Tag Archives: Mathematics

Last Summer Internship at Google NYC by Khanh Ha Nguyen ‘27

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Name: Khanh Ha Nguyen
Class Year: 2027
Major: Computer Science, Mathematics

Internship Organization: Google
Internship Title: Software Engineer Intern
Location: New York, NY

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

I am currently interning on the Google Drive team, where I am working on frontend development and making changes to improve the user experience. It has been really exciting to work on a product that I’ve used for years and get to see how a large-scale product like Google Drive is built and maintained behind the scenes.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I have been applying to Google since my freshman year of college, so finally getting the opportunity to intern here has been incredibly meaningful to me. Google has always been my dream company because I’ve grown up using and loving its products, from YouTube to Google Drive and Maps. Being able to contribute to products that have been such a big part of my everyday life is something I’ve always wanted to experience.

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

One thing I have learned is how important context is when communicating technical ideas. I used to sometimes jump straight into the details, especially in design docs, without providing enough background. Through this internship, I’ve learned that explaining the “why” and giving enough context upfront makes it much easier for others to understand and give useful feedback.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

The most rewarding part is being able to see my frontend changes become part of a real product and eventually roll out to enterprise customers. It’s exciting to know that something I built will be used by real people at scale.

Embracing a Bigger Mission Through Finance by Quynh-Chi Tran ‘27

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Name: Quynh-Chi Tran
Class Year: 2027
Majors: Mathematics, Economics

Internship Organization: Options for All
Internship Title: Financial Analyst Intern
Location: San Diego, CA

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

When I started my internship at Options for All, I expected to spend most of my time behind a computer working with spreadsheets, financial data, and forecasts. While that is definitely a big part of what I do, my experience has become much broader than just the day-to-day responsibilities

At Options For All, I support financial planning and analysis for a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My work includes analyzing revenue, expenses, cash flow, and financial performance, while also finding ways to make reporting processes more efficient through automation and data analysis.

What has made the experience especially meaningful, though, is getting to see beyond the numbers. I have had opportunities to interact with clients and better understand who Options For All serves and how its programs impact their daily lives. That first-hand experience has given me a different perspective on my work. Instead of viewing a budget or forecast as just numbers in a spreadsheet, I can better understand the people and programs behind those numbers and why effective financial planning matters.

The internship has also provided opportunities to learn and connect outside of the office. Through company activities, I have had the chance to visit Seaworld and the San Diego Zoo, watch a Padres game, and even go surfing with my coworkers. These experiences have been a great way to get to know the team outside of work and experience more of San Diego.

Another highlight was having lunch with the executive team. It was a valuable opportunity to hear about their career experiences, learn more about Options for All from a leadership perspective, and better understand how different teams contribute to the organization’s mission.

Overall, this internship has taught me that seeing the purpose behind my work helps me do it better. Understanding what problem each task is helping solve and how it supports Options For All gives me more context when approaching my work. Instead of simply completing a forecast, report, or analysis, I can better understand why it matters, what decisions it supports, and how it contributes to the organization’s mission.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I was initially searching for opportunities in finance and came across Options For All. I had mostly been exposed to finance in a traditional business setting, so I was curious about what finance looks like in a nonprofit organization and how financial planning supports a different type of mission. I wanted to gain hands-on experience in areas like budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis while learning how those skills apply in a nonprofit environment. That curiosity about the organization and the opportunity to see a different side of finance is what led me to apply. 

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?

One of the biggest things I have learned during this internship is that the most valuable skills go beyond technical knowledge. I have developed stronger problem-solving skills by learning to look at a process and ask critical questions: Why are we doing it this way? Is there a better way? What problem are we actually trying to solve?

Through my work, I have been able to identify inefficiencies and find ways to improve processes rather than simply completing tasks as they were given to me. This has taught me to be more proactive and think critically about my work. These skills are important to me because I want to be someone who does not just complete a task, but understands the problem behind it and looks for ways to make the process more effective.

Was this internship what you expected it to be?

Not exactly, but in a better way than I expected. I originally thought the internship would be mostly technical work, focused on financial analysis, reporting, and learning new tools. While I have gained a lot of that experience, I did not expect the internship to be such a well-rounded experience.

