Current student Lina Fikri shared the following about being an intern at the Lund Lab of Lymphatic Immunobiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine…
How did you find this internship?
I connected with Dr. Lund at an immunotherapy conference in Boston. She was appointed as a mentor for our group of undergraduates. She gave me advice on how to get research experience, and I reached out a few weeks later on LinkedIn.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?Â
I enjoyed the atmosphere of collaboration and support in the lab. Everyone welcomed me with open arms and was always available if I needed help. Dr. Lund was a great PI and teacher and emphasized the importance of one-on-one meetings. My mentor, a Ph.D. student, was very patient and taught me a great deal about the scientific method. I also really enjoyed being in the heart of the city and being able to do activities outside of the lab.
What did you find challenging?
I realized even more the time, patience, and resilience that academic research entails. Devising experiments is not an easy task, and requires taking into account many variables. Collecting data has to be rigorous, and analysis has to be thorough. One also needs to be resilient, and quickly bounce back after a setback.
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
Network! I wish I had taken more time to connect with more people outside the lab. New ideas and perspectives are always valuable in research, and getting to know people with diverse backgrounds helps expand horizons. Also, try to engage with the experiments beyond simply following the protocol: ask questions, and think of troubleshooting solutions.
