Name: Iris Kim
Class Year: 2026
Major: Linguistics
Minor: Chinese
Internship Organization: Swarthmore College
Internship Title: Research Assistant
Location: Philadelphia, PA
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
Hi! I’m Iris Kim, a rising senior at Bryn Mawr majoring in linguistics. This summer, I interned at Swarthmore College under Professor Donna Jo Napoli, working on two of her ongoing projects: her nonprofit RISE and her academic research on sign language phonology. One of my favorite projects this summer was writing a Python program to help organize and store sign language data for future analysis. Sign language dictionaries rely on video and image content rather than text, which can make digital storage and research tricky. Using skills I learned through Bryn Mawr’s Computer Science department, I designed a tool that I hope will be useful to other linguists studying sign language.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I found the opportunity through the Tri-College Consortium’s linguistics email list—a resource that supports community and shares professional opportunities across the Tri-Co linguistics program. (Learn more about Bryn Mawr’s program here: https://www.brynmawr.edu/academics/majors-minors-and-concentrations/linguistics.) I applied hoping to get firsthand experience in applied linguistics research, since most of my experience thus far has been with theoretical linguistics. I wanted to help people, and learn what it looks like to help people from within academia.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
Not really, but I don’t mind! At first, I thought my role would focus solely on producing bimodal video-books for RISE—videos that combine a written language with a sign language, created in partnership with deaf schools around the world. I was hired to help edit graphics and video materials. But on my first day, Donna Jo explained that RISE’s workflow depends on outreach cycles; sometimes multiple schools want to collaborate, and other times things are quieter. I worried that the summer might be slower than expected—but Donna Jo assured me there would always be meaningful work to do. And while we didn’t receive new partner requests this summer, I’ve been deeply involved in outreach efforts and have assisted in her academic research on sign language. This array of projects gave me a look into Donna Jo’s career, giving me more experience with the field as a whole than I had expected.
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
Over this summer, I have practiced the skills of computer programming, data analysis, and research– specifically in the area of designing studies. This internship has clarified for me where in these areas I am strong, and where I can seek more education in. But it also turned out to be more than a skills-building opportunity. I came in expecting rigid deadlines and clearly defined tasks. Instead, I found a flexible environment where creativity, problem-solving, and forward thinking were not only encouraged but expected. I have watched as Donna Jo made decisions about what steps to take in her work to best contribute to her academic field, help deaf children, and prepare RISE for future endeavors. She has given me room to ask questions, contribute ideas, and shape the direction of our work together. I look forward to applying this adaptive workflow in future endeavors.