It was a really good experience in basic science research. I had my own independent project and got to learn a variety of techniques.
What I wish was different
I wish it had been a little more organized. I had more free time than I would have liked
Advice
Research takes patience and it can be frustrating sometimes. I spent so long on some experiments and in the end the data did not turn out very well.
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Research Intern
July - August 2018 • Cambridge, MA
What I liked
The research was very applicable to my major at school and I got a lot of experience in industry research.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more time to work there.
Advice
Don't be afraid to make mistakes and try something completely new to you. You will eventually get the hang of it and people are usually very supportive!
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Intern
May - August 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
Hands on patient experiences
Good professional contacts
Exposure to field of health care and research
What I wish was different
Clearer job description
Better communication between me and hiring manager
Advice
Don't be afraid to make suggestions and ask questions. Just because you are an intern does not mean you aren't a valuable member of the team
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Clinical Research Intern, Department of Neurology
May - August 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
I really enjoyed the work environment. Researchers from all different fields including computer science, mathematics and the basic sciences collaborated with clinicians to find the solution to clinical problems. The work environment was one of collaboration, not competition, and the focus of post-docs and doctors in the lab was to help each other. I learned a lot about computer science, neurology and conducting clinical research.
What I wish was different
Advice
Be proactive during the internship. Work hard while in the lab full-time (weekends if necessary) to finish the project and prepare for publication, because working remotely is much harder.
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GI Quality Intern
May - August 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
Working at Mass Gen in Boston was a wonderful experience. All the people I worked with were outgoing and nice and willing to teach you as long as you asked questions. My position dealt mostly with solving problems in departmental function and work flow and improving overall patient experience in the Gastroenterology department. I got to work on analyzing statistics of an app that was implemented into an outpatient population to help improve colonoscopy prep. I also got to work directly with patients on the front end of developing an app that would eventually help cirrhotic patients manage their disease. Overall a very fun and worthwhile experience. I had the opportunity to work in medical technology innovation research as well as build a network of doctors at a world class hospital.
What I wish was different
I wish I had reached out a little more to different people at the hospital. Either to get lunch or coffee or just talk so I could really understand the different positions and operations within the hospital.
Advice
Do not be afraid to ask questions and/or open a conversation. It is intimidating especially with highly educated professionals surrounding you, but people love to talk and are human too. So, don't be afraid you never know how far a simple "Hi, how are you?" can go.
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Health Policy Intern
May 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
I enjoyed having a close relationship with my boss and contributing to ongoing public health research in an active health policy center within a massive academic research hospital. I also enjoyed the opportunity to network with other researchers, doctors and leaders in the MGH administration.
What I wish was different
Nothing!
Advice
Don't be afraid to ask questions! I was initially intimidated by my boss and was shy about asking questions. When I eventually became more comfortable and asked more questions of my peers and superiors, I learned a lot more than I ever could have imagined.
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Certified Nursing Assistant
June 2017 • Boston, MA
What I liked
talking to patients, getting used to a hospital setting, practicing nursing skills
What I wish was different
nothing. i love my job
Advice
if you are a nursing student, get a CNA job immediately after sophomore year as it greatly helps you later in college throughout clinical
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Clinical Research Assistant
May - August 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
The mentors I had were enthusiastic about teaching me medicine and research in a hospital setting. They loved to see me learn; they pushed me out of my comfort zone, but not beyond my capabilities.
What I wish was different
Being new to clinical research, sometimes the direction I was given was unclear. I had to figure out how to do some things on my own, which involved some trial and error. In terms of learning from mistakes, this was beneficial. However, tasks often took longer with this "trial and error" approach and would have gone more smoothly had I known exactly what was expected of me.
Advice
Don't be afraid to mess up; mistakes are part of the process. Be unafraid to ask questions, pitch ideas, and try new things. Doing this will give you the richest learning experience and allow you to explore the field you are in, which fosters enthusiasm for what you do.
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Research Intern
May - June 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
I liked the fact that I was involved in both research and clinical observation during my time at MassGeneral. I got great experience in study design, statistical analyses, and writing manuscripts while also gaining experience in patient care.
What I wish was different
Advice
Take advantage of everything a big hospital like MassGeneral has to offer. Try to get involved in as many research projects, shadow as many providers, and attend as many lectures (e.g., grand rounds) as possible. You can learn a lot about different specialties of medicine and different career paths within medicine by doing this.
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Unit Coordinator
June - August 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
The ability to connect with patients, nurses and doctors.
What I wish was different
Advice
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patient care attendant
June 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
I enjoyed the high paced atmosphere and the hands on experience I was able to receive.
What I wish was different
Advice
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engineering research assistant
May 2017 • Charlestown, MA
What I liked
Interesting work. Good for grad school apps
What I wish was different
None
Advice
Nothing in particular. You get out what you put into the project.
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Clinical Laboratory Technician Intern
June - August 2018 • Cambridge, MA
What I liked
Experience in a clinical setting and watching surgery
What I wish was different
Paid instead of unpaid
Advice
Familiarize yourself with reading scientific papers to make yourself a better researcher
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Research
February 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
Yes
What I wish was different
I wish it was paid
Advice
You need to be very interested in the work to keep it up
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Intern
May - August 2018 • Boston, MA
What I liked
Great team, very supporitve. I learned a lot
What I wish was different
Nothing!
Advice
Take advantage of all the opportunities (ex. grand Rounds, events, etc.)
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Psychiatry Research Assistant
June - August 2017 • Boston, MA
What I liked
My lab was studying sleep and anxiety disorders and I found this information to be extremely interesting. I was able to help process and analyze data as well as help recruit subjects. I was able to hear very accomplished researchers talk about their work during weekly department events. Boston is also the perfect location to explore possible graduate schools and shadow professionals.
What I wish was different
A lot of clinical lab work is completed on computers, which I wasn't 100% prepared for. Be prepared to feel somewhat sedentary.
Advice
Be as social as you can during internships. It's not just about the knowledge and skills you gain, but also the connections you make with other professionals, which could help you down the road after graduation.
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Feeding and Swallowing Team Intern
September 2017 • Boston, MA
What I liked
I loved the overwhelming amount of exposure to therapy sessions and progressively increasing responsibilities given to me over the time I was working.
What I wish was different
I wish the hours were a little more flexible.
Advice
Be flexible with your time and ask supervisors to be more active and they will be happy to allow you to do more things.
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Human Resources Intern
June - September 2017 • Boston, MA
What I liked
Everyone was eager to teach me the different areas of Human Resources, I was trusted with a lot early on. It was very autonomous, and I learned a lot.
What I wish was different
I just wish I was able to interact with another intern. There was 2 of us, but we came in on separate days.
Advice
Take responsibility for how much you learn during an internship. Meaning, express your interests to your supervisors and they will be willing to teach you. Be a sponge, soaking up all of the knowledge that you can from experts in the field.
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Intern
September 2017 • Boston, MA
What I liked
You get to learn a lot about the research process. In my department, Center of Addiction Medicine, all of the employees are very nice. Many of them are also recent college graduates, so you can identify with each other a lot. You also get trained in certifications such as using MRIs and vitals.
What I wish was different
I wish it was paid, and that we were able to be involved in the testing process.
Advice
You can ask to be more involved. They are willing to give you more work/help if you want it.
