Current student, Zoë Huml shared the following about being a Summer Intern at CAL STAR …
What did you do as an intern at this organization?
As an intern at CAL STAR this summer, I worked on two main projects.
My first task was to help prepare their Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) about stress, health, and resilience. I created additional resources for course participants (such as making a biology term sheet and identifying relevant readings/videos), reviewed and edited lectures, and researched and communicated with additional speakers.
My second project was working as a mindfulness coach for an ongoing CAL STAR study. In my training, I learned mindfulness techniques ranging from mindful eating to self-gratitude meditations. Throughout the summer, I met one-on-one with emergency healthcare workers and led them through the relevant meditations and mindfulness exercises.
How did you find this internship?
I was first introduced to Dr. George Slavich (the Lead Principle Investigator of CAL STAR) when we collaborated on a research study at Stanford during my gap year. Fascinated by his research on stress and resilience, I was interested in learning more and becoming involved. During the spring semester, I reached out to see whether he had an open position for the summer, and he offered to support my grant application.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
This summer, I appreciated the opportunity to engage with psychology research from a different angle. While I have helped conduct psychology research for the past few years, this summer I gained science communication skills, learning how we can translate psychology research to the general public. Through my involvement with the MOOC, I learned how psychological information can effectively be communicated so people outside of academia can apply the research findings to their own lives. As I continue with my career in psychology, it is important that my research is intentionally shared with others, and I feel my internship this summer equipped me with the skills to do so.
What did you find challenging?
As my work was quite self-directed, I initially found it slightly challenging to know which tasks to prioritize. By setting up regular meetings with my supervisors, however, I was able to establish expectations and deadlines, which was very helpful.
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
My biggest piece of advice is to be open to new opportunities that arise during your internship! Going into the summer, I had initially been planning to help only with the MOOC. Before my internship started, however, I voiced my interest in helping with any projects I could, which led to me being trained as a mindfulness coach. As an aspiring clinical psychologist, learning more about mindfulness, meeting one-on-one with healthcare workers, and facilitating mindfulness interventions was an incredibly valuable experience. Going into the summer, I didn’t even know this was an option! By staying open and curious, you may gain experiences and skills that you hadn’t initially expected.
