Tag Archives: Neuroscience

From Everyday Technology to Alzheimer’s Prevention by Richemie Chery ‘27

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Name: Richemie Chery
Class Year: 2027
Major: Neuroscience

Internship Organization: Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Anatomy & Neurobiology Department
Location:  Boston, Massachusettes

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

When I switched my major to neuroscience at Bryn Mawr College, I knew I wanted to learn more about the field, but I wasn’t entirely sure what neuroscience research actually looked like. That curiosity led me to apply for an internship in Dr. Rhoda Au’s lab at the Anatomy & Neurobiology Department at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine last summer. I pictured researchers in white lab coats surrounded by sophisticated equipment, running experiments in a fast-paced laboratory. Instead, I walked into a welcoming office where collaboration, conversation, and participant care were just as important as the science itself.

In this lab, I found collaborative teammates, participant technology, and researchers united by a common goal: finding better ways to detect Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear. I enjoyed the experience so much that I returned this summer, taking on greater responsibilities while continuing to learn from an incredible team.

One of the most fascinating things I learned was that Alzheimer’s research doesn’t always rely on expensive equipment or invasive testing. The lab studies how everyday technologies, such as smartphone sensors that measure typing speed, wearable sleep rings that monitor sleep quality, and cognitive games, may reveal subtle signs of cognitive decline years before traditional symptoms appear. I was amazed that researchers could learn so much from behaviors most of us rarely think twice about.

Throughout the summer, I organized and maintained the technology inventory used by participants, monitored device usage to support data quality, attended research meetings, and contributed to a project examining why participants withdrew from the study. These responsibilities showed me that even behind-the-scenes work plays an important role in advancing research.

One of my favorite parts of the internship was interacting with participants. I shadowed study visits as participants came to the office for cognitive assessments and informed consent appointments, and I accompanied researchers and participants to the hospital for MRI visits. Watching researchers answer questions and build trust reminded me that every data point represents a real person volunteering to advance science. Although I wasn’t able to independently make participant phone calls because my system access wasn’t finalized in time, I learned how essential communication and empathy are in clinical research. The lab even emphasized customer service skills during hiring because making participants feel comfortable is central to successful research.

Reading scientific papers throughout the internship also changed how I think about Alzheimer’s disease. I was surprised to learn how everyday lifestyle factors, including sleep, exercise, diet, and social engagement, can influence brain health. I left the experience not only with a deeper understanding of neuroscience but also with a greater appreciation for how our daily habits may shape our cognitive health over time.

As a Bryn Mawr neuroscience student hoping to become a Physician Assistant, this internship connected what I learned in the classroom with real-world clinical research. More importantly, it showed me that meaningful scientific discoveries depend not only on innovative technology, but also on teamwork, organization, and compassionate relationships with the people who make the research possible.

Interested in neuroscience research? Learn more about Bryn Mawr’s Department of Neuroscience and the opportunities available for students to engage in meaningful research on and off campus.

Faiqah Oladejo ’28: Research Internship with University of Pennsylvania Neuroscience Department

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Name: Faiqah Oladejo
Class Year: 2028
Major: Neurosicence

Internship Organization: University of Pennsylvania
Internship Title: 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 worked as a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania in the Neuroscience department. During my time there, I helped with an ongoing project that deals with determining the novel roles of the Prostaglandin D2-PTGDR pathway in migraine pathophysiology. At the beginning of my summer, I began quantifying stained neurons. As time went by, I learned to genotype mouse samples and perform PCR, gel electrophoresis, and gel imaging, as well as to read and interpret the results.

In addition, I assisted with mouse dissections and learned how to cryosection tissue samples, including the nodose and trigeminal ganglia, which were later stained for observation.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship because I wanted to learn more about neuroscience beyond the classroom. As a visual and hands-on learner, I wanted to apply the concepts I learned in class through hands-on research.

Was there anything special about how you found this internship?

