Mary Grahn ‘28
Science & Environment Editor
Despite the snowy campus and freezing temperatures, summer is the season on the mind of many STEM students who are looking for lab positions during the break. With most application deadlines closing soon, stress is in the air in Kendade. Although the process can seem overwhelming, many students have found success in their search for STEM internships, finding positions in labs across the country and on campus.
For Elliot Arózqueta ’28, a neuroscience & behavior major, research has long been something of interest. “I knew going into college that I wanted to major in neuroscience and that I wanted to become a researcher,” Arózqueta shared in an interview with Mount Holyoke News. Recently, Arózqueta accepted an internship at the Mayo Clinic, where he will be studying addiction and co-morbid mental health conditions with rodent models this summer.
Arózqueta, who also works at Sabariego lab on campus, began applying to internships over winter break. For him, getting started was the most difficult part. “The applications all follow a pretty similar format, so once you've done a couple of them, you kind of know what to expect, and you know what information you need to provide,” Arózqueta said. He found his internship at the Mayo Clinic through a site called Pathways to Science, which lists opportunities in a wide range of STEM fields including neuroscience, biology, chemistry and physics.
Arózqueta’s biggest piece of advice to other students looking for internships is the importance of persevering in spite of rejections.
“Try not to get discouraged,” Arózqueta explained. “It is a very competitive market out there, a lot of people want internships, and a lot of people are coming in with similar skill sets, so if you do get rejected a couple times it's probably not through any fault of your own. There's just so many people who are applying.”
Priya Katari ’28, a sophomore studying physics, found the process of getting a summer research position much less overwhelming than most. “I filled out [a] form that the physics department sent out looking for research positions with faculty.” Katari explained. “I got a reply within a week.”
This summer, Katari will work in Professor of Physics Katherine Aidala’s lab studying organic flexible solar cells.
Katari encourages students seeking research positions this summer to reach out to professors. “Talk to your professors,” Katari said. “Even if they don't have any opportunities open, they will definitely know of other avenues that you can look for. … They're a very good resource, who should want to help you, and I feel like on this campus very much want to help you.”
Whitney White ’28 contributed fact-checking.