Current student, Anthony Bhangdia, shared the following about being a Summer Intern in the FARIL Lab at Harvard Medical School, which was funded by the Career Center Summer Internship Grant Program …
What did you do as an intern at this organization?
As a research intern at FARIL, I was a member of various foot and ankle research projects with clinicians and researchers from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.
How did you find this internship?
Email to the PI.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
What I most enjoyed about my internship was the culture of the lab. From the first day, everyone was very welcoming to me and made me feel like a part of the team. My supervisors always made an effort to include the research interns in extracurriculars outside of the lab and get to know us. Even though everyone was very busy with their own research projects, they were willing to give up some of their time to help me with any questions I had about the project that I was working on.
What did you find challenging?
One thing I found most challenging about my internship was adjusting to “real world” research and working with others. This was my first time conducting research with a lab, and it was a big step from writing research papers and doing the lab components of my classes. It was difficult for me to integrate myself into others’ research projects, as I often had little knowledge of the subject before I started, however as time went on I got better at adjusting to working with a new team and researching a new subject.
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
I would say the biggest thing is to get involved; go to dinners and get-togethers that the organization is holding, get to know the people in the lab, and make as many connections as you can during your time with the lab. I made many valuable connections and friendships during my time at FARIL and I am grateful for the valuable insights that these relationships have given me and will continue to give me moving forward.