Earlier in the semester, I was unsure of what I wanted to do over the summer, but I knew I wanted to conduct research. After speaking with a Haverford alum, I was encouraged to reach out to faculty members at CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania who lead research labs and express my interest in conducting research in their labs over the summer.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

The most rewarding part of my internship was being able to contribute to the lab. My mentor was often busy, and it was rewarding to know that I could perform tasks that helped her and took some of the burden off her shoulders.

Meet Coco’27: A Neuroscience Research Intern at The University of Vienna

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Name: Coco Pannell
Class Year: 2027
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Health Studies

Internship Organization: SCAN Unit – Universität Wien
Internship Title: Neuroscience Research Intern
Location: Vienna, Austria

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

This summer, I’ve been interning with the SCAN Unit at the University of Vienna through IES Abroad, where every week has brought something new. Rather than focusing on just one project, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to many different aspects of research, giving me a behind-the-scenes look at how a neuroscience lab operates. Dr. Ekaterina Pronizius is my main supervisor; however, I work as an intern for the entire lab. It is an international lab, so I’ve been able to get involved in research projects for world-renowned scientists from many different countries.

Some of my projects have included testing and troubleshooting online experiments built in PsychoPy, reviewing educational materials, editing research documents, creating presentations on scientific literature, and assisting in collaborations between the SCAN Unit and the Medical University of Vienna. One week I was responsible for delivering blood samples to the Medical Universities Labs. I will never forget carrying the blood-filled vials through the busy streets of center city Vienna, while trying to decipher what incredibly exciting results were encoded into the participants lab results. I’ve also had the chance to proctor university exams and assist with a variety of ongoing lab projects. As an intern for IES abroad, I am also enrolled in an experiential learning seminar course on global workplace culture specifically in the sciences. We got to visit a new lab every week and learn about their research. One week we even got a special visit to the United Nations Headquarters!

One of my favorite parts of the internship has been learning about affective neuroscience and social cognition. Seeing how behavioral experiments and neuroimaging studies are designed, refined, and carried out has given me a completely new appreciation for the research process. The field of Neuroscience is so much more expansive than I previously thought. The SCAN-Unit alone does experiments that range from fNIRS to canine labs to blood work.

The variety of work has made every week different, and I’ve learned not only about neuroscience but also about collaboration, organization, and the many moving pieces required to keep research projects running smoothly. I did not only gain work experience, but the SCAN Unit also introduced me to new research questions about how people perceive, understand, and respond to the emotions and experiences of others. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m excited to bring these new skills and perspectives back with me to Bryn Mawr.

Why did you apply for this internship?

Applying for this internship was certainly not a linear path. As the daughter of a flight attendant, I was fortunate enough to travel extensively from a young age. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for different cultures and the ways in which history, values, and lived experiences shape communities. They also sparked my desire to one day work in an international environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but actively shape decisions and innovation.

One experience that reinforced this passion came from an Innovation Design course I took at the University of Pennsylvania. We discussed an engineering competition with a million-dollar prize to design a sustainable, low-cost toilet for rural communities. Hundreds of talented engineers and scientists proposed remarkably sophisticated solutions. Yet, many overlooked the most valuable source of knowledge: the people who would actually use the technology. The communities themselves had developed practical, effective solutions over generations, but few competitors had taken the time to ask for their input. That lesson has stayed with me. It taught me that meaningful innovation begins with listening and that the best solutions are often created with communities rather than simply for them.

As someone who hopes to pursue a career in medicine, I believe the same principle applies to healthcare and scientific research. Addressing complex global challenges requires interdisciplinary and internationally diverse teams that value different perspectives and experiences. I wanted an internship that would allow me to experience this kind of collaborative environment firsthand while learning how research is conducted across cultures.

The SCAN Unit at the University of Vienna was the perfect blend. Its international team and research in affective neuroscience offered the opportunity to explore not only the biological foundations of empathy, emotion, and social cognition but also how collaboration itself strengthens scientific discovery. The SCAN Unit studies how our social experiences are shaped by the brain, which was particularly fascinating because much of my previous thinking had centered on how our environments shape who we are. This internship showed me that our biology and our unique environment work together to influence human behavior.

