Whitman College

Summer Research Intern

June 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

The flexibility; the teamwork aspect; the practical application of theories I have learned

What I wish was different

Organization of time and tasks to be completed

Advice

Don't expect research to be straightforward and clearcut. Flexibility and adaptability are necessary

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Conferences & Events Staff Member

May - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

The welcoming work environment and my coworkers.

What I wish was different

Greater accountability and variance in work duties.

Advice

Work as hard as you can, and appreciate how great of a job it is.

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WCTS Technical Consultant

May - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

The overall environment was very low-stress. Robert Fricke, Cate Lyon, Mike Ostermann, and pretty much everyone else at WCTS was great to work with and under. The work itself was also nice, as I knew I was helping out the college and not just doing meaningless busywork.

What I wish was different

I wish I had had more of a well-defined role within WCTS. I started off doing mostly helpdesk work, helping people who walked in with computer problems, but moved to working in the back room processing new computers and retiring old ones. During that time, I had 3 or 4 simultaneous superiors I reported to at different times, and juggling whose assigned tasks took priority when was difficult.

Advice

Overall the experience was great, but I'd recommend telling your supervisor about what you are and are not good at right at the beginning of the summer. I had a fair bit of experience with computer hardware going in, and about halfway through the summer I was moved to the back room because that was what my skills made me best at. This move to the back room would have happened much sooner if I had been more upfront with my skills.

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Historian Research Assistant

May - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

It helped me learn how to perform research in the library.

What I wish was different

It was isolating at times, so I wish I could have worked with another researcher.

Advice

This is a great experience, which will prepare for senior year thesis research.

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Chemistry Research Intern

May - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I liked getting to work on my own and make decisions about how to tackle a problem I encountered in lab. Working for professor Machonkin allowed me to get crucial work experience, get paid, and start my thesis research all in one summer.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Louis B. Perry Summer Researcher

May - August 2018 • Burlington, VT

What I liked

I liked gaining significant geosciences lab experience .

What I wish was different

Advice

Utilize the resources and opportunities provided by your academic department/advisor.

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Summer Conference and Events Crew

May - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

it was a flexible working schedule and fun woring environment.

What I wish was different

Advice

Wear close-toe footwear.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

The people I worked with, the variety of work I did, the skills I gained

What I wish was different

I wish it had been longer than 7 weeks

Advice

Ask questions!

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

Useful research experience, friendly work environment, interesting work.

What I wish was different

Some more professional experience would have been nice. The whole experience was extremely casual, might have been specific to the lab I was working in.

Advice

Set goals for yourself so you don't get distracted. Looking busy is easy but progress is better.

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Physics Intern

June - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I liked the opportunity to work alongside my professor to troubleshoot my experiment. I also enjoyed working in applied physics because it gave me the chance to apply concepts I had learned in the classroom.

What I wish was different

I wish I had moved through the experiment quicker, sometimes it felt like I was stuck on very specific issues for too long.

Advice

I learned the importance of taking good notes. Because I made concise, well organized notes, it was easy for me to refer back and avoid making the same mistakes.

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Biology Laboratory Assistant

June - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

I love doing research! The atmosphere was great and I learned a lot!

What I wish was different

Advice

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Garden Intern

May - September 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

Working outside, freedom.

What I wish was different

Larger Budget and longer hours.

Advice

Work in the Garden it is fun and relaxing!

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Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

The work environment was friendly and low-stress, the schedule was relatively flexible, and of course, the commute was a short 5-minute walk!

What I wish was different

Due to the nature of research, I didn't always get as many breaks as I needed, but I was able to plan for these ahead of time.

Advice

Don't be afraid to connect with professors and visit them often, because doing so could land you a research opportunity like this one!

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Research assistant

June 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

Being involved with research was extremely rewarding and engaging!

What I wish was different

I would have liked to have had more coworkers.

Advice

Be self-directed. Stay disciplined with your time and look for ways to be proactive with your research project.

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Fly in leader

June - July 2018 • Walla Walla, WA

What I liked

Engaging with incoming first years who are the first in their family to go to college! It was incredibly rewarding to give back to a program that I benefited from.

What I wish was different

The job is very hands-on and draining. I wish that I had allocated more time in these weeks to rest up.

Advice

As a Fly-In Leader, it is essential to understand how much you mean to the incoming first-years. You are their image of Whitman as they transition from high school to college which is an awesome responsibility.

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