I was initially a little intimidated by the idea of interacting with the executive team, but I quickly realized how approachable and supportive everyone was. I also learned that an internship does not have to be limited to completing assigned work. The people you meet, the conversations you have, and the experiences you share with your team can be just as valuable in shaping your professional growth.

Overall, the experience has shown me that an internship can be both a professional learning experience and an opportunity to build genuine relationships, step outside of my comfort zone, and enjoy the experience along the way.

A Summer at Founder’s Hall by Bailey Reed ‘27

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Name: Bailey Reed
Class Year: 2027
Major: Mathematics
Minor: Africana Studies

Internship Organization: Founder’s Hall at Girard College
Internship Title: Historical Research Intern
Location: Philadelphia, PA

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

This summer, I’ve taken over an expansive historical demographics project tracing Girard College’s student population across its history. Basically, I dug through on-site ledgers, presidents’ reports, and graduation cards, along with online census data, in order to construct a larger picture. I’ve been looking at where students’ families came from, how the racial makeup of the student body shifted over decades, and religious affiliation trends since the College’s founding in 1848.

Polished vs. Unpolished silver goblets

My research is heavily focused on the desegregation era, which has a prominent presence in Girard’s history. Girard was founded exclusively for “white orphan boys”, and it took a decades-long legal and civil rights battle to change. Cecil B. Moore led seven months of daily picketing outside the school’s walls in 1965. The case eventually worked its way through the federal courts, and in 1968 Girard admitted its first Black students – William Dade, Owen Gowans III, Theodore Hicks, and Carl Riley. Tracing that shift directly in the enrollment records and watching the numbers change has been genuinely moving, especially as an Africana Studies student.

Alongside this project, I’ve had quite a few sidequests, including building a bibliography of works that reference Girard College’s archival holdings, tracing club and extracurricular data through yearbooks, digging into the history of yellow fever in Philadelphia (everyone should read A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Black People, During the Late Awful Calamity in Philadelphia!), working with our digital assets to put names to faces, and cataloging our extensive postcard collection. I’ve also gotten to work in outward-facing roles with guests and social media, and inward-facing roles like handling materials. It’s been a lot of fun because the museum basically runs as a one-person operation, so I’ve gotten to touch nearly every part of it.

Why did you apply for this internship?

Founder’s Hall secret basement collection

As a Mathematics major, I have been asked this question quite frequently throughout the summer. The short answer is that I love museum work, and wanted to branch out into the research world before starting my thesis next semester. I think that Mathematics definitely has its place in the archival world, and I have used a lot of my digital/ statistical analysis skills throughout my time at Girard. My background is heavily museum-based, and I hope to continue in this field after graduation. I’m grateful that my research ended up centering on desegregation, something I’ve researched heavily during my time at Bryn Mawr.


What has been your favorite part of this internship?

I have really enjoyed my time in the space itself. Founder’s Hall is actually a National Historic Landmark, one of the most important distinctions a building of its kind can have, and the building and its surroundings are beautiful and quite serene. My lunch breaks have been a highlight of the summer, since I get to walk around campus and take in all the beauty of the space. I’ve also come to really appreciate how physical my job can be. I love handling the materials, especially polishing silver. It’s so satisfying!

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

My favorite postcard in the collection

Unprotected left turns! Working and living in a big city has been very new to me as an Albuquerque-resident-turned-Bryn-Mawr-Student, but the experience has been incredible. I feel like I’ve learned just as much outside my internship as I have within it. Also, through my wonderful boss, I’ve had the chance to meet people at other archival institutions across the city, and it’s been amazing to see the kinds of connections that form within Philadelphia’s historical community.

Purity Wanjiku ’27: Finding the Mathematics Behind Policy

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Name: Purity Wanjiku
Class Year: 2027
Majors: Mathematics, Economics
Minor: Data Science

Internship Organization: Bryn Mawr College Summer Research
Internship Title: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Location: Bryn Mawr, PA

