Major: Sociology

Internship: Political Violence Lab

Participated: Summer 2024

Tell us about your internship - what kind of work did you do?

Interning as a research assistant at the Political Violence Lab was an enriching experience that allowed me to expand my hard and soft skills and exposed me to new realms of rigorous academia. In this position, I coded expansive data sets including passport restrictions, sea surface temperatures, migrant and refugee information, and piracy incidents to gather findings about how certain factors affect reporting on the global refugee crisis. I also collected, organized, and interacted with journalist and foreign affairs professional contacts to pursue interviews that provided substantial first-hand experience with the state of journalism on the refugee crisis.

Have your career goals changed as a result of your internship?

Prior to joining the lab, my interests aligned mostly with health justice and health policy. This internship helped me realize that health justice is an incredibly intersectional discipline and can be seen in other practices, such as seeking justice for refugees. I am now open to a career in immigration or foreign policy law in addition to my other career interests.

Tell us about an exciting memory from your internship!

An exciting accomplishment from my internship was contributing as a co-author to the research paper we worked on throughout the quarter. I helped spearhead our piracy data effort, and using my skills and experience, authored the piracy data section of the appendix with a small team. This was a fulfilling contribution as my hard work and dedication to this specific project are tangibly evident in the paper.

Did your internship lead to any opportunities?

Dr. Andrew Shaver, director of the Political Violence Lab, has offered to write me a letter of recommendation for future opportunities. Moreover, he provided open positions including research assistant positions for his past and present colleagues, and offered to put in a good word if we applied. This internship has also indirectly provided opportunities, giving me valuable experience and enhancing my resume.

Share a story about something special you did in Washington!

I visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and it has become one of my favorite museums I have ever been to. The museum as a whole was incredibly well done and thorough—the exhibits displayed valuable, fascinating information and artifacts. They were extremely educational while maintaining and honoring the emotional weight of African American history in the US. The museum’s cafeteria was also memorable as it served delicious food important to African American history by region.

How has living in the nation's capital for a quarter changed you?

This was my first time living outside of California, but the city's fun energy and countless things to do made acclimating to D.C. very easy. However, moving still came with the typical struggles of adjusting to a new place. This process changed me by making me more outgoing and more willing to prioritize a new adventure over relaxation in a known, comfortable environment. Living in the nation’s capital also gave me a greater appreciation for the museum industry.

What advice would you like to share with future UCDC participants?
I would advise all UCDC students to, prior to coming to D.C., do research and create a list of museums, galleries, and monuments they want to visit. I would also encourage them to try as many different restaurants and cafes as possible while they are here as the D.C. food scene is great and diverse. Also, remember not to limit yourself to a small bubble and try to expand your network (social and professional) as much as you can!