Hello! My name is Katherine Dawson, and I’ll be participating in the International Internship Program in Madrid this summer, through the University of Pittsburgh!
To start off, I’m from the DC area- though now I live in Atlanta. During the school year I’m in Pittsburgh, where I’m not only a college student but a Resident Assistant (RA) responsible for on-campus students living in Pitt dorms. I’ve been in this position for one year, and while initially I was apprehensive to take on such an important role, I’ve found it to be rewarding in academic and personal areas. For instance, it has greatly honed my communication skills and time management, and introduced me to a great team of coworkers and friends! Additionally, to explore my interest in biology I’ve spent one and a half years working in a University of Pittsburgh biology lab. I learned microbiology wet lab techniques to assist my overall project, cloning fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) DNA. This position has given me valuable insight into the world of biology academia and allowed me to learn from a diverse group of scientists.
I’ve been attending the University of Pittsburgh for two years, and am now a rising junior majoring in Computational Biology and minoring in Spanish. I’ve been studying the Spanish language since kindergarten, and after thirteen years of school it seemed only natural to continue into college! Speaking, writing, and reading Spanish are skills that I highly value, and after studying not only the language but the different cultures of Spanish-speaking countries I decided that studying abroad would be the best idea to get in-person experience with developing my Spanish fluency and experiencing a new culture.
And yet as the summer of 2025 approached, I was torn between pursuing a biotechnology internship or studying abroad. If I decided to do my first-ever internship, I’d be pursuing career development but ignoring one of my major college goals. If I studied abroad, I would be taking classes and not gain valuable internship experience. Then, lo and behold I learned about IIP: Madrid!
Participating in the IIP study abroad program will allow me to follow both of my summer goals. I’ll be interning with CIAL, a food science research institute formed from the collaboration of the Autonomous University of Madrid and CSIC, the National Spanish Research Institute. I’m excited to have this opportunity, as I’ll be able to explore the realm of biotechnology by contributing to a study of microalgaes at CIAL as well as gain international work experience in Madrid that will be valuable to my future. Beyond the professional, I’ll also get to study abroad in Spain! By spending two months in Madrid, I can immerse myself in the language and culture. I’ll be able to improve my fluency and both learn about and participate in Spanish culture from a host family and the city around me. I’m excited to see what adventures I have in Madrid!
Hasta luego,
Katherine
