Boston University

Research

June - August 2022 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Grad students in the lab I worked with were very helpful while conducting my research.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Climate Research Assistant

July 2023 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I liked that I had the ability to modify my hours. At first I was working 4h shifts, and then changed it to 3h because it was better suited to my health.

What I wish was different

I wish more opportunities are offered for students who have interests in various fields.

Advice

I would say reach out to the responsible contact. You never know if they are looking at multiple applicants and choose you for your tenacity!

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June 2023 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I loved working with passionate members of my lab.

What I wish was different

I wish that the position was paid or financially supportive.

Advice

I would recommend looking for jobs on several different platforms.

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Student Admissions Representative

May - September 2023 • Boston, MA

What I liked

very fun, met great people, learned customer service skills, really good employee relations

What I wish was different

n/a

Advice

n/a

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Office Ass

May - August 2022 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I love being able to work around my school and academic schedule

What I wish was different

I wish more hours were offered for the department I was in.

Advice

Working at the university and a student can open you up to unique opportunities and experiences. Definitely recommend.

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Undergraduate Researcher

October 2020 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I was able to move up in this position relatively quickly, moving from volunteering to work for college credit to paid work.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Keep an open mind and stick to it, because you might end up loving it after a while when you become more accustomed to the environment and the research.

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Mechanical Engineering Researcher

June 2021 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I really enjoyed getting to work in a mechanical engineering lab with graduate students of my study. I learned so much about subjects that I had not yet encountered in classes, and got to have an inside look at what graduate or post-doc work is like. I worked on an independent project, but had ample support from my mentors.

What I wish was different

I do wish I had a little more interaction with faculty during this process.

Advice

I would encourage any undergraduate to pursue a research experience at their university, especially such a great research university such as Boston University. While intimidating at first, this is a great chance to learn from graduate students with similar experiences and gain confidence in your own abilities.

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Biology Research Intern

April 2021 • Boston, MA

What I liked

The research process and the people I worked for

What I wish was different

It was remote, which was convenient but it would’ve been nice to have an in person experience

Advice

Time management is key

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

April 2018 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Ability to perform research as part of a rapidly developing lab performing cutting edge research

What I wish was different

The timing of the opportunity being posted being different would've allowed me to apply for funding

Advice

Stay determined. It's easy to get dejected when things aren't working out but they will.

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Researcher

May - August 2019 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Allowed for both independent and collaborative work

What I wish was different

A larger group of coworkers would have been nice.

Advice

It’s good to be ambitious and to go beyond what you are asked to do.

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Social Science Research Assistant

June - July 2019 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Really great opportunity to participate in a clinical lab, attend professional lab meetings, and interface with graduate and doctoral students.

What I wish was different

I wish I'd run more studies while there, but with limited time, it just didn't happen.

Advice

Getting involved with a clinical lab is one of the best things that someone interested in Psychology can do. We don't have as much access to professional-type or clinical labs through the 5C's, but getting recommendations from your PI's or grad students for other labs can be a great way to get started. It's also great for networking, but is unpaid so it's best to seek out grants ahead of time.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June - August 2019 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I loved my coworkers and my boss! Our lab environment was so fun to be in and we always made sure to have weekly group meetings to check in and make sure everything was going well. Everyone wanted to help each other out, and we formed a great community.

What I wish was different

I was working on one specific project all summer— I wish I could have dipped my toes into different aspects of the lab but I didn’t have enough time as I was only there for the summer.

Advice

If you’re interested in psychology or eventually getting a PhD, working in a lab as a research assistant is super important! It teaches you important skills that you will need later and also looks great on the resume.

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Research

May 2018 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Getting wet lab experience and partaking in setting up study protocols

What I wish was different

Advice

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Summer Research Assistant

June - August 2018 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I loved working with a close-knit, open-minded, friendly team of other research assistants, graduate students and a principal investigator who was very open to feedback and input. The working hours were flexible but there was a good understanding of day-to-day duties. We were given the autonomy to make active decisions while being guided by the graduate student about the expectations of the job.

What I wish was different

I wish that there were more projects ongoing at the lab while we were there. Two projects were completed midway through the summer and therefore towards the end, we had more free time. I have heard it's more hectic during school year time and I wish we also had an experience as hectic as that.

Advice

I would advice that you need to make the most of your experience on your own. No one is going to hand you experience and work on a platter - that's just how the professional, adult world is. So, it's important to take active steps on your own to make things happen for you whether that is by talking to more people, building on contacts, asking for informational interviews, or offering input/suggestion about ongoing research. Make your voice heard. It's hard but important.

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Undergraduate Researcher

May - October 2018 • Boston University, MA

What I liked

I liked learning about the whole research process. This included the project proposal process, data gathering, and data analysis

What I wish was different

Advice

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Research Assistant

May 2017 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I love that I had to do intense research for the entire time I am here. I learned to work cooperatively and effectively with my coworkers. Most importantly, I improved well on my worth ethic.

What I wish was different

I wish that I was able to cooperate more with my fellow peers, especially other undergraduates.

Advice

Definitely learn from your mistakes and improve accordingly. It will improve us for the better.

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Neuroscience Research Intern

May - August 2018 • Boston, MA

What I liked

The lab was super helpful and pushed everyone to do their best, but also provided scaffolding and structure to understand what we were studying.

What I wish was different

I wish I had the ability to work longer on the project! Since I was working on a multiyear study I want to go back and see the progress that has been made.

Advice

Make sure to put in the time to understand what you're doing and why it is helpful - it is important for everyone in the lab to be on the same page in terms of the work that is being done. Also, don't be afraid to ask others for help and advice!

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