Current student Korinna Spirko shared the following about being an Intern at the Human Robot Systems Lab and UMass Integrative Locomotion Lab at UMass Amherst…
What did you do as an intern at this organization?
This summer, I primarily worked on the HRSL’s hip exoskeleton projects. I aimed to reduce the metabolic cost of running in elite runners and improve the gait of post-stroke patients by creating asymmetry in hip rotation. I utilized sewing and 3D printing to modify an exoskeleton prototype and increase the torque application on the hip joint. Additionally, I developed and modified scripts in Python to adjust exoskeleton motor timing and collect data from IMUs.
How did you find this internship?
I browsed the UMass engineering and other lab websites. I was intrigued by the combined projects of HRSL and UMILL and cold emailed the PIs, Dr. Megan Huber and Dr. Wouter Hoogkamer. From there, we set up a Zoom interview.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
Having just finished my first year at Tufts in the School of Engineering, I had limited outside-of-the-classroom engineering experience. This internship gave me a taste of engineering beyond the classroom and the world of academic research. Every day gave me the opportunity to learn new skills, improve my problem-solving abilities, and better understand the flow of a research lab. I enjoyed the independence and creativity this internship gave me as we improved and troubleshooted our projects.
What did you find challenging?
Having never previously worked in an academic research lab, the first couple of weeks were a steep learning curve. I had to adjust to the independence the lab required and learn how and when to get support. It took effort to adapt to the flow of work outside the classroom without assignments and deadlines.
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
The more effort you put into the internship, the more you will get out of it. Be curious, ask questions. Many interns often find themselves with downtime without clear instructions on what to do. Finding productive ways to fill this time is an effective way to get more out of your time there. This could be by asking if there is something else you could help with, or reading up on the topic to better educate yourself, so you can enhance your contributions to the project.