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

This summer, I have been conducting Mathematics research under the supervision of Professor Leslie Cheng at Bryn Mawr College. My project focuses on the mathematical foundations of multiple regression and the Difference-in-Differences method, using Kenya’s Free Maternity Services Policy as the motivating application. Much of my work has involved reading econometrics textbooks and research papers, studying how these methods are derived mathematically, and writing the methodology chapter of my thesis. I have also met regularly with Professor Cheng to discuss new ideas, refine my understanding, and improve my academic writing. Through this process, I have developed a deeper appreciation for how Mathematics and Economics work together to answer important public policy questions.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship because I wanted to deepen my understanding of the Mathematics behind econometrics. After taking econometrics, I knew how to apply methods such as multiple regression, but I wanted to understand where these methods came from, why they work, and the assumptions that make them valid. The opportunity to study these methods while researching a policy from my home country made the project particularly meaningful to me. This research opportunity allowed me to explore those questions while combining my interests in Mathematics and Economics. I was also excited to work closely with Professor Cheng, develop my research skills, and gain experience that would prepare me for graduate study and a future in quantitative research.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

One of the biggest challenges was becoming comfortable with not understanding everything immediately. Many of the mathematical derivations and econometric papers were much more advanced than anything I had encountered in class. Instead of getting discouraged, I learned to approach difficult material patiently by breaking it into smaller pieces, revisiting concepts several times, and asking questions during meetings. Over time, I became more confident tackling complex ideas independently, which has changed the way I approach challenging academic material.

Was this internship what you expected it to be?

Not exactly but in a good way. I expected to spend most of my time learning Mathematical techniques, but I didn’t realize how much independent thinking research requires. I learned that research is rarely a straight path; understanding one concept often raises new questions to explore. I also discovered how important reflection and discussion are in the research process. Regular conversations with my supervisor helped me think more critically about my work and showed me that developing as a researcher is just as much about asking thoughtful questions as it is about finding answers.

Ann Lin ’29 Dives into Entrepreneurship at NCKU’s Innovation Headquarters

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Name: Ann Lin
Class Year: 2029
Major: Mathematics

Internship Organization: National Cheng Kung University Innovation Headquarters Internship Title: Research and Operations Intern
Location: Tainan, Taiwan

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

My internship consists of two main parts: research and operations. On the research side, I’ve been studying startup accelerator programs at universities around the world and comparing how they support student entrepreneurs. On the operations side, I have been rotating through different departments to learn how the center supports startups. I’ve helped organize several events, including a startup and venture capital matchmaking session, an awards ceremony for the Innovation Dreams Come True Project, a case competition for undergraduate students, and many more!

Why did you apply for this internship?

I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship, but what made this internship unique was the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship from the perspective of a facilitator and educator rather than an entrepreneur. I was able to interact with startups at different stages and see how a startup accelerator helps them grow their ideas into successful ventures. 

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

Communication has been the biggest challenge for me. While I am typically comfortable engaging with new people, being an intern has taught me that communicating in a professional office environment comes with its own challenges, particularly when it comes to asking for help. During my second week, I was unexpectedly given the responsibility of planning the award ceremony for the Innovation Dreams Come True. Coordinating the event required collaboration across the entire team, and as an intern, there were still many things I was unfamiliar with. At first, I hesitated to reach out to busy colleagues because I wasn’t sure if it would be impolite to interrupt them with questions. Over time, however, I realized that everyone was more than willing to help, and I just needed to learn how to communicate clearly and efficiently.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship has been learning about the various projects people are working on and having the opportunity to help shape some of them. In particular, I really enjoyed participating in the planning of a case competition aimed at connecting undergraduate students with real-world problems. Rather than simply giving students a business case to solve, we brought participants to the site where the problem was taking place, conducted field research, and interviewed local organizations and stakeholders. I had the opportunity to help plan these activities and contribute to discussions about the competition format and mentorship structure. It was especially rewarding to see the events come together.

Kashf Ali ’28: From Algorithms to Headlines: My Summer in Freiburg

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Name: Kashf Ali
Class Year: 2028
Majors: Computer Science & Mathematics

Internship Organization:  University of Freiburg
Internship Title: Research Assistant — NLP & Media Analysis
Location: Freiburg, Germany

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

This summer I’m working as a research assistant at a psychology lab in Freiburg, Germany, on a project that sits right at the crossroads of computer science and psychology. The goal is to understand how German-language news media covers the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, things like gender equality, clean water, climate action, and poverty reduction, and whether there are goals that barely get covered at all.

