With mandatory closures of many organizations, social distancing requirements, and “shelter in place” orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unlikely that many interns will be able to complete their summer 2020 internships on-site as planned. The CCI team has come up with some ideas of what you can do if your summer plans have changed.
Want help with finding summer opportunities? CCI is here to help! You can schedule a video or phone chat with an advisor in Handshake or sign up for Quick Questions with one of our Peer Career Advisors.
Financial Inclusion Intern at Coordination Nationale de la Finance Inclusive in Antananarivo, Madagascar
”Working in a developing country is challenging, and to be successful you need to know what resources are available to you and how to take advantage of them. On the other hand, you need to know what resources aren’t available and how to find solutions without them. The “roll-up-your-sleeves” attitude goes a long way and definitely is a valuable asset in a professional setting, particularly in developing countries. ”
Tell us about your internship. I lived in Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar, for 10 weeks during summer 2019 and worked with the National Coordination for Financial Inclusion (an office within the Ministry of Finance) to develop a basic insurance education program for the general public, all in French! Only 1% of the population in Madagascar is subscribed to some type of insurance or microinsurance (insurances designed for low-income families and businesses), despite the fact that there are many insurance products available here. What’s even more surprising is the fact that a lot of people have some type of insurance (offered through a cellular network, for instance), but don’t even know it! As you might have guessed by now, there is truly no insurance culture in Madagascar. We’re hoping that by implementing an education program, we can start to change that. Living and working in a developing country certainly had its challenges, but it also provided so many learning experiences. Whether I was riding to work in a taxi or doing research on insurance education programs across the world, I was constantly learning. Living in Madagascar helped me to understand another culture and exposed me to new ways of life as well as the daily challenges faced by many people.
How did you find your internship? I found it via Handshake, and it was also sent from a professor.
How did CCI help you find this opportunity?CCI helped me discover and fund this internship. I found it on handshake, and subsequently received CCI funding for the internship. It would not have been possible for me to go Madagascar without CCI funding!
What advice do you have for Middlebury students looking for an internship?When I asked people this question, I always got the same answer. Network, network, network. While this is important too, I don’t believe that finding an internship is contingent upon your networking abilities. That said, don’t overlook professors. They are often very well connected and could be your path to getting an internship. I think it’s also important to relax and be patient. Everything will work out one way or the other! It’s also important to have some idea of what you’re hoping to get out of your summer. Not only will you get asked this in interviews, but it will also help you identify relevant opportunities and find an internship that you’re really excited about.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your work?The most rewarding part of my internship was the high degree of self-direction that I developed over the ten weeks. While I struggled with this at the beginning, I believe that I was able to develop this skill by the end. I also really enjoyed knowing that the work that I was doing would have a direct impact on the lives of others.
What do you wish you knew before interning that you would like to share with other students?I wish I knew how to self-direct better and take advantage of resources. Working in a developing country is challenging, and to be successful you need to know what resources are available to you and how to take advantage of them. On the other hand, you need to know what resources aren’t available and how to find solutions without them. The “roll-up-your-sleeves” attitude goes a long way and definitely is a valuable asset in a professional setting, particularly in developing countries.
Interested in getting help with summer internships? Come meet with one of the Peer Career Advisors (go/pcas) to learn more about how to search for internships, and how to apply for funding.
Are YOU interested in being in the Internship Highlights? Tell us about your internship experience here.
Assistant Researcher at the William Montague Cobb Research Laboratory
“I think it is very important to introduce diversity in the various databases on the human genome. Many of the original genome projects centered on European-descended populations and this project is one of the first steps to unlocking questions like “Why are Black women 243% more likely to die in childbirth (compared to White women”? Or “Why are African Americans prone to hypertension, diabetes, etc.?”
How did you find your internship?Dr. Jeremy Ward.
What was your work like?One of the main projects I worked on was Petrous Bone Extraction of the bones in the William Cobb Collection. William Montague Cobb was the first African American to get an MD/PhD and went on to found a lab. He studied over 100 African Americans who died between the 1930s and 1960s and conducted autopsies on each of the individuals. My research included extracting over 200 petrous bones–a dense region on the side of the skull next to the ear canal–in order to sequence the DNA of the individuals who passed. After extracting the petrous bone, we found susceptibility genes for the diseases the individuals died from. Among the diseases were tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and more. A lot of the diseases are still the main cause of death of Blacks today. After the DNA is sequenced, we cross matched their genes with the susceptibility genes to see if there were matches. In the future, we will be able to address the weaknesses that may or may not have to do with our genetic codes. Ideally, we will be able to have prenatal testing where we identify these genes and advocate a healthy lifestyle that will suppress the likelihood of these diseases manifesting and taking the lives of our people.
How did CCI help you find this opportunity?Funding, advising, moral support, EVERYTHING!
