Explorers are learning outside of the classroom in top-notch internships. Here, students share what it’s like working in a role that’s a step toward a future career. 

Rachel Phillips, ’23
English and Political Science double major  
Internship: Communications Staffer for Governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, and Attorney General candidate, Brenna Bird 

What interested you in this internship: “I felt that working for a campaign was a way to practically apply my interest in writing in an environment that paralleled my academic fields. I was also very interested in observing the inner workings of a campaign office and engaging with different demographics in a state as politically involved as Iowa.” 

Primary duties: “I drafted press releases, endorsement announcements, fundraising letters, op-eds, and phone call scripts. I also assisted in interview and debate prep and collaborated with other members of the campaign office on early ad development for political commercials.” 

Favorite part: “Interview and debate prep allowed for the most journalistic type of writing and felt the most natural to me. It was also an effective way of getting a better understanding of each candidate, as answers had to embody both tangible aspects like certain policy stances, but also match their voice and preferred phrasing. Additionally, since this was not only my first political job, but my first time in Iowa, contributing to interview prep exposed me to some of the more local media sources in the state as well as their specific interview styles, which I found equal parts interesting and helpful.” 

Biggest challenge: “My job was very reactive and required near-constant media consumption. I was responsible for sending a media report every morning, containing the most recent national, local, and down-ballot news, as well as listening to a three-hour conservative radio show in the evenings. In between these tasks, our staff constantly monitored Facebook, Twitter, and national news sites for relevant stories or Iowa-specific content.” 

Takeaways: “I think the most valuable aspects of this internship were ae variety of writing formats it required and the often-high-pressure deadlines that were attached to them. As a humanities major, I am typically given weeks to complete a project. In politics, that sort of time frame does not exist. Certain projects might allow for a few days; other pieces need to be completed within the hour. This internship has improved my turnaround time and I plan to continue to apply that same urgency in my own writing.” 

Brian Murphy, ’23
Economics major with a math minor
Internship: Data scientist for WSFS Bank and New Lane Finance  

What interested you in this internship: “I have always loved using data to find answers to questions that I may have. This internship allowed me to do just that: I got to study problems and use data to provide suggestions to the problems at hand. I have always enjoyed building models that can help explain situations at hand, and provide predictions in the future, and this internship has allowed me to pursue these interests.” 

Primary duties: “Much of my job revolved around cleaning data, and building models to help predict future trends, based on data, whether economical, consumer-, or vendor-related. Further, I was tasked with analyzing data, and understanding trends that are occurring, which then can be interpreted intuitively to either change directions of the business or keep headed in the same direction.” 

Favorite part: “There has been so much of my internship that I have loved so far. However, I think my favorite part has been getting one of my predictive models placed in production, and actually seeing it being used. This was incredibly rewarding, as I got to see some of my work pay off. I had to defend the model and explain the uses to an approval team. Currently, I have three other models that are a work in progress, which I hope to have placed into production during the fall semester, when I continue my work at New Lane Finance part-time.” 

Biggest challenge: “With every job, there is always a learning curve. To me, I think the biggest challenge has been recognizing that I am a part of a team that wants to help each other succeed. When I started my work this summer, I often found myself scared to ask for help, or ask questions about certain things that I was assigned to do. I realized that this is not beneficial to myself, or the team I work with very quickly, and learned quickly what questions I should ask when assigned a task to make completing things a lot easier.” 

Takeaways: There have been so many takeaways from my internship this summer, and so much to be thankful for. Overall, it has helped me so much with the knowledge, and expertise in programming languages. While I had some knowledge of Python, R, and SQL before I started, using them every day has only made me a better programmer, something that is needed in my field of interest. 

Jonathan Kolbe, ’23
Chemistry major  
Internship: QC Chemist Intern at Veranova  

What interested you in this internship: “Hands-on experience with pharmaceuticals in a DEA/FDA-certified lab environment.:  

Primary duties: “My role featured creating, editing, and approving mobile phases for HPLC testing, short for high-performance liquid chromatography. I also edited and published standard operating procedures and stability reports; and set up and run HPLC and UPLC (ultra-performance liquid chromatography) tests for products manufactured in-house.”  

Favorite part: “Working in the lab environment with extremely smart and professional coworkers was my favorite park.”  

Biggest challenge: “Using the Current Good Manufacturing Practices whilst working in the lab. It is required to keep a complete live record while working with, handling, or creating materials/substances to be used in testing/submission. This adds extra steps to every task, but it is only a minor inconvenience.”  

Takeaways: “I enjoyed getting professional lab experience and a greatly increased repertoire of chemical knowledge. I will continue my work with Veranova through the school year.”