Taking Lehigh to the World and Bringing the World to Lehigh

Iacocca International Internship Program
Student Report

Summer 2023

Program Statement: The Iacocca International Internship
Program (IIIP) provides practical work experience, groundedin global context, aimed at enhancing students’ career
readiness and intercultural competency.

2023 Iacocca Intern Host Countries
Armenia

IsraelAustria

Italy

BermudaJordanChile

Luxembourg

Croatia

Singapore

Czech Republic

Spain

FranceUgandaGermany

United States

IrelandTable of Contents

Afiwa Afandalo, Uganda………………………………………………………………………………………………..6-7
Elias Almary, Austria……………………………………………………………………………………………………..8-9
Jorge Amigon Benitez, Global Village………………………………………………………………………..10-11
Brandon Arriaga, Italy……………………………………………………………………………………………….12-13
Katie Atherton, France……………………………………………………………………………………………...14-15
Renae Austin, Chile…………………………………………………………………………………………………..16-17
Brianna Banful, Armenia…………………………………………………………………………………………..18-19
Catherine Bigenho, Uganda ……………………………………………………………………………………..20-21
Sarah Campos, Jordan ……………………………………………………………………………………….…….22-23
Randi Conroy, Uganda ………………………………………………………………………………………………24-25
Greg Dardaris, Czech Republic ………………………………………………………………………………….26-27
Fenet Demissie, Singapore ……………………………………………………………………………………….28-29
Anna Donovan, Austria …………………………………………………………………………………………….30-31
Tessa Dougan, Singapore ………………………………………………………………………………………….32-33
Cole Fahrney, Ireland ……………………………………………………………………………………………….34-35
Tess Furnari, Jordan ………………………………………………………………………………………………….36-37
Isabela Giraldo, Uganda …………………………………………………………………………..……………….38-39
Dina Gofman, France ……………………………………………………………………………………………….40-41
Noah Griffin, Chile …………………………………………………………………………………………..……….42-43
Nicole Guglielmi, Jordan………………………………………………………………………………………..….44-45
Sammy Haggert, Czech Republic ……………………………………………………………………………...46-47
Kareem Hargrove, Italy …………………………………………………………………………………………….48-49
Charlotte Imperatore, Chile ……………………………………………………………….…………………….50-51
Devon King, Ireland ………………………………………………………………………………………………….52-53
Nana Kyekyeku, Chile ……………………………………………………………………………………………….54-55
Rachel Lischin, France ………………………………………………………………………………………………56-57
Francesca Logozzo, Luxembourg ………………………………………………………………………..…….58-59
Virginia McMahon, Luxembourg ………………………………………………………..…………………….60-61
Alex Meyer, France ……………………………………………………………………….………………………….62-63
Matyas Negas, Germany ………………………………………………………………………………………….64-65
Josh Nsubuga, France …………………………………………………………………………………..………….66-67
Katie O’Donnell, Spain …………………………………………………………………………………………….68-69
Oluwafunmbi Ojo, Luxembourg ……………………………………………………………………………….70-71
Bianca Palomino, Israel …………………………………………………………………………………………….72-73
Tahmina Raisa, Spain ……………………………………………………………………………………………….74-75
Emily Randolph, Uganda ………………………………………………………………………………………….76-77
Vito Russo, Jordan …………………………………………………………………………………………………...78-79
Liana Secondino, Uganda ………………………………………………………………………………..……….80-81
Rachel Sobocinski, Croatia ……………………………………………………………………………………….82-83
Isabelle Torrijos, Czech Republic ……………………………………………………………………..……….84-85
Coby Walmsley, Czech Republic ……………………………………………………………………………….86-87
Luke Weaver, Singapore …………………………………………………………………………….…………….88-89
Julia Wilczynski, Croatia ……………………………………………………………………………………….….90-91
Sarah Wilhelm, Bermuda ………………………………………………………………………………………….92-93
Alexandra Wnuk, Spain …………………………………………………………………………………………….94-95
Zaara Yakub, Ireland ………………………………………………………………………………………………...96-97

Afiwa Afandalo
UgandaCollege of Arts
& Sciences
Africana Studies &Women, Gender,& Sexualities
Studies

PDI
Sustainable
Livelihood InternCompany and Position Description: Pathways Development Initiative (PDI) is an NGO that
focuses on helping individuals/communities in the Bududa district achieve a sustainable life.
The organization fosters several community-oriented programs including the Sports Clinic
which brings youth from across Bududa together through soccer (or as they call it here,
football) and teaches them skills such as teamwork, good sportsmanship, etc. Another programis the Second Chance Program, an initiative that selects youth from the Bududa district who
have dropped out of traditional schooling and provides them with alternative pathways throughoptions such as trade schools. Another one of their initiatives is the PDI Preparatory School
which provides affordable schooling to young children in the Bududa community. As a
Sustainable Livelihood intern, I worked in two different departments within the organization:
the PDI school where I spent the majority of my time, and the PDI office. At the PDI Preparatory
School, I assisted the teachers with teaching students and prepping for lessons. I taught lessons
occasionally with the guidance of the teacher I was assisting that day. I also helped the teachers
create lesson plans for the following day and write and upload midterm exams on thecomputers. I also assisted the interns in spearheading the “Health and Hygiene” Initiative bycreating posters to help students remember how to brush their teeth and wash their hands. On
the days I worked in the office, I helped input students’ data into Excel and contributed myideas towards creating an art curriculum.

