Internships continued...with a little Newton Grove in the mix 5.30.13

Austin’s internship at Precision BioSciences in downtown Durham is giving him the opportunity to engage in actual, on-going scientific research.  Austin’s project is to help trace whether or not genetic material is successfully being transmitted into CHO (Chinese hamster ovarian) cells—his supervisor notes that Austin is a great asset to their team and his contributions will help them move much more quickly in evaluating the success of some of their experiments and procedures.  Austin is getting a clear sense of the complexity and error-prone world of scientific work—he notes that one of the surprises has been reconciling the failure of his experiments at first and doing creative problem-solving in order to understand how to move towards a successful result. 

Indeed, his supervisor has enjoyed seeing Austin endure through these real challenges of science—especially given the type of cutting-edge biotechnology Austin is working with—and shares that Austin has been tackling a real molecular biology problem that can actually move the firm’s work forward (and to which there is not a textbook solution).  Austin is also gaining an understanding of how a biotechnology firm at this scale operates, from keeping confidentiality agreements to how the basic science gets linked to applications “down stream” in various industries.  He is certainly getting well-prepared for his AP-level Biology class next year.  As a bonus, he gets to suit up in some nifty threads.     

Logan is interning at Cameron’s Gallery, a store that sells art and gifts in University Mall in Chapel Hill.  Last week she used the internship time to shadow psychologists at Duke University and learn more about psychological research.  During her time at Cameron’s, she is helping out with several transitions.  The major change for the store is its upcoming move to Carrboro later this year—Logan has helped design and create visual displays for some of the artists whose work is featured in the store and these displays will help orient future customers to what Cameron’s has to offer in the new space. 

Logan has also helped with the transition from handwritten receipts (and an actual cash register) to an electronic register system.  While Logan has appreciated that there are no tests during an internship, like during the academic year, her supervisor notes that when Logan trained another employee in the new electronic system, not only was it a test, it was one Logan passed very successfully.  Logan has also had the chance to learn more about how the world of work operates and what is needed to run a small retail business, from the stockroom to the register and sales floor.  

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