Hometown: Battle Creek, MI
Major and class standing: Experience Architecture, Senior
Where you interned: UL Research Institutes, OREE. Evanston, IL/Remote
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
I assisted with research projects supporting OREE’s safety mission and goals by conducting literature reviews and synthesizing findings from multiple sources. I prepared materials for both internal and external presentations, collaborated closely with education teams and other departments to exchange insights, and contributed to a collaborative research environment. My responsibilities also included managing and organizing research projects to ensure they stayed on schedule and within budget, completing assigned project tasks, and staying current on relevant literature and trends to provide valuable input. Additionally, I performed administrative duties such as data entry, scheduling, and meeting coordination to support the team’s operations.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
I found out about UL Research Institutes at the NSBE 2024 Conference in a networking suite. This is where I met my boss, and we had a long conversation about accessibility best practices. Afterward, she said that the team could use someone with my expertise. I interned with them for the summer of 2024 and had the chance to return for the summer of 2025. I relied heavily on my networking skills to get this internship, and I built these skills by attending multiple career fairs at MSU.
What did your daily routine include?
I worked on 2 collaborative projects and 1 independent project. For the collaborative projects, I met with the team(s) on a weekly basis, and for the independent project, I gave my manager updates at our weekly meeting. Since I was a remote intern, I spent a lot of time at my desk with my laptop set up. I communicated with my team through Microsoft Teams, Monday.com, and emails occasionally. I worked 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. most days, Monday through Friday, for 10 weeks.
Your favorite experience from the internship?
My favorite part of this internship was attending the annual research symposium. At this symposium, I got to learn so much about the work happening at ULR, and I got to bond with the other interns and fellows.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
My least favorite part was working remotely all the time. I think the student engagement program and the OREE team did a great job at making working remotely enjoyable.
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
During this internship, I had the opportunity to significantly enhance my technical writing, research, and communication skills. I learned how to use different organizational resources as well.
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
I learned that as an XA major, I can fit into many different roles in my internship. In the future, I plan to continue working with the OREE team.
What advice do you have for other students seeking out internship opportunities?
My advice would be, don’t be afraid to talk to people! You never know where a conversation can lead you.
