Cornell University

Research Assistant

March 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

Ability to create my own independent research project.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Sociology Research Assistant

May - August 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

I really enjoyed learning how to conduct both qualitative and quantitative research while working in the field. I also gained a lot of knowledge about the subject of our research, which was the intergenerational transmission of criminality and the effects of parental incarceration on children.

What I wish was different

Advice

I would advise other undergraduate research assistants to always ask questions when you're asked to complete a task that you're confused about. It's supposed to be a learning experience, and it's always best to ask for clarification, learn about the task, and then complete to correctly.

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Hunter Rawlings III Presidential Research Scholar

July 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

Freedom to design and conduct my research as I saw fit, and the ability to use funding in order to do so.

What I wish was different

Advice

Plan ahead and design your research!

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Hospital Shadower

July - August 2018 • New York City, NY

What I liked

Great hospital experience

What I wish was different

Advice

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Field Assistant

May - July 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

Working outdoors, working with other students, general interest in work.

What I wish was different

Should've worn more sunscreen, schedule could be unpredictable.

Advice

If you are even vaguely interested a research field, working in it over the Summer is a great experience.

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Undergraduate Research

January 2017 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

I liked the freedom and exploratory aspect of my position as a researcher.

What I wish was different

I wish I had asked for help earlier upfront as opposed to trying to figure everything out by myself.

Advice

Don't be afraid to reach out to people!

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

I loved being trusted to work on my own and I loved the open and collaborative environment.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been more interested in what I was doing. But I know this will help me either way in the future.

Advice

Community matters and making sure you're in a supportive work environment is key to your success there.

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Data Analyst Intern

June - August 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

I liked living in Ithaca for the summer and had a good time with the internship program.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Architecture Intern

May 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

The level of trust and amount of responsibility I was given.

What I wish was different

The internship was fine, but it's just not the kind of job I want long-term. It was more pre-schematic planning than actual design.

Advice

High level of independence and responsibility is best suited for those who can work independently and reliably. More fun with a second intern.

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Undergraduate Researcher

June - August 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

Learning about space system design

What I wish was different

Advice

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Psychologist Research Assistant

July 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

I enjoyed working closely with other research assistants and with my graduate student supervisor who gave me lots of good one-on-one advice for applying to graduate school. The work we did varied day by day so I was always learning new skills and trying new things. I also liked experiencing Cornell over the summer.

What I wish was different

Advice

If you’re trying to get into research, I would advise you find a lab that interests you. This is important because you’ll be putting in a lot of hours in the lab and it will be very tiresome if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing. You’re also more likely to stay in a lab you enjoy, which is good because the longer you stay in a lab, the richer your experience will be. It’s also better for graduate school applications to stay in one lab for a long time than do brief stints in many labs.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

Being able to be fully immersed in research

What I wish was different

Arrangement of timing of experiments

Advice

You have to be patient, sometimes things don’t work out how you want them to

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Senior Information Specialist

June 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

I loved having the opportunity to stay and work in Ithaca over the summer. Beyond that, I also appreciate this job for its incredible flexibility and fun and engaging staff.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

It was a great experience engaging in research in a subject I enjoyed (circuit design). I knew the professor from a previous class so it was a great learning experience about how to do research and the field.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Financial Audit Intern

June 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

I liked the people I worked with and the broader Alliance For Diversity Internship Program through which I met many other students and campus leaders.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Research Assistant and Communication Intern

May 2018 • Ithaca, NY

What I liked

I gained research experience and on-farm experience that complemented the coursework from my major. Additionally, I am an agricultural sciences major and felt it was important to work on a farm at some point. Additionally, I was able to split my time between the research experience and working in the program's office and do communication related work for my other major.

What I wish was different

I would have liked to have more variation. The tasks became monotonous.

Advice

I was worried about staying in Ithaca for a summer, but am glad that I did. I would recommend any younger students that if you're thinking about staying in Ithaca a summer, then go for it!

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