Pace yourself. There will be a certain amount of tasks that you are expected to complete, but as long as you complete those tasks, it's important that you take breaks to prevent fatigue and heat-related illness. Stay hydrated and spend time in a temperature-controlled building if needed.
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Student Teacher
August - December 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I liked the ability to connect with the local Tucson environment and empower my students.
What I wish was different
I wish that there had been more understanding of the difficult positions student teachers are in the communicate complex ideals to students that have been historically underrepresented in STEM Fields.
Advice
Always be down to feedback and learn from past mistakes!
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Biology Laboratory Assistant
October 2018 - July 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I liked the balance between the independent work and the team projects. I liked the opportunity to present research to judges and attend science conferences.
What I wish was different
I wish the program didn’t end. I would’ve stayed until I graduated.
Advice
Don’t be nervous or doubtful about your experience or knowledge of research. The professors or lab leads are super patient and willing to teach you what you don’t know.
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Food Safety Laboratory Technician
January 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I loved the confidence my supervisor had in me to plan out projects. They gave me free reign to accomplish things in my own time so I could work a flexible schedule. It taught me how to prioritize tasks and be responsible.
What I wish was different
I wish there had been a bit more guidance from my supervisor at the beginning rather than a peer training me. When the other student left, it was not for awhile that my supervisor realized I was taught how to do something incorrectly.
Advice
Be open minded and accept all challenges thrown your way.
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Physicist Intern
May - August 2019 • Meyrin, Canton of Geneva
What I liked
I got to go to Switzerland and work for a summer on the MICROMEGAS with people from all over the world.
What I wish was different
More students from UA.
Advice
Talk to your professors. All of my best opportunities came from talking to professors and showing interest in their work.
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Maintenance worker
May - August 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
Steady hours, good supervisor, comfortable environment
What I wish was different
One supervisor did smoke on campus, which wasn't great for my asthma
Advice
Get the historic district
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Orientation Resident Assistant
May - July 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I loved everything about it. It was all the best parts of the RA job without the conduct. I just got to enjoy students and help them grow and meet new people over the course of a few days.
What I wish was different
I wish the position was longer. It was 6-weeks of nonstop work basically.
Advice
Invest in the students. I hung out with students at night, went to every program we had, and enjoyed myself. This year students have come up to me and been like “hey you were my RA in Likins for orientation.” Students remember and it matters.
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Athletic Training Volunteer
September 2016 - May 2017 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I enjoyed getting to have first hand experience with a college level Athletic Training Facility.
What I wish was different
Advice
Make sure as a volunteer you are willing to help with tasks and learn from peers/mentors.
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Biostatistician Intern
March 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
Very casual and free working environment. I had my own little desk setup and was largely left alone when getting work done. Working with other members of the lab was easy and everyone has a kind, warm, attitude. If I had to miss a day or come in late, communication was very easy and well understood by my lab mentors. Higher ups were there to give aid or assistance when I needed it and were also nice for small talk about miscellaneous items.
What I wish was different
Nothing that I can think of.
Advice
Be sure to be able to fully understand all the technical terms and minor intricacies of any project. It may be confusing at first, but over time if you look into the specifics and are able to understand things, it will become easier and like second nature.
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Biology Laboratory Assistant
November 2017 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I like the people I work with, they are supportive personally ans acedemically.
What I wish was different
I'd wish I'd joined the lab sooner.
Advice
Dont let all the tasks overwhelm you
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Cancer Researcher
June - August 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
Learning different laboratory techniques and building my academic resume.
What I wish was different
I wouldn't change anything about my summer research job!
Advice
I would say, if something catches your interest like research or an internship, then apply and go for it. Don't be afraid to try something new even if you think you don't have enough experence. I came into this research position with zero research experience and I loved it.
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Intramural Sports Official
August 2015 - May 2016 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
The friendship with other intramural officials, since it was a difficult job.
What I wish was different
In the beginning, there was a forced ranking system (which was removed later on due to criticism) where supervisors ranked intramural officials every two weeks and posted them in public. This resulted in motivation loss and embarrassment for the lower ranking officials who already had to deal with the stress that came from participants.
Advice
The nature of the job involves a lot of criticism and pressure from both the participants and the supervisor. If you are able to withhold it, do the job, but there are many jobs around campus which you work in a better environment. Liking the sport is one thing, officiating the sport is another.
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Lab Assistant
February 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
-Working in a lab environment
-Diversity of tasks and duties
-Assisting graduate students and their research
-Gaining experience with lab technologies and methods
What I wish was different
Advice
Have strong organizational skills and be good at handling repetitive tasks and data collecting.
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Research technician
April 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
The ability to work at 3am if I so choose.
What I wish was different
If the department I work for had a dedicated equipment repair technician.
Advice
Don’t wait for something to come to you. Go get it yourself. You just need to ask.
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Summer Research Associate
June - August 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
This was a standard summer research position funded through NSF-REU. My particular project was to apply machine learning techniques (and technological applications) to studying ecology. I am continuing this project into the fall semester.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Greenhouse Worker
December 2017 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I liked that I got to get more experience in a greenhouse over the summer than I would have during the semester.
What I wish was different
More explanation as to why we did certain things
Advice
Be ready to work intensively in labor
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Technical Support Analyst
April 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I enjoy learning IT in a professional environment. I have gained a lot of experience that will likely prepare me for my future career.
What I wish was different
I have no complaints.
Advice
I would definitely recommend that students pick up a job on campus related to their field. The hours are flexible and the experience is unlike any you can get in class.
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Peer coach
May 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
The support and growth opportunities
What I wish was different
There is a lot of responsibility and moving around
Advice
Be prepared to be adaptable and fill a lot of different roles
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
June - September 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I loved having the opportunity to design an online curriculum for a class I had not taken previously. It was a unique and eye-opening experience that helped me improve as a professional.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had the ability to build on this opportunity and continue working as a Research Assistant with my professor, however as my job was solely to help design a class, it will not continue after the class is completed.
Advice
If you are ever given a chance to work directly with an esteemed professor, make sure to maintain communication. Building strong professional relationships is essential for the start of your career!
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Athletic Training Technician
April 2017 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I get to work with the U of A Football team and learn about Sports Medicine first hand.
