Life-Health Sciences Internship Program

Successes

Building Confidence in Participant Interactions
At the start of my internship, I hoped to feel more comfortable engaging with study participants. One of my proudest moments was when I guided participants through a portion of the screening process during a study visit. This experience helped me build confidence in real-time interactions and apply what I had been learning.

Becoming Familiar with Research Tools: 
In the fall, I wanted to become more familiar with research tools and processes. I completed my Research CITI training and learned to use our electronic data capture system effectively. By reviewing training materials and practicing on mock data, I was able to input and verify data accurately, directly contributing to the team’s ongoing studies.

Balancing Multiple Responsibilities: 
At the beginning of the semester, I wasn’t sure how I’d juggle everything. But I’ve successfully managed my classes, internship, and job without falling behind by working on a little bit of everything each day or every other day. I also stayed consistent in updating my weekly schedule, which helped me stay organized and focused.

Challenges

Managing Time During Busy Weeks: 
In the fall, I knew balancing coursework, my internship, and personal responsibilities would be tough—but midterms really put that to the test. I found myself overwhelmed trying to study, meet internship expectations, and keep up with work. To manage it, I started creating and updating a weekly schedule that takes into account my work shifts and any last-minute changes.

Understanding Complex Study Protocols: 
At the start, I hoped to quickly pick up on study protocols, but the initial learning curve was steeper than expected. I often felt overwhelmed by documents filled with complex medical jargon. To overcome this, I scheduled review time with my supervisor, asked for simplified explanations, and made flashcards of key terms to study during downtime. This helped me gradually understand the material and become more confident in my role.

• In the fall, I hoped to be a dependable and flexible team member, and I feel proud of how I followed through on that. My day-to-day tasks weren’t always the same, but I made it a habit to check in with my supervisor to see how I could help, whether writing postcards to participants or decorating for an event we hosted that day. One of the things I’m most proud of is my completed showcase project, which focuses on improving community outreach to Latino communities. Early on, we discussed how we wanted a more diverse participant group, and I thought it would be a great idea to turn that into something meaningful I could work on. I’m really glad I took my time with it and had the chance to chip away at it during my downtime at the internship; it came together in a way that I am happy with, and my supervisor was very supportive of it too.

I’ve really come to appreciate the strengths I’ve developed over time such as patience, staying attentive, being open to learning, and knowing how to communicate with care. These qualities have significantly impacted my time with the Type 1 diabetes clinical research team. Being a lifeguard taught me how to remain calm and focused under pressure, while my CNA experience reminded me daily of the importance of compassion especially when working with individuals who need support.

These experiences helped me feel more prepared to engage with study participants professionally, respectfully, and empathetically. I’ve also learned to adapt when plans change and to be open to feedback and continuous training. That mindset has enabled me to handle everything from learning new software to understanding complicated research protocols.

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Looking ahead, I’d love to take on more complex tasks, such as helping with data analysis or contributing more during team meetings. I know these experiences will help me continue to grow and prepare for my future in healthcare—where teamwork, adaptability, and a willingness to keep learning truly make a difference.