1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

My project involved developing algorithms to analyze data of local field potentials and accelerometer movement in MATLAB for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), occasionally assisting with data collection in the operating room. I also attended weekly seminars on career-building topics to supplement my professional journey, presenting a final research poster at the program symposium.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

Before my STEP Signature Project, I was concerned that Biomedical Engineering may not be the correct path for me. This is because I was uncertain that I could make a meaningful difference that felt impactful unless I was caring for a patient as a physician. I had previously ascertained research to be much more solitary and isolated from the people it impacts. However, throughout my internship, I was able to interact with patients who received this life-changing treatment and ask them how it has affected their quality of life firsthand. My assumptions about research being confined to a desk or wet lab were transformed as I witnessed the collaborative nature of this aspect of Biomedical Engineering along with patient interactions.

I have realized that I can make a meaningful impact as a Biomedical Engineering without necessarily becoming a physician through this experience, while still prioritizing a patient-first mindset. Through this program, I garnered an appreciation for all aspects of Biomedical Engineering as academia, industry, and medicine are collectively optimized to treat even a single patient. I have also transformed in that I have confidence in my ability to make a difference in these spaces.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

One specific activity that influenced my transformation of thought was my involvement in the operating room during DBS data collection. Observing the role of research within the OR and interacting with medical device representatives, surgeons, and medical students provided real-world context to data and figures I would receive in a regular Biomedical Engineering course. The collaboration of all these individuals allowed the process to be beneficial to the patient, and speaking with these professionals highlighted how every role directly affects the life of the patient.

Another significant experience was developing and presenting my research poster. Collecting all of the data I had worked on for two months, along with findings and significant statistics was a challenging and interesting task that I particularly enjoyed. Presenting this information in such a way that people of various backgrounds can understand and contribute to the scientific conversation taught me the value of effective communication and conversation. I had a few conversations during the symposium that allowed me to prove to myself and others that, although I was only in the lab for a short time, I could intellectualize and improve upon the ideas I had presented, while remaining flexible to outside input. This increased my confidence in my academic prowess and curious mind.

Finally, I am extremely grateful for the mentorship and guidance from my supervisors and peers. Through their unwavering support, feedback, and encouragement, I was encouraged to believe more in my own cognitive and decision-making abilities. These people emphasized the importance of a professional network and growing connections within many professional spaces, as well as the diverse ideas and perspectives that accompany these connections.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans

This transformational experience has given me invaluable insight into my future academic and career trajectory. Although I do not see myself entering into full-time research at present, it has assuaged my fears that a career in industry will not provide me with the profound purpose I am looking for in changing patient’s lives. This experience has further encouraged me to seek out roles in medical device development, as is supported by my recent acceptance into the Medical Product Development program at Ohio State University. It has also reinforced my commitment to improving patient quality of life through engineering solutions.

Personally, the increase in my confidence and interpersonal skills will serve me well in the professional world of networking. Through this certainty in myself and my value in engineering spaces, I will be able to vocalize my ideas and opinions in intimidating and potentially male-dominated spaces. This research internship has underscored my values to be a lifelong learner and my desire to have adaptability in my career. These developments will equip me to navigate a career in which I can make a positive impact on patient lives.

My STEP signature project was an internship at the Wilce Student Health Center. I was a physical therapy student assistant, and my main activities included administrative tasks such as scheduling and answering phone calls, cleaning equipment, and checking patients into their appointment.

Through completing my STEP signature project my understanding regarding myself and future career was transformed. I learned a lot about the field of physical therapy and patient care. As I am applying to physical therapy school this internship gives me an edge and learning experience that I will be able to apply in physical therapy school and as a future physical therapist. I was able to see the different types of patients and different types of interactions physical therapists have with their patients. I also was exposed to a lot of different rehab therapies including manual therapy, deep tissue massages, electric stim machines, ultrasounds, and more. This experience transformed my outlook on my future career by exposing me to many aspects of it and confirming that I want to work in the field of physical therapy. 

One key aspect of my experience within my STEP project was the relationships I formed with the physical therapists at the Wilce. I worked with three different physical therapists and a sports medicine physician within my internship. These relationships are important to me as they enabled me to form connections and network with people who have gone through physical therapy school and who are involved within the field. This allowed me to learn a lot about the field and the different experiences they each had. In addition I was able to see three different physical therapists style and approach to physical therapy which taught me the individuality within different therapists. 

Secondly, my interactions with patients was also an important aspect within my project. I was able to work directly with patients for the first time which gave me exposure to patient care. I was able to learn how to deal with different patients and the administrative side of physical therapy. I worked with patients to check them into their appointment, schedule their next one, and aid the physical therapists in things such as demonstrating exercises and stretching the patients. 

