Summer Science Interns Share Lessons Learned

But the sentiment is broadly applicable to the entire program, with students taking on roles at biotech companies and software firms, doctors’ offices and hospitals, nonprofits, and climate-tech innovators. Paying attention was more or less the mandate for the 29 seniors who participated in this year’s internships, and last Friday, at an Upper School meeting, the students presented their experiences, outlining the work they performed and the lessons they learned. In addition to these presentations, participants are required to write a substantive blog post delving into the details of their internships. 

For Mairin Anderson ’25, who interned at Boston-based architecture firm NADAA, the role brought the realization that “architecture is a very visual process,” as she cleaned and organized the intricate architectural models that are a part of every project. Later, she helped with a proposal for a new wing of the British Museum, housing exhibits relating to the Ancient Middle East. Anderson’s research required a deep dive into archaeological locations related to the Ancient Middle East—requiring attention to both the present world and the former one. 

Madison Ngai ’25, Matthew Papas '25, and Liam Carter ’25 interned at software designer Pegasystems, where they learned to code in Java. They worked on testing and debugging code, along the way learning how to collaborate on coding and gaining an understanding that, as Carter put it, “Small errors can result in big problems.” The experience was eye-opening: Papas noted in his blog post that "this summer, my approach to coding and my views on teamwork completely changed." Mastering life skills was also part of the package, as the interns learned to “navigate a busy corporate lunchroom.”

Jacob Decker ’25 spent his internship at biotech startup Nvelop Therapeutics, which focuses on gene therapy. As a member of the finance team, Decker helped analyze the value and depreciation of the firm’s assets (that is, its lab equipment), developing an asset-depreciation model in Excel to track the process accurately. At the presentation, he noted that “working in an office is different from working in a bike shop” and that, in the former, “collaborating and communicating are key.”

Morin, who interned with pediatrician Chung, was inspired by the dedicated physician. She observed the diagnostic process and the doctor’s skill at delicately removing stitches, and even got to practice putting on a splint, with Chung as the “patient.” But more than the mechanics of medicine, Morin was impressed by Chung’s compassion and commitment. As she wrote in her blog post, “Witnessing Dr. Chung interacting with patients ranging in age from two weeks to 22 years was an enlightening experience. He treats each patient with the same level of kindness, respect, and understanding that everyone deserves.” 

Rivers has offered the Summer Science Internship program for more than 20 years. The past few years have seen an expansion of the program, thanks in part to the financial support of donors who help provide a stipend to participating students. 

Applicants to the selective program submit material over the winter of their junior year, including a cover letter and essay detailing their interests and their reasons for pursuing the internship. Once they’ve cleared that hurdle, they must sit for an interview with science faculty member Michael Schlenker, who oversees the program. The process, which resembles a job search, helps set the stage for the internship, letting students know that they will be working in professional, demanding settings and will be expected to comport themselves accordingly. Schlenker also uses the application process to help match students to internships; for the most part, students are placed in areas that reflect their interests.

"I continue to be amazed both by the Rivers community stepping up to offer internships to our students and by our students stepping up to get the most out of these extraordinary experiences," said Schlenker.

As the students reported on their summer experience, it was clear that, whatever the setting or the role, their internships were robust, meaningful, and challenging. As Marcos Ramos ’25 put it in this blog post: “ ‘Jumping into the deep end’ is the phrase I would use to describe my interning experience this summer. I constantly learned and challenged myself with the subject matter. It was an opportunity that I am extremely grateful to have been awarded.”