The experience was amazing to get to know the field of Biochemistry and work on a project that I was interested in. I was also able to present my research at the UCLA McNair Conference.
What I wish was different
I wish I would have been able to present my research more.
Advice
I would say to not be afraid to ask questions and to be open about learning new skills within the lab setting.
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UAdvantage Resident Assistant
June - August 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I loved being able to connect with incoming students. I was given the opportunity to set up events, to create an environment where incoming students could feel comfortable in their new environment. As a requirement of my position, I needed to set up events, One-on-One meetings with each student to make sure they were adjusting to college life. Overall my favorite experience of my summer job was connecting and networking with my new coworkers and residents.
What I wish was different
The one thing that I wish would have been different would have been the level of interaction with residents for our activities. Where my programs were succesfull in the sense that man students showed up, my other coworkers events had a lot less attendence.
Advice
I would share that it is a lot of work to make sure that students are behaving and not breaking the rules of the university. It isn't like a regular day where you can go home, you live where you work and if there is an issue, we must deal with it, and if someone has issues we had to deal with them on the spot.
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Research Assistant
May 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to actually engage in research and practice the things I was learning conceptually in classes. It opened my eyes to realities not covered in our syllabi. The feedback I received in regards to my work was incredibly validating.
What I wish was different
Almost nothing. Much of the experience was piecemeal; essentially my work was drawn from aspects of various research projects I was qualified to pursue on my own. On the one hand, this had the tremendously positive effect of exposing me to a many aspects of the research process. The only downside is that I was never able to follow a given project from inception to conclusion.
Advice
Research assistant positions like this are invaluable for students who are following academic/research career trajectories ( like PhD programs). Students should be on the lookout for potential positions (because they are not always widely distributed) and professors should consider ways to create more of these opportunities in their departments.
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Orientation and Welcome Leader
May - July 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I got to work as part of a team and help incoming freshman navigate college for the first time.
What I wish was different
I wish we had made some of the changes earlier in the summer such as assigning owls to their own colleges for small groups.
Advice
To get involved and throw yourself into the job to get the most out of it helping others and learning from the experience.
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Lab intern
June - August 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
It was a great experience, I learned a lot of very applicable skills that have helped with classes that I am taking such as microbiology, and it was also great to get experience in a job field that is relevant to my major.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had been more motivated and involved, I felt a little overwhelmed and didn't perform to the best of my ability, but I am going to change that with the next opportunity I have.
Advice
Getting hands on experience and learning about what jobs and work will be like with my major after graduating. Also, pursuing things you are passionate about is one of the most rewarding things in life.
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Laboratory aide
June 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
The opportunity to learn microbology, assist with maintaining histological equipment, clerical duties for the lab and preparing materialsnfor the lab's annual Short Course.
What I wish was different
I loved every minute of my experience and would not change a thing.
Advice
I put myself forward, offered to assist whenever possible and that allowed the researxhers to recognize me to ask me to help with other projects.
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Psychologist Research Assistant
August 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
The research experience and opportunities
What I wish was different
I wish I had done it earlier
Advice
Be yourself and stay interested in the research!
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New Start Tutor
June - August 2021 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
How relaxed the atmosphere was. You are being coached by (older) college students and you are teaching (younger) college students.
What I wish was different
I wish it was a bit more organized.
Advice
Make sure to ask as many questions as possible.
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Undergraduate Researcher
May - August 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I liked the kind of research that was being done, working with aerospace research.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more clear direction during the experience.
Advice
Go in with an open mind, research is not what I expected and your experience may be different.
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Reasearch assistant
May 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
Everything
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Enjoy everything
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Biology Laboratory Assistant
May 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I used this experience to cement key molecular biology techniques and general lab maintenance.
Being a full time job with benefits, I was able to use tuition reduction benefits to greatly reduce the cost of tuition.
I was able to make contacts within the Plant Sciences department and throughout the University.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Front Desk Receptionist
January 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
The people, environment, and overall atmosphere of the DRC. I really enjoy my time there.
What I wish was different
I truly don't have any complaints. Everyone is very nice and accommodating with me and I really like my coworkers.
Advice
I would recommend talking to other student workers and using the job as an opportunity to make connections! It is a very great resource to learn about future job opportunities and to understand the dynamics of a professional office space.
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Lab Manager/Research Technician
May 2020 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
What I wish was different
Advice
Pick your labs carefully.
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Research Assistant
June - August 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I enjoyed being at a research institution and engaging in a research project for the first time. I enjoyed being in Arizona for the first time and meeting amazing and intelligent students from around the country who inspired me to have bigger dreams and reignited my passion in STEM.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had the opportunity to interact with my mentor more. She wasn't physically around because she had another commitment out of the country and without her, I felt like the research project was a bit unorganized and unclear to me.
Advice
One piece of advice I would share is to definitely take advantage of the Graduate Symposium and try to network with as many people students and faculty as possible.
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Undergraduate Researcher
June - August 2021 • Phoenix, AZ
What I liked
The program I participated in was an REU for the UCROC program. It had a welcoming atmosphere and had a focus on diversity. My research mentors trained me in python programming, mathematical modeling, and learning how to visualize and train data. I enjoyed presenting my research and networking with other mathematicians.
What I wish was different
I wish the program took place in person so I could meet everyone in person.
Advice
I would say try to take on an opportunity presented to you and take any opportunity to network. I found out about this program from the Field of Dreams conference and am grateful to have been a part of it.
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iVoices
August - December 2020 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
It was very hands on!
What I wish was different
N/A
Advice
Enjoy the experience.
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Office Assistant
October 2016 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
people i work with
What I wish was different
more troubleshooting issues
Advice
take the most of every opportunity
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
May - August 2021 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
Attentive faculty and graduate students
What I wish was different
Advice
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Technical Consultant
June 2021 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I love the atmosphere of the job. While not immediately what I want to do post-college, my knowledge of computer science helped me with the tasks of the job, and the job experience, conversely, helped me with computer science (problem solving). The managerial staff is excellent: friendly, professional, and understanding of the student status of most employees.
Additionally, the help / communication network employees have access to makes you feel like part of a team, even when working remote or by yourself. Questions you may have about a customer's issues are answered, if not discussed within seconds of asking.
Working for UITS has been a great eye-opener as well. Being my first "office job" per se, I was able to get experience with ticketing, problem solving, and professional communication. As a budding developer, these skills I know will be invaluable to my career.
The networking that entails with communicating with customers is also a "perk" to the job. Getting to meet other students, faculty, and professors in a professional setting has been a great way to make connections.
What I wish was different
There is nothing I would change about the environment / position.
Advice
One piece of advice I would offer is to not hesitate on application, or second guess yourself. Strong prior knowledge of computers has been beneficial to my position here, but I believe anyone motivated to learn and put in the work will find success in this position should they want to.
