Why?
I chose to do an internship based study abroad program because I wanted to gain hands on learning experience. I plan to become a Physician Assistant, and the admissions process for it is highly competitive. I wanted something unique to set me apart from other applicants, and I also wanted to get the valuable experience of getting to see how academics/internships work in another country. I found my internship simply by looking at the various study abroad trips offered through UA. Once I picked one that fit my interests, I met with the professors, who helped me match to an area relevant to my future.
Where?
I interned at the Balkan Center in Thessaloniki, Greece. My specific lab is the BIOMIC lab associated with Aristotle University, but there are many others in the Balkan Center too. It is an incredibly nice lab. Mine had roughly five LC-MS machines, a GC-MS machine, a high tech centrifuge, and so much more!
What?
Here is the interesting part! The BIOMIC lab is a biochemistry lab. There are a multitude of projects being conducted from antibiotic contact lenses to the effects of steroids on the liver. The project I assisted in involved diabetic biomarkers. The main goal is to analyze diabetic blood samples to see if there are any particular patterns amongst sugars and amino acids that may be associated with certain dietary habits. Working under graduate students, we helped calibrate the LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry) machine using standardized samples and then the actual blood samples collected from participants. Unfortunately, the LC-MS machine broke, so we could not see to the end of the project before our study abroad concluded. However, I still view this as a valuable part of the experience. It is an example of what lab work (and all jobs) looks like in real life. Sometimes things happen that set you back, and that is okay!
Rating
I give this internship 5 stars! I learned so much in the 3 weeks I was there. The graduate students I worked under were so kind and welcoming. They taught us so much even though they were trying to manage their projects. I feel like I have a better understanding of what goes on in a lab and what type of research can be done. I learned a LOT about biochemistry while there too. I cannot wait to apply this to my studies and future career as a PA.
Here are some pictures of my internship!
- Allison and I assisting in making standard samples
- LC-MS machine (brand new) that was being used throughout the process