My job is to build the data pipeline that answers that question. I’m working with a dataset of millions of German news sentences since 1995, running each one through a multilingual AI model that reads the sentence and assigns it to whichever UN goal it’s most about. I then analyze the results to find patterns; which goals dominate the headlines, which ones are essentially invisible, and whether different outlets cover different goals. So far, gender equality is the most covered goal while no poverty and decent work barely register. Those gaps are exactly what the research is trying to explain.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I’ve always wanted to find a version of computer science that felt connected to something bigger than just the code itself. I’m drawn to questions about people; how they think, what they pay attention to, what shapes their understanding of the world. When I came across this opportunity to combine NLP with psychology research on something as meaningful as global sustainability goals, it felt like exactly the kind of interdisciplinary work I’d been hoping to find. I also wanted real research experience like something where the decisions I made actually affected the findings. This internship gave me both.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

The moment when things finally clicked.

I spent a few days early on trying to find an AI model that could actually read German text well enough to be useful for the project. First one gave completely wrong results. Second one crashed on loading. By the third attempt I was pretty much just hoping for the best and then it actually worked. A sentence about climate change and oceans came back labeled correctly. A sentence about a gender equality law hit 96% confidence. It was one of those quiet moments where you just sit back and think, okay, we’re doing this.

What I didn’t expect was how interesting the results themselves would turn out to be. After running the pipeline on thousands of German news sentences, patterns started emerging: “Gender Equality” was everywhere, showing up in nearly 17% of matched sentences. “No Poverty” barely registered at 0.1%. That’s not just a fun data point, it’s actually saying something real about which global issues German media thinks are worth covering and which ones it essentially ignores. The research question suddenly felt very alive in a way it hadn’t when I was just building the pipeline.

But honestly, it’s not just the work. Freiburg itself has been a huge part of what makes this summer special. It’s a small city in the southwest corner of Germany, right at the edge of the Black Forest, and it has this energy that’s hard to describe — sunny, relaxed, full of students, with little streams called Bächle running along the streets that you will absolutely step in at least once. My colleagues have made it even better. Lunch breaks turn into long conversations, someone always knows a good spot to grab food, and the whole environment just makes you want to show up every day.

That combination — work that actually means something, in a place this good, with people this easy to be around — has made this a summer I’ll genuinely remember.

Was this internship what you expected it to be?

Honestly, not at all — but in the best way.

I expected something more straightforward. Build a pipeline, process some data, hand it off. What I didn’t expect was how many judgment calls were actually mine to make. Which model to use. How confident the AI needs to be before we trust its answer. How to handle sentences that are technically ambiguous. None of that has a right answer you can just look up; you think it through, discuss it with your supervisor, and make a call. That felt new and a little uncomfortable at first, and then really exciting.

I also didn’t expect how much the environment itself would matter. The colleagues who pull you into lunch conversations, the supervisor who asks what you think instead of just telling you what to do and it all adds up. I came here to learn how research works. I didn’t realize I’d also get to feel like an actual part of it.

A Summer of Polymer Physics Research at the University of Freiburg with Linnea Siderhurst ‘27 

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Name: Linnea Siderhurst
Class Year: 2027
Major:  Mathematics
 
Internship Organization: livMatS Cluster, University of Freiburg
Internship Title: Research Intern
Location: Freiburg, Germany

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

I am interning at the livMatS cluster of the University of Freiburg, which is a part of the department of engineering. This research cluster takes inspiration from the natural world to create bio-inspired technology and engineering solutions. One current research area at livMatS is hygromorphic actuation: an energy-free technology with applications in sustainable architecture. Under the supervision of my mentors, I am working on a simulation which will hopefully provide insight into the chemical physics driving hygromorphic actuation. So far, I have been doing literature reviews on topics such as polymer physics and molecular dynamics simulation, and have used Python and LAMMPS to investigate the effects of various parameters on my simulation.

Why did you apply for this internship?

This internship is run through the Innovation Academy summer internship program, which provides the opportunity for students to live in Germany and participate in sustainability-focused internships. I was drawn to this because of the opportunity to travel and because I saw that doing research at the University of Freiburg was one of the internship options. I am hoping to continue doing research in some capacity in graduate school, so this program seemed like the perfect way to try out research and get to experience a new place! I would definitely recommend this program to students who have not gotten the chance to study abroad and are passionate about climate justice and sustainability.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship has been the location and my lovely fellow Innovation Academy interns. Freiburg is a beautiful city with so many fun summertime events such as festivals, flea markets, and pride events! I’ve also loved being in a place with so much access to history. I’ve greatly enjoyed seeing all the historical architecture around Freiburg and have gotten to explore some amazing art and history museums. In our first week here, we even had the opportunity to visit the reconstructed Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg castle in Alsace, France. And, of course, I have to shout out the friends I have made here for adding so much to this experience. The simple moments of sitting outside and chatting about life and getting to know new people might even beat out the breathtaking views and castles.