Vienna was the perfect city for my first international work experience, it was a very unique type of work environment and a city of unique social rules that pushed me enough out of my comfort zone to broaden my perspective and feel more confident to take on more intellectually lucrative challenges in the future

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship was the opportunity to constantly challenge myself by trying new things. Every week brought a different project, and I found myself learning far more than I had expected, not only academically but in research skills. I’ve gained a lot of confidence in the different phases of a research project.

By the end of the summer, I had gained confidence in many stages of a research project, from reviewing scientific literature and testing experiments to communicating ideas and contributing to collaborative projects.

One of the highlights of my internship was the opportunity to speak with neuroscientists from a wide range of backgrounds. Each scientist had their own unique educational pathway and worked through a unique organizational environment. However, they all share a commitment to collaboration, curiosity, and improving our understanding of the human condition. Seeing all these different scientists encouraged me to remain open to unexpected opportunities and that there is no correct path into your future career.

Working in the SCAN Unit also gave me a much deeper appreciation for affective neuroscience and its impact. I came to understand how studying empathy, social cognition, and human behavior can improve our understanding of mental health, relationships, and society as a whole. It showed me that neuroscience extends far beyond the laboratory. It has the potential to make a meaningful difference in people’s everyday lives.

Most importantly, this internship gave me confidence in myself. My supervisor consistently trusted me with new challenges, allowing me to take on projects that initially felt outside my comfort zone. It gave me lots of insight into how capable of a changemaker I can be. Looking back, I realize how much I have grown as both a student and an aspiring researcher. I leave Vienna more confident in my ability to tackle ambitious projects, embrace unfamiliar opportunities, be a leader, and pursue a career driven by curiosity and passion head on.

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

One of the biggest challenges of my internship was becoming part of an active research team in a field that was entirely new to me. Before arriving in Vienna, I had a strong background in neuroscience coursework, but affective neuroscience and social cognition were unfamiliar areas. I quickly realized that contributing meaningful feedback or participating in discussions required much more than simply completing assigned tasks, it required understanding the literature, learning the terminology, and appreciating the broader questions the researchers were trying to answer. Learning a new field while simultaneously contributing to ongoing projects was challenging, but it also taught me how to identify key ideas, recognize important research trends, and become a more efficient scientific learner.

Another challenge was adapting to a new academic and professional culture. Working in Austria introduced me to different expectations surrounding communication, organization, and workflow. I had to become much more intentional about managing my time, prioritizing tasks, and keeping track of multiple projects. As the internship progressed, I found myself becoming more organized and proactive, skills that will continue to benefit me throughout my academic and professional career.

Finally, stepping into an international research environment was initially intimidating. I was surrounded by accomplished researchers from different countries, many of whom had years of experience and shared cultural backgrounds that I was only beginning to understand. At first, I worried about whether I had enough knowledge or experience to contribute. Over time, however, those feelings gave way to confidence. Through daily interactions, I became much more comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and collaborating with people from a wide range of backgrounds. By the end of the internship, what had once felt intimidating became one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience.

Looking back, these challenges became some of the internship’s greatest lessons. They pushed me to become a more adaptable learner, a more organized researcher, and a more confident collaborator in an international scientific community.

Esma Bilgi ’28: A Summer Printing the Future

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Name: Esma Yagmur Bilgi
Class Year: 2028
Majors: Computer Science & Neuroscience
Minor: Data Science

Internship Organization:  University of Freiburg
Internship Title: livMatS Research Intern
Location: Freiburg, Germany

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

Me and my friend Aila (Columbia’28) enjoying Freiburger Bächlepicknick, while listening to a jazz concert in the city center

This summer I am interning at livMatS, a cluster of the University of Freiburg, focusing on developing autonomous life-like material systems. I work closely with my PhD student supervisor, Yizheng Liu, from the CPI group, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rühe. As a research intern, I spend my days preparing substrates and glass slides, observing polymer synthesis, brainstorming on problems we encounter, and most excitingly, using a two-photon printer to develop micro actuators which will eventually be used to hold and stretch a single, living cell.

