It gave me a lot of laboratory experience and had very friendly staff.
What I wish was different
That I could have been paid more and/or had more hours available for me to work.
Advice
Come prepared to be challenged and work some longer days when not expected!
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Department Aide
July - September 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I enjoyed speaking to students and getting close to the advisers I worked with.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have worked longer, but I had to focus on my classes so I had to cut my hours short.
Advice
I would advise those who apply for this job not to assume it will be easy or that there is no work to be done. It is still a job where students must perform adequately and not ignore their duties.
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Research Assistant
January 2017 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I love working at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory! I learn so much through hands-on research and am applying what I learn in the classroom.
What I wish was different
Nothing!
Advice
Reach out to professors to work with! All I did was send an email to my adviser, Dr. Chris Wrede, about his research and asked if I could work with him.
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Service Center Representative
March 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I liked the opportunity to be able to work on campus and be more involved in student life.
What I wish was different
There really isn't anything I wish had been different, it was a really nice summer job.
Advice
I recommend taking this job so you are able to get more involved on campus. Take the time to get to know the students.
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Student Assistant
March 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I like that I am given opportunities for independence and innovation at my office job, while also having a routine.
What I wish was different
I wish that our office got more traffic during the summer months, because then there would be more to do.
Advice
If you'd like more opportunities to make decisions and be creative, just ask for them and they will most likely accommodate.
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Development Intern
May - August 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I loved having the opportunity to expand my network and learn key skills about Philanthropy through the college of Communication Arts and Sciences endowment database. One of my favorite seminars included learning about the International Advancement department at MSU and how they manage building connections and holding events around the world with international alumni from the University.
What I wish was different
At times I was unclear on where I should be with my work or exactly what was expected of me, however it was very easy to communicate with my supervisors any time there was confusion. I don't have anything major that I would change, it was a very organized and well-structured internship and I loved the team of people that I got to work with.
Advice
One thing that I would want others to know about this internship experience would be to make sure that you are able to manage your time wisely and stay organized. Working a really long week was overwhelming at times, but good communication was key as well as keeping a positive attitude and giving yourself small breaks and rewards when necessary.
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Human Resources Assistant
February 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
They treat me like a staff member
What I wish was different
Sometimes it would be nice if they had more consideration of the fact that we are students first
Advice
Prepare to be very busy!
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Independent Researcher
May - July 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I enjoyed the experience of researching at a big university. Also, my program had a cohort of 92 students with 90 students of color, which was also enjoyable.
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Learning how to be diligent with your own scheduling is key for independent research.
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Lab Technician
May - August 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I liked how it was very hands-on and I was being taught through experiences.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Research Fellow
May - July 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I enjoyed the program's holistic approach to graduate-level research. In the span of ten weeks I bolstered my public speaking skills, learned about regression analysis, and conducted a research experiment.
What I wish was different
I wish I would have known about the program sooner!
Advice
Take advantage of the resources at your campus. At the Career Center, their networking outings and professional-building workshops have helped prepare me for research and professional positions.
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REU Student
May - July 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I loved working in a small, nurturing lab environment where I had the opportunity to learn completely new skills
What I wish was different
Advice
Take advantage of everything your REU program offers! The MSU Plant Genomics REU has weekly research talks, and I used this as an opportunity to meet with professors and talk to them about grad school opportunities. The result was several important connections and a strong possibility of returning to MSU for graduate school!
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
May 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I was able to learn more about my respective field and gain experiences that will inform my decisions on my future career.
What I wish was different
I wish that MSU made it easier for undergraduates to take responsibility for research projects (i.e. allowing lab access, spaces for undergrad researchers to work like the graduate students are offered)
Advice
It's what you make of it! You have to take charge and make it known how much work you want to do so your advisor can give you an appropriate workload/project.
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Research assistant
May 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
The faculty was very welcoming and had me immediately working in their lab.
What I wish was different
That I had more time!
Advice
Always ask questions. They are more than willing to help you!
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Student assistant
January 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
What I wish was different
Advice
One must be prepared for a fast paced, sometimes stressful (yet very rewarding) environment.
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Facilities Maintenance Worker
June 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
The friendly faces and good working environment
What I wish was different
Advice
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Engineering Research Assistant
May - August 2018 • Lansing, MI
What I liked
I liked being able to travel around Michigan for research regarding transportation data collection.
What I wish was different
I wish i would have been full time rather than part time to make it my primary focus.
Advice
Handle your responsibilities and things will go well for you.
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research assistan
April 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
the experience
What I wish was different
My communication
Advice
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Undergraduate Researcher
April 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I enjoyed the flexibility with my schedule as well as the relationship of my work to my passions.
What I wish was different
I wish that students at MSU could be paid for working more than 40 hours a week. Most people know that researcher have to work more than 40 hours to complete their projects. This opportunity has really showed me how much work is required of people in my field and I was happy I would rise and meet this challenge.
Advice
I would recommend looking into some information on lab equipment and how it works due to the complex nature of the machines. I worked with over 6 pieces of highly sensitive lab machines that do absolutely amazing work, but when troubleshooting issues it would only help the employee to know their equipment inside and out.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
May 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
The connections I made with my research mentor, and the autonomy I was given in the lab
What I wish was different
I wish I had started earlier
Advice
Reach out and find opportunities, and don't be afraid to seek new ones if you are not happy where you are
