To broaden and develop our teams’ collaborative skills while offering visiting students the chance to expand their scientific networks and gain cultural experiences, BRT encourages students to join our team for internship opportunities. These internships aim to facilitate idea exchange, foster professional growth, and create opportunities for collaboration.
Recently, we hosted Helen Traczyk, a recent graduate from the United States. Read her introductory blog here.
Enjoy reading about her experience with BRT!
I am very happy with my time with the BioResources and Technology Division (BRT). As an intern, I was able to gain useful new skills and perspectives. I mainly assisted Stacy and Masha on the communications team. This included creating content for a few projects that BRT is a part of – OSIRIS and COMUNIDAD, such as editing videos about project updates for the partners to share with stakeholders and other interested parties. I also helped with designing more branded digital materials for the BRT team to use. I really enjoyed this work as I was able to exercise my creative skills while also learning how to use useful software like Filmora and Canva.
In addition to this work with the communications team, I also assisted PhD student Chama with his research on gendered aspects of biogas in developing countries. Chama asked me to write a literature review compiling information on best practices for gender mainstreaming in biogas projects. I learned about how gender affects biogas use and adoption. This work was engaging to me, as it brought together my interests in gender studies and environmental science.
Being surrounded by PhD students and researchers in the office every day was a great opportunity for me; everyone was from a different country and had their own unique interest in biogas and bioresources. Being exposed to these diverse cultures and ideas was really enlightening for me and helped me think about my own culture in a new way. Also, as a recent graduate, it was really helpful for me to see successful working academics. It let me think about my own future and where I wanted to go next.
I’m so grateful to the BRT team for hosting me as an intern! I feel that I made great connections with the team and am eager to continue on my career journey.
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