Most of my days are spent working in the lab and doing literature review, and attending weekly group meetings, which have been the greatest opportunities to get to know other PhD students’ ongoing research projects! Other than being fully immersed in a highly scientific, research-oriented environment, I have also become a part of a very international workplace, learning about other cultures and drinking various types of tea, even cold brewed for the hottest days of the year!

Why did you apply for this internship?

First hike in France! Picture showing me on top of Château de Saint-Ulrich after a 90-minute-long hike

After doing my summer internship remotely at a data science company last year, I wanted to apply for this internship to learn more about research in international universities and the European culture. As someone considering pursuing a Master’s degree in Europe, this opportunity was very appealing for me because I got to meet many Master’s students and learn more about what pursuing a PhD would be like. Moreover, I was interested in getting exposed to biocompatible, autonomous technologies that are being developed at the University of Freiburg, an institution that is older than the foundation of the United States!

Thus, when I was looking at opportunities Bryn Mawr College offered for the summer, I got intrigued by this specific position as it promised a work experience abroad and glimpse into a different field than mine. Searching more about the area and the university, I fell in love with Freiburg’s sustainable and extremely green environment, including the Black Forest, and the university’s previous projects, such as its snakeskin-inspired molting materials that can shed damaged layers in water to self-repair, and the Biomimetic Shell, an innovative research pavilion modeled after the structural biology of sea urchins and pine cones. And after all the searching, I am here now, contributing to sustainable research thanks to BMC!

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

Me having bubble tea (yum!!) in front of Limmat River and the Fraumünster Curch clock tower in Zürich, Switzerland

I have to admit that the best part of my internship is the endless possibilities to explore neighboring European countries and cities. As an international student already studying in the United States, this experience has felt like a second study abroad opportunity. I am deeply grateful to Bryn Mawr College for providing this amazing internship opportunity that helps me grow as a scientist as well as a multi-cultural person. Other than its cultural exchange perspective, I have enjoyed learning material sciences from different aspects, especially with hands-on research. Even though it was a fully new topic to me, I have been very enthusiastic about learning about polymers, micro actuators, and their applications in various fields, especially biomedical research and environmental studies.

The city I do my research in, Freiburg, and the actual work I do in the lab helped me better grasp material sciences’ real-life applications and importance for our future. This experience has given me a new perspective as a future scientist and inspired me to think about how polymers could be applied in neuroscience. For example, I have already started brainstorming ideas such as using two-photon printing to fabricate an actuatable micro-platform for a single fly brain using biocompatible hybrid material systems that combine rigid structural polymers with smart hydrogels.

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

I am learning how to handle temperature and light-sensitive materials while improving my microscopy skills by observing microstructures approximately 10–60 µm in size. In addition, I have gained experience with laboratory techniques that were new to me, including doctor blading, spin coating, and two-photon printing. Developing these practical laboratory skills is important to me because I want to become a scientist with hands-on experience across different disciplines and familiarity with equipment based on a variety of scientific principles. These experiences contribute to my growth as a future scientist and broaden my perspective on what is possible today – and what is not, at least not yet.

Beyond the technical aspects of my internship, I have also been developing my interpersonal communication skills while working in a new country with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds. This has been one of the most valuable aspects of my experience, as effective communication is essential for successful collaboration and professional growth.

Strengthening my ability to communicate in an international environment will benefit me throughout my career as both a scientist and a professional! 

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

Research is full of barriers to overcome, problems to solve, and dead ends to navigate. I have faced some challenges doing experiments at BMC Shoenhard Lab, but always found a way to navigate them. At livMatS, the biggest challenge I have faced is again related to our project. In theory, everything was supposed to work fine until we put different polymers together on a glass slide. After several attempts, we figured out that solvent used for the middle polymer layer penetrates through the polymer beneath, causing it to become uneven and distorted. My supervisor and I have been trying to solve this issue by using different solvents and coating extra protection layers between the two polymers.

Even though we changed the solvent many times, we have not been able to solve this problem; thus, we resynthesized our bottom layer polymer and will try it once again using it. Because of this issue, we have not been able to fabricate a uniform batch of micro structures. However, I am optimistic that the newly synthesized polymer, together with a mixed-solvent approach that I suggested, will help us overcome this issue. At the end, it is a challenge I love to overcome, and this is how research works.

