Trinity Students Explore Impactful Summer Internships in Healthcare and Human Services | Trinity College

This is the second of three stories this summer featuring the internship experiences of Trinity students. Read more here.

This summer, Bantams are exploring opportunities across disciplines as they take on internships relating to their majors and future career goals.

Alisha Aristel ’24 – Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Intern at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City

Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Elmont, New York

Summer experience: Aristel’s internship involves conducting research on a gene associated with schizophrenia. “Working on a project with real-world implications and the potential to impact personalized treatments has been incredibly fulfilling,” she said. “Additionally, collaborating with experts in the field and attending career development classes has enriched my learning experience.” The research in genetics and computational biology aligns closely with Aristel’s study of neuroscience at Trinity. “Understanding the genetic basis of mental disorders like schizophrenia directly relates to my academic focus on the brain and behavior,” she added.

Takeaways: “The skills I’ve acquired, such as data analysis and programming in R and Python, will undoubtedly benefit my educational journey and future career in as an M.D./Ph.D.,” said Aristel, who added that the networking opportunities within the scientific community at Mount Sinai can open doors for further academic and professional growth. “I feel immensely grateful for the chance to work on such an impactful research project,” she said. “The internship has been a transformative experience, not only enhancing my technical abilities but also boosting my confidence in presenting my findings. I look forward to what the future holds in my pursuit of scientific knowledge and understanding.”

Zoe Kon ’24 – Institutional Review Board Intern for HRTP: A Public Health Internship Program at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in New York City

Major; Minor: Political Science; Interdisciplinary–Public Health and Bioethics
Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Summer experience: At Trinity, Kon created an interdisciplinary minor in public health and bioethics to provide a track of study that meets her academic interests, with an emphasis on how policy directly affects people. “This public health internship allows me to gain learning experience in the field, so I can see how my studies apply to the real world,” she said. Kon’s internship work includes formulating a summer research project to contribute to the Institutional Review Board and present to the Office of General Counsel. “Getting to work with the IRB and the OGC has been eye-opening and has given me the opportunity to see the legal, regulatory, and government oversight side of health and medical research, as well as all the contributing factors that play into public health,” she said. “I also love being in New York City and getting to explore a new city.”

Takeaways: Kon said that the internship supplements her Trinity curriculum with opportunities outside of the classroom. “I’m learning how to navigate the public sector and working for the government, which is valuable,” she said. “And the relationships I’m forming with my colleagues and fellow interns are teaching me a lot and furthering my career path for my post-graduation future.”

Daphne Lasher ’25 – Remote Interdisciplinary Research Intern with Seattle Anxiety Specialists

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Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.