Lastly, the activities I did during my STEP project also played a key role in my transformation. During my internship I participated in different events and activities including a staff event at Ohio Stadium that celebrated the staff involved in student life at OSU. This was a cool experience as I got to connect with many staff members involved in different aspects of OSU. Other activities I participated in were in service where other staff members from the Wilce were taught about different aspects of physical therapy that they can apply into their care including crutch, cane, boot, and brace usage. I was used as a participant for the physical therapists to demonstrate these rehab tools. Both of these activities were beneficial to me as they showed me different aspects of physical therapy. 

This transformational experience is valuable for my life because it exposed me to many aspects of the career I am pursuing. It allowed me to observe direct patient care, develop relationships with providers, complete administrative tasks, and attend events to further my knowledge of the field. This experience also provided me with the knowledge of what my future career will look like and it gave me exposure to the challenges I may face. This change is important to me because it confirmed my interest in the field of physical therapy and gives me confidence that I am pursuing the right career.

For my STEP signature project, I completed an internship with Heritage Cooperative as their grain merchandising intern during 2024 the summer. The main project I worked on during this internship was researching vomitoxin testing systems to determine which system would be beneficial to use companywide to create uniformity for training purposes. I also held many other responsibilities, some of which include assisting the contract specialists with sales and purchase contracts, updating a grain bid sheet and basis sheet daily, and entering settlements and grain grades into the system.

I feel that this internship allowed me to grow immensely, personally and professionally. In the aspect of growing personally, this internship allowed me to have a better understanding of what kind of career I would like to pursue after college. I have always been unsure of exactly what career I would want to explore, so this was a huge help. Additionally, I was able to become more professional and learned how to carry myself in a professional environment versus outside of a professional setting. My perception of a corporate office also changed during my time at Heritage. It was eye opening to see that an office setting is not always “up tight” or extremely strict like some offices may portray. I was welcomed into an office with open arms, and quickly learned that it is okay to have fun at your job every once in a while.

Another big take away for me from this internship is that there is always more to learn and to always ask questions. This internship was a great learning opportunity for me, and I was able to gain so much more knowledge about grain merchandising than I ever thought possible. I was also able to learn a little bit about other departments of the company such as agronomy, ag technology, energy, feed, and retail.

Working in the corporate office played a huge role in my ability to grow personally and professionally. The overall setting of the office and the people I worked with allowed me to become more of a professional. Additionally, I was able to make great connections with my colleagues and my supervisor. These connections allowed me to learn so much more than I thought I would, and I was never afraid to ask questions or ask for help.

I also got the opportunity to meet up with interns from other departments multiple times as well as tour a variety of different facilities company wide. These opportunities allowed me to learn more than just what my specific internship position was able to teach me. Learning more about other departments of the company broadened my horizons to other departments in the agriculture field. I now have a little bit of knowledge in each of the other sectors of agriculture outside of the grain department.

Overall, making new connections with professionals in my field of study is very important and could drastically assist me when searching for a career in my near future. I am now able to perform so many new tasks related to grain merchandising that I did not have the tools to do before this internship. Outside of the knowledge related to grain merchandising that I gained, I also now have a better understanding and can read the culture of a company. This has prepared me for a career and life after college by showing me what kind of company and job would be the best fit for me personally. Overall, I am grateful to be able to take this knowledge and these experiences with me forever.

The main activities I did for my STEP Signature Project were testing and researching how welding effects the steels at Hochschule Osnabrück in Osnabrück, Germany. I grinded, etched, tensile tested, abrasion evaluated and took microstructural pictures of the steels. I also graphed and helped produce English procedures of using the equipment.

Before this project, I assumed that research was a remarkably simple and straightforward process. Through this project I have found that this is not the case. You must do research to figure out how to do the test and collect the correct equipment. I also learned that preparation of the material before the test is the most important thing in the procedure. This has taught me that not only in research but in everything I do I could benefit from this way of doing things as well as to ask for expert advice.

There is a couple of interactions and activities during my STEP Project that led me to this transformation of preparing ahead of time as well as asking for help. Some of them were the requirements to get there and the procedures I had to do to prepare the material. I learned that preparation is especially important key to doing things properly, but I also learned that things happen, and you need to have the strength to go with the flow as well as ask for help.

My first experience of learning this is the requirement before getting to Germany. There were many things I had to prepare before going over. Some of them included setting up housing over there, health insurance, and enrolling in both OSU and Hochschule Osnabrück. The most difficult requirement I had to get was the health insurance. There were many questions about the health insurance that forced me to ask for help from these insurance companies and faculty members. This also helped me learning that things happen, but I will be fine, and I just needed to go with the flow.

My next experience was preparing the material for testing. My lab supervisor asked me though provoking questions on what the best way of testing is something and gave me hints on ways to do the testing. Through learning these procedures, it helps me ask the correct questions to ask as well as learn that nothing goes as fast or simple as we want it. My last experience was with my co-workers. I wish I prepared myself and learned some German before coming. This effected with making valuable connections with some of my co-worker due to the language barrier. Another thing that my co-workers taught me is that I need to make my wants clearly or it could be interpreted incorrectly. This helped me prepare for when I talk to my co-workers and ask my other co-worker to convey what I mean as well as not let things hold me up.

