, while allowing me to build strong relationships with team members and demonstrate my capabilities in a professional environment. The positive experience and connections I made during my 2023 internship created a foundation for future opportunities with the organization. When I decided to pursue another internship for summer 2025, I leveraged the relationships and reputation I had established during my previous tenure at Hughes. I submitted my application on December 13th, 2024, using my former colleagues and supervisors as referrals who could speak to my work quality and cultural fit within the organization. Having that insider knowledge and established credibility with the company was invaluable in positioning myself as a strong candidate for the returning internship position.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs

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

What I've enjoyed most about my position at Hughes Network Systems is the incredible learning environment and the genuine care people show for interns. Everyone is so welcoming and warm, and what really stands out is how eager everyone is to teach me something new. Whether it's my mentor Dave Thompson taking time to explain complex SAP integrations, or analysts on the billing team walking me through their daily processes so I could better understand how to automate them, there's a culture of knowledge sharing that makes learning accelerated and enjoyable. The collaborative atmosphere has been particularly valuable as a returning intern. People remember me from my 2023 internship and are excited to see how I've grown, but they're also genuinely invested in helping me continue developing new skills. When I was struggling with certain Robot Framework concepts or trying to understand the nuances of n8n workflow orchestration, colleagues would take time from their busy schedules to sit down and help me work through problems. This wasn't just limited to my direct team - people from different departments would offer insights when they heard about the automation project I was working on. What makes this environment special is that the teaching goes both ways. While I'm learning enterprise technologies and business processes, my colleagues are also genuinely curious about the automation solutions I'm building and eager to understand how these tools could benefit their own work. This creates a dynamic where everyone feels valued for their expertise, regardless of their position or experience level. The fact that Hughes offered me the employee of the month recognition and extended my internship into a co-op position reflects this culture of investment in people's growth and development. It's an environment where you feel supported to take on challenging projects and know that people want to see you succeed.

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

I believe I've made a significant impact at Hughes Network Systems by solving a real operational problem that was affecting multiple teams daily. The SAP automation solution I built eliminated over 5 hours of weekly manual work per billing analyst, which translates to meaningful time savings that allow these professionals to focus on higher-value analysis and customer service activities rather than repetitive data entry. The 90% time reduction and 80% error decrease represent measurable improvements in both efficiency and quality that directly benefit the organization's bottom line and customer satisfaction. Beyond the immediate operational impact, I've established Hughes' first RPA capability, creating a technical foundation that the company can build upon for future automation initiatives. The Robot Framework, n8n, and Docker architecture I implemented provides a scalable model that other departments can adapt for their own process improvements. This represents a shift in how Hughes approaches repetitive manual tasks and positions them to leverage automation more broadly across their operations.

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

My biggest piece of advice is to leverage career fairs strategically and maintain those connections long-term. I first met Hughes at UMBC's career fair in 2023, completed an internship there, and then used those relationships to secure my return position in 2025. Many students treat career fairs as one-time events, but the real value comes from building genuine relationships and staying in touch with companies that interest you. Start your application process early and be prepared to wait. I applied on December 13th, 2024, and didn't hear back for a month. That waiting period can be stressful, but use it productively to keep developing relevant skills. Don't just submit applications and hope for the best - continue learning technologies and concepts that align with the roles you want. During interviews, focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach rather than trying to prove you already know everything. When I interviewed at Hughes, they cared more about my willingness to learn new technologies like Robot Framework and n8n than my existing expertise with those specific tools. Show genuine curiosity about the company's challenges and how you might contribute to solving them. Once you land an internship, take initiative beyond your assigned tasks. My SAP automation project succeeded because I spent time understanding the broader business problem, not just the technical requirements. Talk to end users, ask questions about processes, and look for opportunities to add value. This approach led to my employee of the month recognition and co-op extension.

Be prepared to work with technologies you've never seen before. Enterprise environments often use specialized tools that aren't taught in university courses. Embrace that learning curve - it's often what makes the experience most valuable for your career development. Finally, document everything you do and create knowledge transfer materials. This shows professionalism and ensures your work has lasting impact, which strengthens your relationship with the organization for future opportunities.