What advice do you have for Middlebury students looking for an internship?Think outside the box! Don’t think that the organized programs are the only internships you have available to you…there are countless others you can make up or find anywhere.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your work?Being surrounded by black scholars.
And to add to this question from Megan’s interview in the Cobb’s Corner News: Seeing people in positions of power in STEM that are Black is what I will cherish the most. Carter [Clinton, Assistant Curator] is a great example as well, with both of us being from Brooklyn. I’m reading a book by Elaine Welteroth called More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) where she mentions that it is “important to leave signposts along the journey of success for those that come behind you.” I believe there will be another young girl like me who is obsessed with science like me but needs a role model to show her that women and people of color can succeed. I really want to be that guiding light just like this experience has illuminated my journey.
Did you have a mentor that helped you get to where you are today? If so, who? Jeremy Ward, Susan DeSimone, and much much much more.
Interested in getting help with summer internships? Come meet with one of the Peer Career Advisors (go/pcas) to learn more about how to search for internships, and how to apply for funding.
Are YOU interested in being in the Internship Highlights? Tell us about your internship experience here.
Major:English and American Literature Minor:Math and History
Legal Intern with the United States Attorneys’ Office in Boston, MA
“This past summer I had the opportunity to live in Boston and work at the United States Attorneys’ Office as a legal intern. During my time there, I was able to assist on many hot button cases in the Major Crimes and Civil Rights Units, conducting investigative research for the attorneys I worked under. I was able to hone my researching skills through the analysis of confidential evidence and government databases and by the end of the summer, was selected to do field research for the Civil Rights Unit. In addition to the valuable professional experience gained, I was also able to enjoy summer in the Seaport of Boston and explore all of the cool places and fun events that the city had to offer. “
How did you find your internship?I did some digging online and foundthe right person to email and the rest is history!
How did CCI help you find this opportunity?CCI was integral in my acceptance of this opportunity. As a native of New Jersey, I knew that I was going to need to have a pretty thought out budget that would allow me to have housing, transportation, and necessities in a completely different state many miles away. Through the funding process, the CCI requires you to write up a budget and think about all of the possible expenditures you would make in a summer. With a budget already complete, my summer felt a lot more structured and possible. Additionally, my internship was unpaid, so upon receiving the First Year Explore Grant from the CCI, I also felt that I would be able to enjoy my time in Boston instead of being stressed about my budget the whole summer.
What advice do you have for Middlebury students looking for an internship?I would say reach out to anyone and everyone. If you are interested in working in a particular place, all it takes is one email to create an opportunity that you might not have otherwise thought possible.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your work?The people I met this summer were what truly made my experience. I loved working with other college students from different institutions and getting to know who they are and how their college experience is similar or different to mine. I also happened to make one friend who I became really close with and spent a majority of my time off of work with (I will be visiting her at UMich and will be seeing her in Boston over winter break!). I also really appreciated the bonds that my mentors and I created. They really took the time to get to know me and even bring in my favorite food on several occasions. I am still in contact with them and hope to continue and expand my network through them as I continue down that particular career path.
What do you wish you knew before interning that you would like to share with Middlebury students? Don’t be nervous! Well… it’s hard to not be nervous at all, but try to remind yourself that you deserve to be there just like everyone else who is interning there. You made it through the interview process and they chose you, so be proud and arrive with confidence rather than timidity.
Interested in getting help with summer internships? Come meet with one of the Peer Career Advisors (go/pcas) to learn more about how to search for internships, and how to apply for funding.
Are YOU interested in being in the Internship Highlights? Tell us about your internship experience here.
Virginia Commonwealth University is Hosting Two Undergraduate Programs for Pre-Health Students
1. Summer Academic Enrichment Program
This 6-week residential program simulates the first year of Medical, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy Schools with a rigorous schedule incorporating graduate-level classes, clinical experience, community service, fun, and preparation for your respective application season. This program is for Juniors, Seniors, and Post-Bacc students. The program is free to all accepted participants and includes the following incentives:
Many students are familiar with Medicine and Nursing, the Allied Health Career Exploration is to showcase those other parts that make up an interdisciplinary team. This two week program facilitates interactive experiences with the 9 schools in VCU’s College of Health Professions including Gerontology, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nurse Anesthesia, Patient Counseling, Rehab and Mental Health Counseling, Health Administration and Radiation Sciences! This program is for any college student or high school senior. The following incentives are offered:
The University of Tennessee Summer Undergraduate Research Education Experiences in the Environmental Health Sciences provides students an opportunity to explore their interests in the environmental health-related aspects of biology, microbiology, and the biomedical sciences through hands-on summer research opportunities. Students will uniquely experience the breadth and depth of research that occurs at a major research […]
The Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows Program is a highly selective summer institute for rising college juniors. The program (May 23 – July 4, 2020 ) offers unparalleled learning and networking opportunities at the home of America’s first president, located just outside our nation’s capital. Fully Funded Summer Leadership ProgramStudents spend six weeks living and learning […]