Audrey Pfister ’28 Reflects on Summer in the Engert Lab

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Name: Audrey Pfister
Class Year: 2028
Majors: Neuroscience, German Studies
 
Internship Organization: Engert Lab, Harvard University
Internship Title: Research Assistant
Location: Cambridge, MA
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

This summer, I am working in the laboratory of Professor Florian Engert at Harvard University, under the supervision of Research Fellow Dr. Christophe Dupré, to map the neural circuitry underlying somersaulting behavior in the freshwater polyp Hydra vulgaris. My work builds on the electron microscopy (EM) tracing I completed last summer, in which I mapped synaptic connections between sensory neurons, interneurons, and glue nematocytes involved in tentacle attachment during summersaulting.

My primary tasks include tracing individual cells in electron microscopy (EM) data using the VAST software platform, slice by slice, to identify synaptic connections; producing 3D reconstructions of traced cells using MATLAB and 3ds Max; and augmenting an existing connectivity matrix. I am particularly focused on two sensory neurons, SN5 and SN6, which converge onto many of the same downstream glue nematocytes, and whose coordinated role in tentacle attachment during somersaulting is a central question of this project.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I first applied for this internship in the spring of 2025 because I knew I wanted to work in a biology lab, as I was interested in STEM. I chose the Engert lab specifically because I am interested in their research on brain circuits, as they allow me to better understand complex behaviors. Dr. Christophe Dupré’s research on the Hydra vulgaris stood out to me because it was a model organism I had not heard of before, and there was not as much research on its neural circuit as other model organisms like C.Elegans and zebrafish.

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

I am learning both my technical skills and my conceptual understanding of neuroscience research. On the technical side, I will continue to develop proficiency in electron microscopy data analysis and in VAST, a specialized software platform for tracing and reconstructing neural structures. I will also gain experience with MATLAB and 3ds Max to produce 3D reconstructions of traced cells, building skills in scientific visualization that are broadly applicable in biological research. Additionally, I will gain experience constructing and interpreting connectivity matrices, which is a vital tool in connectomics for representing synaptic relationships across a neural circuit.

More broadly, I expect to develop a stronger understanding of how individual synaptic connections scale into circuit-level function, and how a simple organism like Hyrda can serve as a powerful model for studying fundamental questions in neuroscience. Working with Dr. Dupré in an active research environment will also give me insight into the day-to-day practice of scientific inquiry, from forming hypotheses about circuit organization to working through data in EM slices.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

The most rewarding part of my internship is knowing that by studying simple organisms like the Hydra vulgaris, I am working to further the field of Neuroscience. As I am interested in working in the research field post-grad, I know how important it is to get hands-on experience, and I am grateful for this opportunity. Being my second summer working under Dr, Dupré, it is especially exciting to be continuing the same research and building my experience and interest in the field. The tools I am using are ones that will be useful in future research, and to those I would like to conduct on my own. 

Sparks Fly: Making (Synaptic) Connections at CHOP by Kyla Truong ‘26 

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Name: Kyla Truong
Class Year: 2026
Major: Neuroscience

Internship Organization: Marsh Laboratory at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute
Internship Title:  Research Intern
Location: Philadelphia, PA

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

My internship is at the Marsh Laboratory, a research laboratory affiliated with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, which specializes in the study of epilepsy. Namely, I am part of two research projects that explore how neurons change shape during learning and memory formation and how these processes are affected by epileptic disorders. Some of my responsibilities include staining for and examining neurons in mouse brains as well as quantitative assessment of changes in cell morphology! 

Why did you apply for this internship?  

As a neuroscience major, I was drawn to the Marsh Laboratory for its focus on studying the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind neurological disorders. In particular, the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in immunohistochemistry techniques, electrophysiology, and other classic neurobiological research techniques fascinated me.  