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 loved most about my Hughes internship was the incredible people—I had the best mentors and colleagues who genuinely cared about my development and made me feel like part of the team from day one. The Career Center was instrumental in organizing the career fair where I first connected with Hughes in 2023, and their Practicum course helped me develop the professional communication skills to effectively showcase my technical accomplishments and build meaningful industry connections.

Name: Dharani Kousalya Penta

Pronouns: She/Her

Semester of Internship: Spring 2025

Major: Data Science

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Trulogik

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore,Maryland

Title of position: Data Engineer Intern

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

During my Data Engineer internship at Trulogik, I supported the development of automated data workflows that improved operational visibility and reduced manual effort across the organization. My day-to-day responsibilities included writing SQL queries, cleaning and structuring data, and building Power BI dashboards that tracked real-time recruitment and operational KPIs. Early in the internship, I encountered challenges with inconsistent applicant-tracking data as we used different formats and naming conventions, which caused inaccuracies in the dashboards. I resolved this by creating standardized data models, implementing validation rules, and automating the entire pipeline so reports refreshed reliably without manual intervention. I also performed cohort analysis on sourcing channels to identify bottlenecks in the hiring funnel which helped leadership reallocate resources and improve conversion efficiency. Whenever pipelines broke due to schema changes or missing fields, I collaborated with team to debug the issue, adjust the logic, and ensure that dashboards reflected accurate, version-controlled data. Overall, this experience strengthened my skills in pipeline development, troubleshooting, and stakeholder communication and also foundational skills that directly prepare me for a full-time Data Engineer role.

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

I first learned about the internship opportunity at Trulogik during a career fair, where I visited them and explored the open positions they had posted for interns. After speaking with the team and gaining a better understanding of the role and the type of projects they were working on, I felt it aligned well with my interests. Shortly after the event, I reviewed the job description in detail and submitted my application along with my resume. This process allowed me to connect directly with the team, understand their expectations, and apply for the position in a timely manner.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs, Alumni Networking, Handshake, LinkedIn or other social media

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

What I enjoyed most about my position at Trulogik was the supportive and collaborative team environment. Everyone was willing to guide me, answer questions, and involve me in meaningful discussions about real-world data problems. This gave me the confidence to explore, experiment, and learn without hesitation. I also appreciated that I was trusted with real-time work rather than just observing. I was able to build dashboards, analyze data, and contribute to actual business decisions, which made the experience extremely rewarding. The combination of hands-on learning, mentorship, and exposure to real operational challenges not only strengthened my technical skills but also helped me understand how data engineering impacts day-to-day business operations.

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

I believe I made a meaningful impact through my work by improving the accuracy, efficiency, and clarity of the data that different teams relied on. My analysis of recruitment and sourcing channels gave leadership clearer visibility into where candidates were coming from and where bottlenecks existed, helping them make more informed decisions. I also helped resolve data inconsistencies and improve data quality, which directly strengthened reporting and decision-making across the organization. Overall, my contributions helped the team with better data, and with fewer errors creating value that continued even after my internship ended.

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

My biggest advice would be to actively build real, hands-on project experience whether through personal projects, class assignments, or open-source work. Being able to showcase practical skills makes a huge difference when applying. I would also recommend attending career fairs and networking events, because they provide direct access to employers and opportunities you might not find online. Additionally, connecting with UMBC alumni on LinkedIn or through campus events can be extremely valuable.Overall, stay proactive, keep learning independently, and don't hesitate to reach out to people.

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 enjoyed most about my position was the opportunity to work on real-world data problems with a team that was incredibly supportive and encouraging. The Career Center and especially Christine Routzahn played a major role in my journey. Her guidance, confidence-building, and advice were invaluable in helping me navigate the process and secure the internship.

