内森罗ano, 25岁: GTP internship provides important, hands-on experience

埃尔迈拉大学 students complete community engagement hours and a 与实习 before graduating to help build their career networks and give them important hands-on experiences.

内森罗ano, 25岁, 生物学专业, gained important career skills like problem-solving and communicating with co-workers while interning at 全球钨 & 粉末(GTP)公司 2023年夏天在宾夕法尼亚州的托旺达. And even more importantly, Romano found a direction for his future.

“This internship guided me toward the type of career I’m looking for,罗马诺说。. “我想站起来做点什么. It showed me that I want to be in a lab position where I’m assisting in chemical procedures, 无论是在工业领域还是医疗领域.”

而罗曼诺主修生物学, he learned early in his studies that he enjoys studying molecular chemistry within organisms.

“我正在上的课程, I am looking deeper into the chemical basis of Biology and I’ve taken plenty of Chemistry-related classes. I would only need to take a few more classes to get the Biochemistry double major,” he explained.

At GTP, Romano flexed his chemistry and lab skills by assisting in laboratory settings. 他的两个主要任务之一就是称钨的重量, 稀土金属, 成小样品供技术人员使用.

His other major role was assisting with a new piece of lab equipment.

“I tested the equipment and learned how to use the computer software to run it,” he explained. “No one knew how to use this equipment so I had to figure it out. When it first started working, the equipment was sensitive to changes and didn’t seem consistent. One day we had good readings and the next day we’d get poor readings.”

“有很多成长的烦恼，”他补充说.

值得庆幸的是, Romano was able to work directly with a senior lab technician who helped troubleshoot the problems, 测试设备, 让它运行起来.

“It was nice to have her right there, suffering in it with me,” he joked. “The technician had been working to set up the equipment before I arrived and she provided me with guidance and troubleshooting aid, 所以我不是一个人.”

Romano didn’t quite figure out everything needed to run the equipment before the end of the summer, 但是他取得了很好的进步. He designed a procedure and left the team in a position to continue and finish the work.

“It wasn’t completely satisfying because I wanted to meet the goal,” Romano said. “But I helped work out a lot of the kinks and they should be able to quickly iron out the rest.”

Balancing his two main projects took coordination and communication skills. Romano had to make sure the technicians had the samples they needed. This meant checking in with them anytime he went to work on the lab equipment and alerting them to where he would be when he wasn’t at his desk.

Romano’s dedication to his tasks and trouble-shooting persistence clearly left a mark on the technicians he worked with.

“他们看到我离开很难过, which made me feel really nice because it was a great experience and I’m glad I had that level of impact on them,罗马诺说。. 他们问我说、你几时回来?”

The technicians may not be the only ones wondering that question. 罗马诺的父亲为GTP工作. He shifted his schedule for the summer so he and Romano could carpool and eat lunches together.

根据罗马诺, getting in some one-on-one time with his dad made the already valuable experience even more special.