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

I’ve quickly learned that having patience is the most important skill – and most challenging skill – to have in a research setting. Experiments can take longer than you expect, and it can take weeks to master skills or see any meaningful results. Progress isn’t linear, and success rarely comes immediately. But instead of focusing on the destination, I’ve come to appreciate the journey. This comes in the form of finding joy in understanding the science behind tasks I would normally find tedious, such as creating solutions or preparing slices. This also includes discussing my work with my team and receiving support. Moreover, I learned to be kind to myself when things don’t go as planned and to view past mistakes as learning opportunities. 

What is most rewarding about your internship? 

The connections I’ve made and the skills I have learned are the most rewarding aspects of my internship. I am deeply grateful for my fellow undergraduate interns, who have given me the support and kindness that immediately brighten the work atmosphere. I am also incredibly grateful for my Principal Investigators (PIs) and my postdoctoral technician supervisors. They have been exceptional guides, their patience and gentle instruction motivating me to continue my work even on days when success feels out of reach.  

My internship has shown me just how little I truly know about the brain. But during my time at the Marsh Lab, I have been exposed to several types of neurons and have gathered invaluable knowledge about synaptic connections, learning, memory, and manifestations of neurological disorders. For example, one of my favorite work responsibilities is examining neurons under the microscope. Depending on the area and orientation, neurons can look remarkably different from classic textbook depictions. Synaptic connections are also fascinating to look at, and I am always in awe whenever I observe the neurons because they resemble stars or fireworks. Hence the name of my blog post, “Sparks Fly!” Above all, this internship has enhanced my passion for studying neuroscience and has given me a strong support group from which I can lean on as I continue my endeavors. 

Sophia Kim Conducts Research with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Autism Research 

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Name: Sophia Kim
Class Year:  2027
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Biology
 
Internship Organization:  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Autism Research
Internship Title:  Student Clinical Research Assistant
Location:  Philadelphia, PA
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

This summer, I had an invaluable opportunity to continue my position as a Student Clinical Research Assistant at CHOP’s Center for Autism Research, specifically with the Infant Synchrony team. Our team, consisted of four student interns this summer, aimed to develop a novel screening method using interactional synchrony in hopes to detect earliest signs of autism.

In simple terms, interactional synchrony refers to the temporal coordination or alignment of individuals’ behavior, emotions, speech, during a social interaction. A common example of this would be smiling back at someone who is smiling at you or making eye contact during a conversation. As research has shown various differences in the manifestation of interactional synchrony between neurotypical and autistic individuals, a core study of our team was to further study how interactional synchrony could be used as a tool of detecting early signs of potential autism in infants.

As part of the IS team, a big part of my work included watching infant and caregiver videos taken from earlier clinical study visits and annotating the audio/video data prior to computer analysis. Following the guidelines that indicated which quality factors could potentially impact the analysis, I worked both individually and with my co-interns to encode impacted parts of the video data. Further, throughout my time at CHOP, we were given the opportunity to shadow in-person study visits and observe how developmental and autism assessments (Mullen, ADOS) were conducted through live video footage.

This experience, along with our weekly career talks hosted by the Center for Autism Research alumni and faculty, allowed me to further branch out my interest in clinical research. Lastly, during the last few weeks at my internship, I completed an independent research project studying the “The Role of Culture in Interactional Sychrony and its Relevance to ASD Diagnostic Assessments”, and presented at our annual Student Trainees in Autism Research (STAR) Presentation day. 

Why did you apply for this internship?  

I decided to apply for this internship because I was seeking an opportunity to gain experience in clinical research, specifically in the field of pediatric research. As my ultimate goal is to go to medical school and become a pediatrician, I was particularly drawn to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), as it is a renowned institution known for its excellence in both medical and behavioral research, as well as its quality in patient care. Hence, when I came across this opportunity on Handshake, I immediately knew that I wanted to apply. Given that autism is an area of research that holds personal relevance for me as well, I believed this internship would offer a valuable opportunity for both my personal and academic growth.
 
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
 
My favorite part of this internship was participating in the STAR Speaker Series, a weekly panel featuring alumni and faculty from CHOP’s Center for Autism Research. Each week, professionals from a variety of fields and professions (i.e. clinical researchers, research assistants, medical residents, etc.) shared their career journeys and the specific work they were currently doing. I particularly appreciated the QnA session after every talk, as it opened up the floor for the students to network with the speakers, and was a great chance to learn from my co-interns as well. This opportunity, along with several other research/career talks hosted at CHOP were incredibly both helpful and insightful, and allowed me to learn more about different paths within research.  