Name: Nisargkumar Patel

Pronouns:  He/Him

Semester of Internship: Fall 2025

Major: Information Systems

Current Class Level: Master's Student 

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): LASARRUS

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, MD

Title of position: Unity Software Developer Intern

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

I had the opportunity to work with LASARRUS as a Unity Software Developer, collaborating closely with the Senior Unity Developer and the CTO. My role involved fixing bugs in an existing application that monitors real-time sensor data to monitor respiratory and activity metrics used in COPD research, as well as contributing to the development of new applications such as the WearME‑Pro mobile application. My day-to-day responsibilities included brainstorming features with the clinical team, discussing design ideas with the Design Lead, and converting Figma designs into functional app components. I regularly worked on bug fixes, developed new features, participated in code reviews, and contributed to requirement discussions, design sessions, QA activities, and overall app development meetings, along with attending weekly team meetings.

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

I first heard about the MTIP program at UMBC through a friend. After that, I visited the MTIP website, reviewed the available positions, and submitted my application, which included my background information and resume. The LASARRUS team reviewed my application and contacted me for an interview. The interview lasted about 30 to 45 minutes and focused on my background, previous project experience, and my familiarity with the technologies they use, including Unity (C#), Git, serverless functions, SQL/NoSQL. I also shared a working demo to show my experience with their tech stack. After about four weeks, I received an offer to join their team.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, MTIP

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

I have enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, openness, and flexibility at LASARRUS. It is an environment where ideas are encouraged, teamwork is valued, and everyone's input matters. I especially appreciate that my role allows me to work on real-world problems that have the potential to improve the lives of millions. I also enjoy taking ownership of my tasks and continuously learning from the team.

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

I had the opportunity to work on several long-standing bugs in the WearME app that were affecting core functionality and making it difficult for the clinical study team to conduct their work. By resolving these issues, the app became more efficient, stable, and intuitive to use, which saved significant time and resources for the team. I am also working closely with the Senior Engineer, Design Lead on developing the new WearME‑Pro mobile application, both of which supports validation efforts and may inform future regulatory submissions. and have a meaningful impact on the future of the product.

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

My advice is to keep building your skills and stay open to learning new technologies and keep exploring new resources. Most importantly, keep applying. The university is a great place to connect with different employers and it can open many doors for you. I applied to many positions before getting an offer, and I learned that opportunities often come in unexpected ways. Stay consistent and keep trying.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

"I loved that this internship allowed me to work with highly skilled professionals and tackle real-world problems that can improve the lives of millions. The Career Center, especially MTIP, provided valuable resources that helped me secure my interview and ultimately this internship."

Disability:IN is now accepting applications for the NextGen Leaders Initiative — a 6-month, one-on-one mentorship program (Jan–June) for current college students, grad students, and recent graduates with disabilities.

Participants are matched with corporate mentors, gain access to professional development webinars, private-sector job opportunities, and a select group will attend the 2026 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo.

✅ No cost to apply
✅ Open to students & recent grads (Class of 2024+)
✅ Open to applicants in North & South America

Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET
Apply here: https://disabilityin.org/2026NextGenApp

See the attached flyer for full details and eligibility.

Questions? Contact: NextGen@DisabilityIN.org

Choosing a major, exploring career paths, or deciding what's next after graduation can feel overwhelming — but you don't have to figure it out alone. Career assessments are powerful tools that can help you learn more about yourself and how your unique traits align with potential career options.

1. Understand Yourself Before You Decide

Self-assessment is the first step in making confident career choices. By identifying your interests, values, personality, and skills, you can better understand what motivates you and what kind of work environment fits you best. Knowing yourself helps you focus your energy on career paths that feel both exciting and sustainable.

2. Take the FOCUS 2 Career Assessment

The FOCUS 2 assessment is a great starting point for exploring majors and careers that align with your interests and strengths. It provides personalized results and connects them to real-world occupations, giving you a clearer picture of what might be a good fit. After completing it, you can set up a 60-minute Review Assessments: FOCUS 2 Results appointment with a career advisor to discuss next steps.

3. Discover Your Personality with the MBTI

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) helps you better understand your personality preferences — how you process information, make decisions, and interact with others. This insight can be incredibly helpful when choosing a career or navigating work environments. Many students find that the MBTI helps them understand not only what they want to do, but how they want to do it. In order to see your MBTI results, booking a 60-minute Review Assessments: MBTI Results appointment with a career advisor is required.

