Brandeis University

Physics Laboratory

June - August 2019 • Waltham, MA

What I liked

I really enjoyed learning new skills, particularly how to work in a Linux environment and how to use Python to examine data.

What I wish was different

I wish that there was an additional component of the job that was active and not just sitting at a desk.

Advice

Physics research is really exciting, but at first it can be slow. It takes special effort to learn something new and push through the initial barriers before the job really takes off.

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Research Assistant

December 2019 • Waltham, MA

What I liked

Working in a research lab at Brandeis has been an extremely rewarding experience. I have learned so much about molecular biology, laboratory techniques, and the research process from experienced members of the Marr lab. Through hands on experience I have learned basic tissue culture techniques and how to maintain mammalian cell lines. I also used molecular genetic techniques to create mutations in a gene involved in translation initiation and performed cell-based assays using these mutants. I am so grateful for the professor, graduate students, and post-docs in the lab who take time to explain the theoretical basis of the experiments as well as the procedural details.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have spent more time in lab - but this was not possible due to COVID-19 policies.

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask your mentors questions.

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Economic Research Assistant

April 2020 • Waltham, MA

What I liked

Within loose time constraints, I worked on my own schedule. Easily done remotely. The researcher also wants to build my experience and skill set.

What I wish was different

The ideal source for our data has a significant time lag, so it would be nice if that was currently available.

Advice

When looking, don't be afraid to reach out to professors you already know. And when working, don't be afraid to ask questions. These professors want to help you succeed.

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Undergraduate Researcher

May 2016 • Waltham, MA

What I liked

I love the feeling of community I experience with both colleagues within my lab and within my department. There is a lot of opportunity for collaboration, and I feel I've personally been a lot more successful as a result. Everyone around me is always pushing me to move forward, and they are more than willing to help me get there.

What I wish was different

Integrating myself within the community took quite a bit of effort. I wish my PI or my manager would organize more social events during the workday to make things a bit easier, but otherwise, I don't think there's too much room for improvement. It's been great!

Advice

Speak up! Be friendly! Make yourself known! My experience working in a lab at Brandeis has taught me that you're far more likely to succeed if you aren't going at it alone. Since everyone else is busy with their own work, it's up to you to build those relationships, especially as the new kid on the block.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June 2022 • Waltham, ME

What I liked

The best part about my summer as a research assistant was learning about computational biology. When I applied to college, I planned on studying genetics and biology specifically in plants. I'm now studying math and how it can be applied in different systems, so I enjoyed that this opportunity allowed me to combine two of my academic passions.

What I wish was different

Nothing! At first, I was sad that I would be working remotely, but I got to spend the summer in my hometown in Ohio. After work, I loved being able to go on bike rides, watch sunsets, and spend time with my family. Now that I'm back on campus, I've been able to connect with my supervisors more which has been great. I'm glad that I got that time of separation before I came back to school.

Advice

Always ask about job opportunties. I reached out to Professor Hong because a professor from another class recommended that I reach out to different labs on campus about summer positions. Professor Hong wasn't the first person I talked to, but he was the one that gave me the best fit opportunity. It's ok to be nervous, but it's also ok to put yourself out there! No one knows what you want until you tell them!

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Research Fellow

May 2021 • Waltham, MA

What I liked

I loved the opportunity to engage in a graduate-level research process, creating and executing my own self-conceived research study.

What I wish was different

n/a

Advice

Have fun and go with the flow! There are lots of potential setbacks in the research portion of academia, but also plenty of solutions. Do your best, and if something doesn't go as planned, just adapt and move on.

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Makerlab technician

May 2018 • Waltham, MA

What I liked

The work environment was amazing. Worked closely with superiors and got to work in a variety of different projects across Brandeis. It makerlab is a hub connecting engineering principles to subject experts at Brandeis.

What I wish was different

Nothing, the work experience gained and the connections crafted were amazing. The opportunity that this position provided was a big reason why Brandeis was worth it.

Advice

Get engaged early. It's easy to think of the job as just fixing printers and sitting around. It is on the student to be proactive to seek projects and ask for work that is deeper than just the surface customer service that the makerlab is about.

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