University of New Mexico

Graduate Research Assistant

September 2020 • Albuquerque, NM

What I liked

Great resources. An effective way to obtain first-hand experiences and apply knowledge to real life.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Community outreach Coordinator

July 2016 • Albuquerque, NM

What I liked

My employers are very generous and put me in a position where I could help people and put myself to good use through my prior experience. I made new friends with my coworkers. At the end of the summer they offered me a scholarship for $1000 because I am still a student and they had extra money left in their budget.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Be on time. No matter what. People just automatically respect you more.

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Laboratory Aide

June - August 2019 • Albuquerque, NM

What I liked

I liked the people I worked with and the science I was working on.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have stayed, but grant funding was limited.

Advice

When dealing with the University of New Mexico, do everything a month before the due date. Administrative minutia are massively problematic.

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Water Resource Engineering Research Assistant

June - August 2019 • Albuquerque, NM

What I liked

I enjoyed working with graduate students on their research projects and aided them both in the lab and outdoors in the field. I learned valuable skills in areas such as data analysis, laboratory protocol and equipment, and handling water sensors.

What I wish was different

This position was ideal for me, but I only wish I learned a little more about data interpretation for this project. Since I was not a graduate student, I worked mostly with data collection and processing, but I would have liked to learn more about the process of data interpretation.

Advice

Always be asking questions and be actively engaged because you can learn a lot when you least expect it.

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Undergraduate Researcher

May - August 2019 • Albuquerque, NM

What I liked

The faculty, graduate students and other undergraduate researchers were incredibly helpful. I learned a lot from them.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had gotten started on the actual research a little sooner.

Advice

Even if you do not think you are interested in a research career or lab work, give it a try. You may be surprised how much you like it or what you learn.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

May - August 2019 • Albuquerque, NM

What I liked

Getting to work on an engineering challenge I found interesting

What I wish was different

I wish my training had been more extensive

Advice

The more you reach out the more likely you are to land something, so expand your network as much as possible

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Orientation Leader

May - August 2019 • Albuquerque, NM

What I liked

Learning how to better connect students to resources, being part of the process of helping students navigate UNM.

What I wish was different

n/a

Advice

Be ready to work long hours, and to be enthusiastic about helping others even in small ways!

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Field Ecologist (REU)

June - August 2018 • La Joya, NM

What I liked

I enjoyed the whole process of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. I wrote my own project proposal for FWS, executed a project designed by my mentor, learned how to code in R, and attended a Job Panel. The Job Panel was one of my favorite events of this program because I got to talk to scientists from the public and private sector and ask specific questions about their job and how to be a good candidate.

What I wish was different

I wish my mentor and I worked out the details about my project before the start of the program. Though, we were able to complete everything on time and were able to work through the setbacks.

Advice

Apply early and apply to many different REU programs. Go to the Writing Center to get your Cover Letter reviewed before submitting. Don't let fear get in the way of applying to these programs. They will help you in future science careers and master's programs.

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