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

I expected to be spending most of my time working in a laboratory setting and completing mostly experimental work. However, my research project is entirely theoretical and simulation-based. This was definitely an interesting adjustment, and it was stressful at first because I felt like I didn’t really know what I was doing, and it was different from what I had envisioned. Now that I have gotten a bit more comfortable, I have realized just how much this project has been teaching me. I have gained computing skills such as coding with Python and tuning LAMMPS simulations, and I have learned the importance of adaptability in a research environment. Things almost never go the way they do in our heads, and it is so important to learn how to handle changes (and maybe even enjoy them, but I’m not quite there yet). 

Finally Making a Decision with Aleydis Barnes ‘27

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Name: Aleydis Barnes
Class Year: 2027
Major: Mathematics, Minor: French and Francophone Studies
 
Internship Organization: Research Institute for Migration and Forced Displacement Management (FORM)
Internship Title: Copy-Editor, Event Summary-Writer
Location: Vienna, Austria
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

At my internship, research is completed covering migration policy and the realities of migrant experiences. The institute publishes articles, attends events, and participates in the development of articles for specific journals. Throughout my internship, I acted as a representative of the institute, being present at talks about the circumstances of Yezidi refugees as a result of Germany asylum policy changes, and a debrief with stakeholders about the consequences of the recent EU Asylum Reform. I copy-edited articles from the institute, found potential peer-reviewers for research authors, wrote summaries for the events that I participated in, and assisted with technical problems.

Exploring the Business and Economics University of Vienna! 

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship because I was interested in working internationally, and hoped to gain experience in fields that I was considering to enter following graduation from Bryn Mawr. As a result, I applied for the internship abroad at Vienna, and detailed how I wanted to explore law and justice, as well as statistics, in my work. 

Working remotely for the first time? What has that experience been like for you?

Working remotely taught me a lot about self-direction. I learned that I really appreciated getting to decide for myself the most effective manner of working on tasks, with less hand-holding and assistance. Unlike in school, where we are given rubrics and assignments delineated with clear specifications, at my internship, tasks were largely left up to me to figure out. I could make my work as in-depth as I wanted, and I really enjoyed getting to do my best, without worrying about grades or meeting extremely rigid expectations. Instead, I learned to answer questions that I posed to myself about my goals and my beliefs about my skills. I do think that I should have explored Vienna more, potentially, as working remotely, I stayed inside for much of the internship, avoiding the heat wave as much as I could.

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?

The three adjectives that I would give this internship are Interesting, Hopeful, and Dedicated. Interesting because I found myself diving deep into the field of research, fascinated by all of the work behind the scenes of policy that I hadn’t been aware of before. Hopeful, since, in seeing people’s steadfast commitment to human rights and uplifting marginal voices, I was reminded of the positive powers that exist in the world. Dedicated because the people doing the work were so passionate and determined, that they left a mark on me. I hope that I can do similar in the future. The three nouns that I would use are research, policy, and human-rights.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

The most rewarding part of my internship has been getting to feel like I’ve learned more about what I want to do in my life, and my skills. I wasn’t sure what field I really wanted to enter into following graduation, but throughout my time here in Vienna, I have learned that I have a real passion for working quantitatively on analyzing policy decisions and implications. This has been a huge positive part of my summer, and I’m so glad that I had this opportunity to participate.

Goat a Load of This by Jeanne Hardy ‘27 

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Name: Jeanne Hardy
Class Year: 2027
Major: Mathematics
 
Internship Organization: Philly Goat Project
Internship Title: Farm Hand & Operations Intern
Location: Philadelphia, PA
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

Me and Ivy, the matriarch of the herd

Tucked away on the quiet and picturesque acres of Awbury Arboretum, thirteen charming, playful, and delightful goats live, eat, and play. These goats belong to the Philly Goat Project, a non-profit organization that strives to create an environment where community members can foster a connection with nature and improve their well-being. This summer, I am lucky enough to be one of PGP’s volunteers where I help with morning care, barn cleaning, trick training, goat events, and more. My favorite part of my internship so far has been the time I have spent working alongside my fellow volunteers and coworkers as well as getting to know each and every goat! I would highly encourage anyone interested to visit Philly Goat Project’s farm at Awbury Arboretum or to attend any of their upcoming events!