4. Use Assessments as a Starting Point

While assessments can offer valuable guidance, they're just one part of the process. Use your results as a foundation for further exploration — research career fields, talk to professionals, and consider internships that align with your interests. Pairing insight with action is the key to building a fulfilling path forward.

Start Exploring Today

Ready to learn more about yourself and discover the possibilities ahead? Take the FOCUS 2 or MBTI assessments through the UMBC Career Center. You'll gain a deeper understanding of your strengths, interests, and career options — helping you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Name: Prajita Shrestha

Pronouns: She/ Her 

Semester of Internship: Summer 2025

Major: Computer Science

Current Class Level: Senior

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Location of the Organization (City, State): Laurel, MD

Title of position: Software Engineering Intern

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

I had the opportunity to intern for a group that developed and managed a data analytics software. Throughout my internship, I mainly worked on adding smaller features for the program. My main task was to create a summary tool to highlight the differences between data types to streamline workflow for analysts. My day-to-day mainly consisted of stand up meetings with the whole team, check-ins with my mentor, and coding. 

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

I learned about APL through the career fair hosted by UMBC. Initially, I applied to around 3 intern positions for APL, which did not work out. In December, I applied to another intern role at APL that I found on Handshake and got an email to schedule an interview in January. The interview was mainly behavioral questions, where I discussed my previous experience and skill level. 

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs, Handshake

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

My favorite part about APL was the group's welcoming atmosphere and flexibility. As an intern, I was given the flexibility to choose from different tasks of varying difficulty and give my own input on features and tasks to work on. On Fridays, I was able to work from home and was given the flexibility to choose my times to come in and leave work. 

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

I believed that I made an impact by developing tools that made analyzation faster for analysts. My tool will save analysts significant time when they are comparing and creating new data types.

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

My main advice would be to not give up and keep searching for roles. A lot of internships come out during the fall season but it is not the end of the world if you do not land one then. My internship interview and offer came during an unexpected time. Make sure to look out for the various opportunities on campus such as teaching assistant and research assistant positions. I think the main reason I got my internship was because of my research experience. 

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

I loved how this internship gave me the opportunity to work alongside highly skilled professionals and grow my technical skills. The Career Center's resume review sessions and resources played a big role in helping me land my interview and internship.

Landing a job offer is exciting — but before you accept, it's essential to understand what that offer really means. Salary negotiation isn't just about the number on your paycheck; it's about knowing your value, understanding industry standards, and ensuring you're being compensated fairly for your skills and experience.

1. Do Your Homework Before You Negotiate

Before discussing salary, research what professionals in your field typically earn. Use reliable sites like Glassdoor, Salary.com, PayScale, Vault, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to find salary ranges based on job title, location, and experience level. Knowing these figures helps you confidently advocate for yourself during negotiations.

2. Consider the Whole Offer

While salary is important, it's only one part of your total compensation package. Benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off, and flexible work options can significantly impact your overall satisfaction and financial well-being. If you're interested in an advanced degree, tuition benefits are an option as well. Don't overlook these when comparing offers.

3. Be Strategic About Timing

The best time to discuss salary is after you've received an offer but before you've accepted it. Once an employer has decided you're their top choice, you're in the strongest position to negotiate. Approach the conversation with gratitude and professionalism, emphasizing your enthusiasm for the role while making your case for fair compensation.

4. Practice Makes Professional

Negotiating can feel intimidating, especially if it's your first job offer. Practice your talking points with a friend, mentor, or practice with the Big Interview training platform or through a Salary Negotiation appointment with a career advisor to build confidence. The goal is to sound informed, not demanding.

For example: "Based on my research and the market value for this position, I was expecting a salary closer to [X range]. Is there flexibility to adjust the offer?"

5. Get Support and Keep Learning

The more informed you are, the more confident you'll feel navigating offers and negotiations. The UMBC Career Center provides tools, resources, and one-on-one advising to help you make smart decisions about your future. In the meantime, check out our newest Career Guide for detailed tips on evaluating offers, researching salaries, and mastering the art of negotiation. You got this!