Spending the afternoon
lesson planning

Daily lessons
6Afiwa Afandalo
UgandaAfter a hikeTaking a natural shower

Value Derived from the Experience: Participating in IIIP, I learned the value of community
in social justice efforts; both in the Iacocca Interns community and the Bududa community. The
Iacocca interns’ community provided me with a comforting haven during challenging moments.
On several occasions, I had “I want to go home” moments, and when I voiced those thoughts tothe other Iacocca interns here, they offered their support every time. Their support helped me
overcome challenging moments such as homesickness. Had I not had the Iacocca Interns
community, I think this experience would have been harder than it was. In addition, working
with PDI has shown me why community is crucial. The Bududa community does not haveenough economic resources, yet they all come together to help each other with what they have.
Both communities provided me with a space to connect, collaborate, and thrive, creating a
positive impact on me and the teachers, students, and interns I worked with. Another value that
I derived from working with the PDI’s organization is the importance of youth voices in creating
sustainable communities and futures. From my observations, the youths at PDI have developed
interpersonal skills that will be helpful to them when making life decisions. This initiative by myorganization came from the founders (our host family) noticing the lack of resources for youth in
Bududa. As someone who is interested in education policies, this approach will be helpful when
advocating and creating policies that will affect the students in the education system.

7

Elias Almary
Austria

P.C. College ofEngineering
Industrial &Systems
Engineering

Revo Foods
Austria Real
Junior Operations
Manager
Real Estate InternCompany and Position Description: Revo Foods: This is a Food Manufacturing company,

specifically revolutionizing the food industry in their creation of vegan seafood. They are astartup that has been around for about 3 years and has been advancing in their creation of
products. From vegan salmon and tuna dips to salmon filet, to now the creation of 3D printerswhich will print their products. The team is quite large (the biggest cost of the startup is paying
their employees), mostly consisting of master’s students who are writing their theses. The CEO
is a PhD Bioengineer. I had to look for suppliers for packaging, mycoproteins, and do research
on mycoproteins as well. I also learned more about the flood industry as a whole during mytime at the company, while understanding the needs of certain startups.
Austria Real: The other organization has been around for 20 years. It is a small real estate
brokerage run by someone originally from Azerbaijan, who moved to Russia and then Austria,
and now runs a company supporting mainly Russian clients looking to buy in Austria. My
responsibilities here consisted of marketing posts and a lot of Google translating.

Product sold by
Revo foods

New Revo product I
helped with8

Elias Almary
Austria

Film Festival in Vienna

Revo vegan seafood

Value Derived from the Experience: Aside from building valuable connections with people

around the United States who were there in Vienna as well. With the real estate company, I
finally was able to have an introduction to the real estate industry and was able to put together
documents about investing in properties and a full report on a property. I also built connections
with the people whom I worked with at both organizations. At the other internship, I learned a
lot about how scale-up-type startups operate. I learned how to find suppliers, how to message
them, how to juggle different tasks, and how to manage my time better.
Revo Foods has a lot of future potential for growth but my worry with them is that they are
doing too much for their good. Whereas Austria Real has already become established in Europe
and is happy with the stability they have. I have learned a lot from both companies and am very
grateful for the experience this summer. Receiving a global perspective becomes more and more
important day to day, as companies and countries become more diverse.

9Jorge Amigon Benitez
United States

College of Arts
& Sciences

Global Village

Global Studies

Villager

Company and Position Description: The Global Village program consisted of 55 villagers

from 33 different countries. We stayed in the McConn and Levitt dorms during our 5 weeks.
This forced us to learn how to live within a diverse community. Such as learning how to use the
kitchen when 55 people are hungry. Also, how to clean our kitchen after 55 people used it. The
value of working as a team was a crucial one in the global village program. We were divided
into groups and assigned a project. My project was to create the yearbook for the GV 2023 withmy project team. My role during the yearbook project was to take as many pictures as possible
throughout the GV program. I was also responsible for renting the camera from Lehigh andreturning to the digital studio. Also, I was responsible for keeping my team updated about
needing more pictures from our trips or an event. This project was a lot of fun. I learned a lot
about myself. I learned that I love photography and being creative. Thanks to this project I want
to invest more time in developing my photography skills.

Country presentations

My guide groupfor the program10

Jorge Amigon Benitez
United States

Lunch break withfellow villagers

The yearbook team!

Value Derived from the Experience: A value I obtained from participating in the Iacocca

International Internship Program is learning how to work with others. During the Global Village
program, I learned to work with people who are culturally different than me. I worked with 55
people from 33 different countries for five weeks. At first, it was hard because we barely knew
each other, and we were also just getting used to each other. However, since most of us allowed
ourselves to be vulnerable we connected much quicker. After that, it was pretty easy to workwith people who are culturally different from you. The key thing is to put your ego aside. If you
can’t do that, then you will probably not work well with others. Also being open-minded helps a
lot in these situations. There are going to be moments when someone might say something you
don’t necessarily agree with. Still, everyone has the right to their opinion and we should respectthat. This took me a while to learn but I’m glad I did. I learned to disagree with people in a much
more polite way. This experience allowed me to grow as a global citizen and a global leader.
There is still a lot more I need to learn about the world but I’m glad I realized that now then later.

