The job title was flexible and the expectations of each day were different. I got to work on a lot of cool projects!
What I wish was different
I wish there would've been more tasks some days.
Advice
Always ask about job opportunities on campus!
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REU
May - July 2022 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
Lots of opportunity to gain experience and different teams to be involved with.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more time there to do more of my work.
Advice
I think it is a valuable experience if you are considering graduate school or research in the future.
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Research Intern
May - August 2022 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
I enjoyed working with specialized equipment in a developing field close to my dream field of work. I enjoyed working with a close group of fellow researchers all working on very different projects but united under the same goals.
What I wish was different
The accommodations to house me, being an out-of-state hire, could have been more amiable or conducive to a positive working attitude. Additionally, certain events outside of the employer's control set me back a considerable amount financially and mentally.
Advice
Don't be discouraged by one rejection from what you wished to do, because there's always somebody looking for a helping hand. Sometimes, being denied can open a different door. I was denied from a different program that then referred me to my employer, and now I'm presenting that research at a conference on their behalf.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
August 2021 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
I learned a lot while doing research under the graduate students and the post doc.
What I wish was different
I wish that the lab would have been on campus.
Advice
You will learn so much in a research lab, that you won't in a class!
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
June - July 2021 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
I enjoyed being able to choose the project I wanted to focus on and then learn about something normally outside of my major. I also enjoyed learning about the local environmental and Native American history of Northern Arkansas. This experience allowed me to learn about an area of the United States I have never been to and gain lab skills that the pandemic didn't allow me to learn during my lab classes.
What I wish was different
Advice
When signing up for EcoREU, be specific with your environmental interests so that the program director can pair you with the best mentor. There is a lot of support within the program, so you will have a fun time at the program!
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Intro to Apparel Production Instructor
January - May 2021 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
Great supervisor! Gained valuable teaching experience in higher education focused on my studies. Allowed me to learn how to plan lessons for each class session and troubleshoot needed changes.
What I wish was different
I was working full time, taking classes and teaching so there was very little time to reflect.
Advice
Give yourself time to reflect on your experience. Don't try to work full time while completing an internship because it leaves little time and doesn't allow one to give extra effort when needed.
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student worker
September 2018 - August 2019 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
Good coworkers. Fun to be around
What I wish was different
Sometimes the chain of communication above was a challenge and sometimes we didn't know who to ask for the information we needed from.
Advice
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REU
June - August 2019 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
I meet other students who were in the same program and we got to share ideas on the different project we were doing. I had to work on a number of projects which entailed learning softwares to help me go though these projects.
What I wish was different
Generally it was a great experience but I wish I had more hands on project to work on. I can understand it was just a 3 month program but there was still a number of projects that were not taken bu anyone and we were limited on the number we could take.
Advice
Since I plan on going to graduate school, it is a good way to understand what the expectations are as regards projects, presentations of these projects and writing proposals to get these projects. In addition its helpful to talk to other doctorate degree student to understand how they feel about getting a PhD if that is a path you potentially want to go to.
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Undergraduate Researcher (REU)
May - July 2019 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
Received hands-on experience in engineering and presented research. Toured labs and viewed fabrication process of power modules. Met people from colleges across the country.
What I wish was different
I worked more on a computer science side of the research and would like to work more on an electrical engineering aspect.
Advice
This was a great experience to get to do research and to see what opportunities other colleges have, especially for graduate programs.
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Video Producer
June 2019 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
I loved having the ability to be creative at a job
What I wish was different
I wish we’d had a little more time to learn how the equipment worked before delving into serious projects
Advice
Say yes to as many opportunities as you can; you never know what you’ll find you like or are good at
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research lab assistant
June 2019 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
It is very convenient to just work with in the University. I can just go out from my class and go to my research lab at the same building.
The pay is decent
What I wish was different
I just really wish the university would offer special type of housing for students that are working for research labs or other jobs in the campus
Advice
its never too early to apply for job or internship. you can be a freshman student and get a decent job/internship. This is one mistake I didn't do during my freshman and sophomore year since I didn't expect I will get one during those years
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
May - July 2019 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
Multiple career development lessons. Got a deeper look into what graduate research is like. Was exposed to a new topic of engineering I was previously unaware about.
What I wish was different
More planned social events for the research students.
Advice
There are many people willing to help you if you get stuck.
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Shop
August 2019 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
Working as a shop technician in the sculpture department gives me flexibility around classes, I get to work in the department of my major, and the people are wonderful.
What I wish was different
Absolutely nothing.
Advice
Be on time, be dedicated, and enjoy yourself.
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Student Ambassader
May - August 2019 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
I got to make some really great friends.
What I wish was different
More ambassadors should have worked.
Advice
It was one of the summers I have had.
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Chemistry REU Student Researcher
May - July 2019 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to live in a completely new state and and meet other professionals in the chemistry field. I also loved having the opportunity to help conduct research in a completely new field that I had never heard of before.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more time to work on my project. Oftentimes in research one will experience numerous failures, which can take precious time to correct.
Advice
I would advise students to step outside their comfort zone and network with people who are in their fields of interest. I discovered and was recruited for this opportunity because I had attended a science conference to present my past research and was scouted by a director of the summer research program.
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Oragnic chemist research assistant
June 2018 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
Conducting different experiments.
Learning new techniques and methods.
Using advanced instruments.
What I wish was different
Presentations each week.
Advice
This experience taught me how to independently run experiments and think of other possibilities to extract product if anything goes wrong. Promote critical thinking and understand chemistry behind each reaction.
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Chemical Engineering Research Intern
May - August 2018 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
I loved the research, my project, and my faculty advisor.
What I wish was different
I wouldn't have changed anything.
Advice
I wish I had looked into REUs earlier in my college career, because it would have exposed me to more potential graduate schools.
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Research Student
May - July 2018 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
I liked the lab I worked in and the people I worked with. The program was incredibly helpful in informing students about grad school and what we need to do for it as well as exposing us to different areas of chemistry research.
What I wish was different
I wish we had been able to do more hands on preparation for grad school. Or maybe an improved tour - a conference would have been wonderful.
Advice
It is important to know what you do not want to do as much as you know what you do want to do. I figured out something I didn't want to do and that has helped form the path of my life.
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Researcher
May - July 2017 • Fayetteville, AR
What I liked
The professors and other researchers were very helpful and engaging.
What I wish was different
I wish it was closer to home, but Fayetteville was an amazing city.
Advice
Go for it! I was nervous to travel so far for 10 weeks, but it was a great research experience. Everyone was so nice which also made the experience memorable.
