Name: Yuan Tan
Class Year: 2024
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Psychology
Hometown: Chongqing, China
Internship Organization: University of Delaware
Job Title: Summer Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE) Program
Location: Newark, Delaware
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
SOURCE provides me an opportunity to delve into the realm of research, offering a comprehensive experience that spans from formulating intricate research inquiries and conducting thorough literature reviews to meticulously analyzing data. The journey continues through the process of composing scholarly papers and presenting my findings to a wider audience. This summer, I have been engaged in the Memory and Perception of Speech (MAPS) lab led by Prof. Sayako Earl. For this summer, my focus is centered on unraveling the intriguing relationship between individual differences in sensitivity to someone's native language and its impact on their acquisition of a second language. The foundational data for my study is drawn from the extensive five-year Time to Learn (T2L) study led by Prof. Earle. Originally designed to explore the optimal learning schedules for retaining speech sounds, T2L provides valuable information to my research question. My major task is to process electroencephalogram (EEG) data, which serves as a window into the fascinating realm of brain activity. Through this analysis, I’m hoping to gain insights into how people respond to different auditory stimuli, whether it’s their native or non-native language. Also, through conducting correlational data analysis, I gained more practice with R.
Why did you apply for this internship?
After graduation, my goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive and/or social neuroscience. To prepare for this path, I recognize the importance of gaining hands-on research experience in the field. Reflecting on my prior research endeavors, a clear need for more practice in turning my questions into reasonable and feasible research questions for scientific study appeared. Additionally, I am acutely aware of the pressing importance of enhancing my data analysis skills encompassing the intricate nuances of EEG processing and the versatile R software. I applied to this program with the hope of further honing my research skills and nurturing my interest in the field.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
What truly stands out as my personal highlight within the program is its unique blend of collaboration and personalized guidance. Over the course of these ten weeks, we have both weekly lab meetings and individual meetings with Prof. Earle. The weekly lab meeting, as we are a large group with multiple projects taking place, allows us to forge connections and gain insights into each other's endeavors. Following the lab meeting is a journal club. This collective journey into the latest scholarly articles not only keeps us abreast of cutting-edge research but also fuels stimulating discussions that enrich our understanding of the field's current landscape. On the other side, the program embraces individualization through our weekly one-on-one sessions with our mentor to follow up on progress, address challenges, and seek guidance.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
One unexpected gain from this program is its weekly workshops covering a diverse range of research-related topics. These workshops encompass research ethics, communication skills, the diverse motivations people have going into research, funding sources, and graduate school preparation. This comprehensive exposure has prompted deeper introspection into my research motivations and provided insights into the challenges ahead.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.