The CBR Internship Program
Interview with Scientific Director Maria Varkanitsa and Intern Isabel Yu
The Undergraduate Internship Experience
Isabel Yu, is an undergraduate neuroscience student at Boston University and has been a member of the Center for Brain Recovery (CBR) internship program since the fall. Through working with Manuel Marte on his “Naturalistic Neuroimaging for Presurgical Language Mapping” research project, she explained that she has “learned a lot about conducting tests on aphasia patients and data analysis through Python and R” noting that these skills are key components of research in the field of brain recovery. Yu also hopes to pursue medical school upon graduation, thus, having an internship with the CBR gives her the hands-on experience and mentorship from members of the team that will help her during the application process.
Interview with Maria Varkanitsa
Maria Varkanitsa, the Scientific Director of the CBR, further explained the importance of this program for providing students with hands-on experience in research to develop the skills needed for a successful career in the field of brain recovery. To get a better understanding of the program, Varkanitsa responded to several questions outlining the program in this recent interview:
What does an internship with the CBR provide? How does it prepare students for the field?
An internship at the CBR offers valuable hands-on experience in research within the fields of neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, and brain rehabilitation. Interns are involved in various aspects of research, from data collection and analysis to project management and collaboration. They have the opportunity to be exposed to advanced neuroimaging methods and become familiar with all steps of neuroimaging data collection, preprocessing, and analysis. Depending on the project, interns may also be involved in manuscript preparation, contributing to conference presentations or publications. This exposure helps students develop critical skills in research methodology, data management, scientific communication, and professional collaboration, preparing them for careers in academia, healthcare, and the neurorehabilitation field. Additionally, interns participate in lab meetings and journal clubs, which provide further professional development and knowledge sharing.
How long do interns typically work with the Center?
Interns at the CBR typically work with us for a couple of semesters or more, depending on their availability and the nature of the projects they are involved We offer flexibility in the duration of the internship, with opportunities for summer placements as well. In many cases, interns extend their involvement beyond a year depending on the project needs and their academic commitments.
How many interns are usually accepted during the year? What qualifications should they have or usually have?
We typically accept 10-15 interns per year, with new students joining each semester. While the qualifications can vary, we generally seek students with a strong academic background in fields related to neuroscience, psychology, speech-language pathology, biomedical sciences, or computer science. Ideal candidates are motivated, detail- oriented, and have an interest in research. We also welcome students with expertise in big data analysis, programming, and computational techniques, as these skills are valuable in neuroimaging and data analysis tasks. Familiarity with research methods, data analysis software, and neuroimaging techniques is a plus, but not always required, as we provide training.
How does the CBR benefit from having interns?
The CBR greatly benefits from having interns as they contribute fresh perspectives and valuable support in various aspects of our research projects. Interns assist with tasks such as participant recruitment, data collection, data management, and literature reviews, which significantly enhances the productivity of our research teams. Additionally, having interns helps foster a collaborative, dynamic environment where new ideas and enthusiasm are always welcome. Interns also become part of the CBR community, contributing to the ongoing growth and development of our projects.
Benefits of the Program
Many students have pursued higher education as a result of the CBR internship program. The skills gained during their research have played a key role in their preparedness for graduate level education including masters and PhD programs at BU and around the world. Directly following the program some students have also transitioned into undergraduate research opportunities where they develop and lead their own research project or contribute to the CBR’s existing projects as full time research assistants. Joining the CBR internship program opens doors for students with a passion for fields in neuroscience, psychology, speech-language pathology, biomedical sciences, or computer science, and connects students with the resources they need to make an impact in the field of brain recovery.
Join the CBR Internship Program
If you are a student interested in joining the CBR internship program please reach out to brainrec@bu.edu to get in contact with us.
Support the Next Generation of Researchers
If this story inspires you to support the Center for Brain Recovery’s effort, consider contributing to our research fund by visiting our website’s support our work page.