This change is unbelievably valuable in my life. It not only helps me academically and personally, but also professionally. It helps me personally with my relationship and how I interact with others. This helped remember that most things are temporary and enjoy where you are. It helps me academically to understand more the research side of my major as well as helped me have a greater understanding of the material. It also helped me realize that some procedures are tedious but are necessary for getting the desired results, which can be correlated to most things in life. This experience helps me professional by understanding the work of research and to think of produce procedures to only evaluate that specific thing of the material. This also helps me with my future goals of being in a company that is international.

A brief description of my STEP project was doing an internship abroad in Barcelona, Spain. I worked with the program, ISA in Barcelona, and they helped me find an internship based on my skills and interests, as well as helping me find the best housing option for my time there.

In the future, I have plans to go onto law school to become a medical malpractice attorney and this program allowed me to work with a medical malpractice law firm in Barcelona, Spain. My views that changed while completing this STEP project is how the work-life balance is so different here than in the United States. The United States has more of a live to work lifestyle, while in Spain, they have more of a work to live lifestyle. Everything is closed on Sundays to allow them to use it as a rest day and many of them go to the beach on the days off. Working on the weekdays isn’t for too long. If you finish your work, you are free to go and enjoy the rest of the day. That was the best part about working in Spain. The adjustment was not bad at all, especially since I already speak the language here. It was the very relaxed lifestyle they live here, that was very hard to get used to. In the United States, we are so used to a rushed life day to day, while here everything is calmer and not rushed. The average workplace doesn’t even open till 9-9:30 but most employees don’t go in until 10-10:30, while back in the states, it is much earlier.

My trips to different cities in Spain and even out of the country helped me see how the Spaniard culture is different in small details, such as the appreciation for specific Spanish dishes in different cities, but still an appreciation for the cuisine in general. The biggest thing I noticed while in Spain is their dislike for tourists, compared to other countries I have been to as a tourist. Since they live such a calm, relaxed life, the influx of tourists that arrive to Spain every year, especially in the summer, raises their dislike towards them. The vast number of tourists causes overcrowding and rent increase. Their calm lifestyle allowed me to see locals enjoying drinks in the middle of the day or even having a cigarette in the office when talking to coworkers.

This change was valuable to my life because it shows that this kind of lifestyle is the way I would want to live. It’s very good for your mental health, because it gives you time to breathe and live your life. Living a rushed life is stressful and you don’t enjoy it at all. The work-life balance here is the ideal way to live. You still work and do what you need to do, but it isn’t your sole thing in your life. I have shadowed and worked for many lawyers in the United States, who constantly say they work way too many hours which makes it hard when you have a family or want to go on vacation. Working for the lawyers here, who also work hard and big cases, they prioritize self-care and mental health, so that they don’t end up hating their job. Doing this program helped me realize the type of work-life balance I want for myself in the future.

1. My STEP Project was a seven-week internship at Krixi, where I worked as a software engineering intern. My main activities included building apps, writing reports, and analyzing data for project maintenance and further development. I gained significant experience in app development using React Native and other programming languages, as well as valuable insights into long-term problem-solving and solution-building. It was a great experience learning from experienced leaders in my field.

2. I realized how I approached software was different from a conventional approach. A lot of the times the technical perspective required was different from what I possessed, I had to change my approach in order to solve problems. Being in software and learning new languages is not very new to me, as I was used to absorbing programming in a way that was very systematic in class. However, the perspective needed to solve bigger and unconventional problems in my project required creative and out of the box thinking combined with conventional methods. I was able to take a few steps in this direction with the help of my supervisor and peers who helped me develop better methods for approaching solutions.

3. Key experiences during my internship included several meetings with a senior executive, where I engaged in meaningful conversations and built a strong professional relationship. Initially, I struggled to deliver impactful results, but through discussions with my supervisor, I learned that the role of an intern is not just about providing immediate solutions but also about addressing long-term challenges and adding value to the company. This realization prompted me to improve my time management and critical thinking skills.

My goal was to learn, so I made it a point to ask questions whenever I felt stuck, recognizing that seeking help was essential for my growth. I overcame many hurdles by gathering as much information as possible. My supervisor throughout meetings, emphasized that the primary aim of the internship was to develop my problem-solving skills, encouraging me to tackle challenges persistently and tirelessly as much as I could. This advice was really helpful in shaping my approach.

Over the course of the internship, I became more efficient at developing solutions. I learned to navigate obscure resources effectively and was able to refine my ability to track and manage development projects. These experiences collectively transformed my approach to software engineering and problem solving as a whole.

4. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow in this role, as it significantly transformed my approach to programming and software engineering. This experience provided a valuable glimpse into my potential future career and reinforced my commitment to this path. It enhanced my understanding of software development within a professional context, boosting my confidence in my abilities and future plans. This transformation is crucial for my academic and professional growth, as it has equipped me with the skills and mindset I need to navigate the interesting path of software engineering.