Name: Jenifer Fabian Dubon
Class Year: 2023
Major: Biology
Minor: Computer Science
Hometown: Houston, TX
Internship Organization: Dickinson College
Job Title: Summer Research Intern
Location: Carlisle, PA
What’s happening at your internship?
This summer I am working with Professor Crystal Reynaga to study how ground reaction forces in quadrupedal walking frogs impact movement, and how hindlimb and forelimb anatomy may affect the direction of force production and joint torques. To accomplish this, we have performed experiments of the frogs walking on a force plate, collected data from it, and analyzed patterns within the data to determine its significance using MATLAB programming language.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I had previously worked with Prof. Reynaga during the school year conducting experiments to examine the kinematics of different frog species, and I wanted to continue with our research. This summer I wanted to gain knowledge in MATLAB computer scripting program and use MATLAB to analyze the experimental data across multiple frog species. Additionally, I wanted to continue working with Prof. Reynaga, so when she offered me the opportunity to work with her at Dickinson College, I was very excited and eager to accept.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
One of my favorite parts of this research has been working closely with Prof. Reynaga and developing my skills as a scientist. I’ve had a very active role all thorough this opportunity where I feel comfortable expressing myself and my opinions. It has also been very hands-on, from choosing the specific type of research I wanted to conduct, to developing and using my problem-solving skills to develop a code in MATLAB to analyze the data. However, my favorite part of this research has been the relationships I’ve built here at Dickinson college. I have met some of the most incredible, intelligent, and diverse group of students who are doing research in different fields than me. Their different perspectives have helped my growth as a person and as a scientist as well.
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
I’m learning how to efficiently code and work within a professional setting, whether that is working with my professor, or working with students that are also doing research. As a computer science minor, coding efficiently is a must, and it can only be achieved with hands-on practice. I have developed my problem-solving skills a lot this summer, in coding and other aspects of the research. Knowing how to work well with others is a must for me because, as a scientist, I know that collaboration happens all the time. Another skill I am learning is to be confident and to believe in myself. As my research ends, I have grown and become more confident in both myself and my work.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.