Teddy (left) and Ray (right) are half-brothers. Ray is a three-legged goat!

Why did you apply for this internship?

When thinking about where I wanted to volunteer this summer, I knew I wanted to be outside and do something that would allow to explore areas of Philadelphia that were new to me. When I found the Philly Goat Project, I knew it would be a great fit as it also provided me with an opportunity to work with animals! Now, over halfway through my internship, I am confident I could not have chosen a better organization to volunteer with and am so glad to have gotten to know the people and goats that keep the organization running!

Goats on a grazing site at Awbury Farm

What is most rewarding about your internship?

Seeing the goats happy and well-fed is one of the most rewarding parts of my day. During my internship, I have helped build multiple grazing-sites where to goats spend a couple hours of the day eating anything and everything in their path. Food is the key to any goat’s heart, so seeing them gleefully chowing down thanks to my and my coworker’s hard work worth it. Additionally, I find that many of the events I have helped with have been rewarding experiences. Many of these events have been at libraries where children and their families are encouraged to interact with the goats and do activities such as walking the goats, reading a story with the goats, and playing games. These events have shown me first-hand how spending time in nature with animals brings communities together and can provide a calm and fun environment for people of all ages to enjoy.

Was this internship what you expected it to be?

I certainly did not expect to be in a full Gritty costume playing the troll in PGP’s production of Philly Goats Gruff for a couple dozen of elementary schoolers on a hot day in center city Philadelphia when I began my internship. With that said, I have been pleasantly surprised with how my internship has turned out. I certainly expected to interact with goats (which I have done a lot of), but I did not expect the goats to be as intelligent and, at times, compassionate as they are. I have found myself grown quite attached to them and plan to continue volunteering at Philly Goat Project in the coming semester!  

Preventing the Spread of Lyme Disease by Hope Hsu ‘27

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Name: Hope Hsu
Class Year: 2027
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Minor: Mathematics
 
Internship Organization: San Francisco State University
Internship Title:  Research Assistant
Location:  San Francisco, CA
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

The Swei lab studies disease ecology. The project that I am working on in the lab is a CDC-funded collaborative project across the country. We are studying the effect of preemptively treating the animals that ticks feed on to lower the rate of Lyme disease transmission. Our section of the project looks at the spread of Lyme disease around the SF Bay Area. We go out into the field and collect ticks. We then take those samples and identify their genus and species with microscopy. Once we have identified their species, we can take Ixodes Pacificus Nymphs (IPAC N) (genus, species, life stage) and extract their DNA. IPAC N are the ticks that can carry Lyme disease, while the nymphal stage is the most likely to have the infection. The extracted DNA is then processed with nested PCR to test for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that infects the ticks with lyme.

Why did you apply for this internship?  

This internship closely aligns with my interest in disease management and vaccines. After the pandemic, I found myself interested in researching the science behind disease prevention. I was especially interested in this lab because it studies vector-borne diseases transmitted by ticks to humans. A lot of talk about contagious diseases covers ones that are spread from person to person. Lyme disease, however, is not, yet it still is a large problem across the coasts. This internship would also allow me to be close to home this summer.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship? 

One thing that surprised me during the internship was the field work. I didn’t know that I was going to be helping with field work as well as in the lab. However, it was a valuable experience. I have gained so much more respect than I already had for people who do field work. In order to collect samples for my lab (tick drags/camera work) one must hike up into the mountains. Then hike OFF of the path and onto steep hill sides in order to better collect samples as that is the area that ticks prefer to live in. Not only is it incredibly physically challenging, it is mentally difficult too. Not many people have ever had the goal of getting ticks on them. In the end I learned that although I may not be cut out for field work I am more capable than I thought. 
 
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?  

Nouns: 

* IPAC Ticks – After identifying many different species of ticks, these are the kind that can carry Lyme disease. 

* Code – Learning to use R to use generalized linear models. 

* Ethanol – Berillia (the bacteria that causes lyme) contaminated even the air, so ethanol and bleach must be used to keep areas uncontaminated.  

Adjectives: 

* Challenging 

* Relevant 

* Exciting