Syracuse University

Undergraduate Research Assistant

May - August 2019 • Syracuse, NY

What I liked

I liked working in an environment where I could learn something completely new and different on my own. The world of research is very different from the world of college course work, so having that experience of reading research papers, conducting experiments and talking with PhD students was very valuable.

What I wish was different

While independence is nice, I did struggle a bit with the total lack of structure outside of the once-a-week meetings. I wish that meetings were more frequent and that I didn't have so much freedom (having the freedom to work from home means that you are not necessarily always as focused as you might be compared to if you have to work on campus.)

Advice

If you don't know whether or not you'd like to do research (either in grad school or as a career), then being an Undergraduate Research Assistant is an experience I recommend considering! Go into it with an open mind, but don't be discouraged if it isn't what you ended up thinking it would be.

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lab assistant

June 2021 • Syracuse, NY

What I liked

I loved working in the lab and collaborating with other students on projects

What I wish was different

Advice

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Student coordinator

August 2021 • Syracuse, NY

What I liked

I like being able to help students, flexible schedule. I am in a position where I can lead and influence the lives of students on campus.

What I wish was different

that I started this job sooner! I love it.

Advice

You need to be really dedicated and organized. Being able to have good time management is essential for this position especially as a student with other responsibilities.

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MAE REU Summer 2022

June - July 2022 • Syracuse, NY

What I liked

I got to work with my professor throughout the summer. It was nice that it was paid so I could pay for housing in the area.

What I wish was different

Maybe a little more structure to the program

Advice

It was a good experience and I highly recommend doing it. Talk with your professor/mentor a lot to build a good relationship

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Full-Stack Software Engineer

June - August 2021 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I enjoyed the environment and community I was surrounded by. It was really inclusive and helped me work on some of my other soft skills as well.

What I wish was different

I wish the research experience itself was different. I did not get much hands-on experience during that time period.

Advice

I would share that it was a self learning experience. I found myself working on my time and what was best for my schedule.

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Architecture Research Assistant

May - August 2021 • Overland Park, KS

What I liked

I loved being able to work on a project that I was very interested in with a professor that was incredibly knowledgable

What I wish was different

That it was in person rather than via zoom, and that it counted for architectural hours

Advice

Always worth an application because you might meet a group of people you love working with.

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Information Desk Attendant

August 2023 • Syracuse, NY

What I liked

I like my bosses, and the ability to feel helpful. They were very welcoming, and encouraging when it came to learning all my new skills.

What I wish was different

I wish some people took the job as seriously as I do.

Advice

Do not be afraid of doing this job if you don't consider yourself a people person. You will learn a lot of communication skills, and learn things about yourself/abilities far beyond what you ever thought before!

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Undergraduate Researcher

June - August 2021 • Syracuse, NY

What I liked

Working with smart individuals who are passionate about their work. Learning many different skills, machines, etc.

What I wish was different

I wish you could get trained on a machine even if you do not need it yet for your specific research. REU students received presentations from the department, and I wish these were open to all undergraduate researchers.

Advice

Make the most out of the experience by reaching out about different trainings and learning new things. Ask other people about their research, not just the project you are working on.

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