The summer is the perfect time for anyone to partake in programs or internships that align with one’s personal interests. Over the summer, I was given the amazing opportunity from Innovations Pathways to participate in an internship with UMASS Chan Medical School through WBLA. WBLA, or Work-Based Learning Alliance, is an organization that aims to provide virtual opportunities for students to gain more experience working in a workplace. Students are put into teams, and paired with an industry professional based on the students’ personal interests as a future career, and work together to create a solution to a problem. In my case, I was put in a team with six other students from different high schools in Massachusetts, and we were partnered with UMASS Chan Medical School.
The expected outcome set for us by the end of this four week internship was to analyze pre-existing literature to determine if viral infections seemed to contribute to or influence the development of Alzheimer’s, and to compile our research. Then, our compiled research was to be organized into a format that UMASS Chan Medical School would be able to utilize to create a grant proposal proposing for more in-depth research regarding the connection between Alzheimer’s and differing viral infections.
Alzheimer’s, a neurodegenerative disease, affects almost 7 million people within America and ultimately results in death. My team and I encountered many challenges on the way to the finish line, such as understanding unknown scientific terminology as well as maintaining maximum efficiency through a virtual setting. It would also be time-consuming to read through numerous reports exploring the factors that induce the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s, which would be filled with complex jargon. With the help of a neurology professor from UMASS Chan Medical School, an advisor from WBLA, and the combined efforts of all of us on the team, we met the deadlines set for us.
Despite the obstacles, it was fascinating to learn more about the specific processes that lead to Alzheimer’s, which is an extremely prevalent disease in our world today with no cure. Through this internship, I was also able to gain experience on what it is like in a workplace setting as well as improve professional skills such as working on a team. With the research that my team and I have gathered, it is my hope that if more in-depth research is done by UMASS Chan in the future. This can possibly lead to the improvement of quality of life through novel cures and treatments. I would like to thank Innovations Pathway for offering this opportunity!