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

A technical skill I gained from this experience was learning how to navigate REDCap. Since most of our data encoding was done through this web-based application, I spent a lot of time organizing and managing data in this platform and troubleshooting when needed. Secondly, communication was a critical skill I was able to strengthen during this internship. We were given a lot of flexibility and independence with our day-to-day work, and while support and supervision was given, it was mainly up to the interns to ask questions, seek advice, and network. Hence, over the course of my time here at CHOP, I was able to become more comfortable asking for help when I needed it, speak up during professional meetings, and utilize my time wisely to complete given work at my own pace. Although these skills aren’t directly related to my future career or my current research (which focuses more on fundamental laboratory techniques), I believe they are highly valuable and transferable. Being able to manage data efficiently, conduct research and work independently, and communicate with both my co-workers and supervisors are all essential skills that will benefit me in any work environment moving forward.  

What is most rewarding about your internship? 

A major aspect of autism screening development involves not only early detection but also improving accessibility and availability of autism evaluations. For this reason, along with working to develop a novel technologies to better detect early signs of autism, our teams is focused on reducing disparities in access to screenings, particularly by integrating evaluations into pediatric visits at local clinics in Philadelphia. Hence, knowing that my work directly contributes to these efforts are very rewarding, as it plays a critical role in making early intervention for autism more attainable for children. 

Jessica Silver ’26 Looks Behind the Scenes – View on the International Healthcare System

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Name: Jessica Silver
Class Year: 2026
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Health Studies
 
Internship Organization:  Health Hub Vienna
Internship Title:   IES Abroad Psychology
Location:  Vienna, Austria
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

This summer I had the opportunity to intern at Health Hub Vienna. This organization works as a hub for startups, a place to share ideas for products to be integrated into the international healthcare market. As an intern, I was given tasks to research specific products and individuals important to this process, who are part of the up-and-coming startups. Throughout my internship I was also able to network with the founders of these startups, and to hear their pitches describing the initial product details. Overall, there was a great emphasis placed on learning more about the international healthcare system from a broader view, and to know how healthcare products transition from basic ideas to becoming fully integrated into the market.

Why did you apply for this internship? 

I am extremely passionate about the healthcare system, and I want to pursue a career within healthcare in the future. On the other hand, I have always wanted to experience living internationally, however being a current premedical student, I do not have space in my undergraduate years to complete a semester abroad. Spending a summer abroad studying something related to the healthcare system perfectly balanced these two passions, while not taking space from my busy semester schedules. As I researched possible options, the IES Psychology Program in Vienna related the most to my interests, and so I made it happen. I ended up having the most amazing experience during my eight weeks abroad, and I would suggest that everyone pursue something similar during their undergraduate years.

Was there anything special about how you found this internship?  

I found this internship after attending a study abroad informational fair on Bryn Mawr’s campus, and looking specifically for summer opportunities.
 
What has been your favorite part of this internship?  

My favorite part of this internship was the incredible work-life balance present in the Vienna culture, and the ability to travel easily on any given weekend. From the first day of my internship, my colleagues mentioned how after the end of work hours, nobody does work for the remainder of the day. This gave me an opportunity to explore the city after the end of a work day, using the convenient public transportation. Then, on the weekends I would travel with some friends to a nearby city or even country, to spend some time exploring places I had never previously visited.     

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

This summer, I learned how to utilize AI technology in a variety of contexts, which was unexpected. The company that I interned with uses AI for all preliminary research, and so I was introduced to a new platform and utilized it for my tasks throughout the summer. While the platform organized all the information in a very easy-to-understand format, it felt strange to use it so casually when completing my tasks. 

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

My internship was hybrid, and so generally two days of the week were spent in the office, while the other two were remote. While I enjoyed having the flexible freedom of working where I wanted, personal interaction is very important to me, and so I felt as though the remote days impacted my ability to get to know my coworkers during my internship. 

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

This summer, I quickly learned how to be very independent, as I was living in a new place, in a completely new country than I had grown up in. This summer was a big learning experience for me, with a variety of learning curves, most of which were good. Learning how to live fully on my own, without parents or a cafeteria to rely on, combined with planning my own trips and adventures, provided me with an incredible experience this summer. More specifically relating to my internship, I learned how to integrate myself into a new culture, with methods of communication and teamwork different than I am used to in the US. I continued learning every day, and felt as though I ended the summer with a better grasp of a new culture and way of living.  

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

The biggest challenge I had during my internship was the language barrier that was present. Although most of my colleagues spoke some level of English, they were much better at German, and sometimes reverted to it when in a group setting, leading to me being unable to understand what they were saying in meetings. I handled this challenge by continuing to request translations in English when they were finished, or reminding them that I do not know what is being said. When this was requested, they were very responsive and translated to English so that I could understand everything and be a part of the conversation. 

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
 
Adjectives: Informative, spectacular, transformative  

Nouns: Friendship, travel, discovery

What is most rewarding about your internship?  

Although the tasks that I was assigned to complete during my internship were not the most interesting to me personally, it was rewarding to notice how much of a difference they made to the progress being made in my company. This applied most clearly to the preparation being done for the big networking event hosted by my company, for which they used my prepared lists to reach out to healthcare organizations personally, and then prepared a keynote speech. In addition to the work being done in my internship, it was rewarding to have been given the chance to visit so many new places, and explore the world in the two months I was living in Vienna.

Was this internship what you expected it to be?

The internship this summer, and living in Vienna, was a better experience than I ever could have dreamed of. Without a second thought I would pursue a similar experience again in the future, and I would encourage everyone else to experience something of this nature at some point in their lives. 

Getting Up Close and Personal with Rat Brains: Lucy Sparks Mendez ‘26 

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Name: Lucy Sparks Mendez
Class Year: 2026
Major: Neuroscience, Creative Writing

Internship Organization: Kennedy Krieger Institute
Internship Title:   Undergraduate Research Assistant
Location: Baltimore, MD
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

We are working on collecting and processing neurobiological and neurobehavioral data of rat pups and the response that early life stress has on their development.

Why did you apply for this internship?  

Before Bryn Mawr, I lived in South Philadelphia for three years. My condo was only a three-minute walk from the Old Pine Center. I fondly remember walking to and from school and my extracurricular activities, and passing Old Pine. Now that I am back in Philadelphia for college and have the opportunity to work, I wanted to reconnect with South Philly’s community and give back what they had given me: kindness, open-mindedness, and cultural experience. Why Old Pine and not another organization in South Philly? The Summer in the City program seemed to be the perfect fit. I have always enjoyed teaching children and learning from the new generation. Through them, I reconnect with the powerful tool of creativity and the skills of communication.
 
What was your favorite part of this internship?  

Having to be pulled from task to task in different areas of the center, I have met and befriended many people. In this process, many unique stories and conversations have arisen. This social aspect of Old Pine is my favorite part of my internship. Being a somewhat introverted and awkward person, talking to new people has been an impeding weakness; however, being in Old Pine’s friendly atmosphere, I have learned the importance of confidence and communication. Making small talk and opening myself up has proven to be interesting and helpful. After my internship, I hope to continue my newfound confidence and exploration of stories. 

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

A crucial skill my internship has highlighted is problem-solving. The children I work with are between the ages of three and twelve. Between these ages, social and mental skills are being developed. To ensure appropriate behavioral tendencies and respect, I need to be skilled in giving clear instructions, being compassionate, and open-minded to different needs. This problem-solving comes with positive and negative outcomes, but I learn what works and does not. This skill will be helpful in college when finalizing my major and other important steps towards my future. Not only does problem-solving help with my academic goals, but in my daily life. Many of us need to choose between many options daily. With limited time schedules, conflicting plans, and relationships, problem-solving is integral for decreasing stress and increasing happiness. In short, I am grateful for this internship and the skills that have come with it.