11

Brandon Arriaga
Italy

P.C. College ofEngineering
Computer
Science

Net4Market
SoftwareDevelopment
InternCompany and Position Description: Net4Market is an e-procurement platform thatenables efficient management of suppliers’ telematics, streamlined procedures, and tenders, allwhile reducing costs and delivery time. They essentially make buying things for businesses
much easier, faster, and more cost-effective. As an intern, I was part of the IT team that wasworking on updating the online platform to new technologies. I worked 5 days a week foraround 6 hours a day. I had various tasks to complete, but my biggest one was building an API
for geocoding. Geocoding is the process of converting addresses into geographic coordinates.
Here I used tools such as spring-boot, SQL, junit, mockito, and swagger to help build this API,
while under the guidance of one of the senior software developers. To implement this API, I
also had to study a new design pattern called chain of responsibility, so that multiple geocoding
APIs could be used if one does not work. While working, we used the agile-scrum framework,and I attended daily standup meetings where the team would go over the work being done.
Overall, I feel like I really improved my coding skills and understanding of the programmer
lifestyle from this experience.

My usual work setup

IT team picture
12Brandon Arriaga
ItalyRoyal Palace in Turin

Genoa

Value Derived from the Experience: The Iacocca International Internship Program hasreally made a great impact on me. First of all, the preparation from the Prepare sessions and thesense of community from my fellow interns through WordPress have been of great assistanceand provided comfort. Professionally, interning abroad has had a profound impact on myprofessional skills. I feel like I have a better understanding of skills in the workplace, and alongwith the language barrier, I became a better communicator. Learning all of the tools and working
with other software developers, I have a greater understanding of what it takes to be one. I alsofeel that my internship has made me more sure of my future, and confirmed to me that I want tocontinue down this career path. Personally, leaving the U.S. was a life-changing experience forme. Traveling has always been a big desire of mine, but there were many roadblocks along theway that the Iacocca International Internship Program allowed me to surpass. Experiencing
Europe and Italy for the first time really opened my eyes that there’s a whole world out there ofamazing cultures and ways of living that I am missing out on in America. This only makes mewant to go out more and experience different places and people. Whether It was visiting
amazing cities like Milan, having daily talks with coworkers over caffè, or going to my favorite
local pizza place, I will miss it all. The places I visited, the experiences I had, and the friendships I
made will last a lifetime.

13

Katie Atherton
FranceP.C. College ofEngineering
ChemicalEngineering

Laboratoire Ondes
et Matièred’Aquitaine
Materials Science
InternCompany and Position Description: LOMA is a materials science, physics, and chemistrylab located on one of the University of Bordeaux’s campuses. My supervisor and colleagues
were part of the broader “soft matter and biophysics” team of the lab. My particular project
was opto-rheology, testing materials to find their viscosity and elasticity. I would pipette a small
amount of gel onto the testing platform, shine a laser on the sample, and collect the signals onan oscilloscope. The laser would create a small deformation on the sample, which would thenbe reflected on the signal. The time scale and magnitude of this deformation could then be
used to find the viscosity, elasticity, and surface tension of the sample. I performed thisexperiment on gels of varying composition and with different laser powers and then analyzed
the data to compare the differing properties of the gels. Since this internship was established incollaboration with the Pashuck lab back at Lehigh, a major responsibility was also coordinatingplans between the Bordeaux and Lehigh labs. As problems arose, I had to make sure both labs
were fully aware of the situation and agreed on how to proceed.

Interns after their
final presentation

My experimental setup
14

Katie Atherton
FranceInterns at dinner
in Biarritz

Arc de Triomphe
in Paris

Value Derived from the Experience: This internship provided me with an invaluable

opportunity. It taught me so much about collaboration in the scientific community. It also gaveme experience in a very interesting field. Opto-rheology is relatively new, but it is very promisingfor soft materials and confined, complex samples. I’m interested in biomaterials, so I enjoyedlearning about a new rheological method that could be the solution to some current issues.
Additionally, I gained valuable problem-solving experience. Some of the materials I needed formy project were damaged, so we had to think about how my project should proceed. At the endof the internship, we all had to give a presentation on our work. I had never given a talk on myresearch before, so this was a great learning experience and has made me much more confident
with public speaking. This program also provided me with a great personal opportunity for
growth. I would have never gone abroad if not for this internship. Living and working in adifferent country has definitely expanded my worldview and has taught me how to appreciate
and adapt to different cultures.

15

Renae Austin
Chile

College of Arts
& Sciences
Biology

Good Neighbors
Chile
Marketing andCommunications
InternCompany and Position Description: With the help of the Iacocca International Internship

Program, I had the opportunity to work and study abroad in Santiago, Chile. At first, I wasconnected to IES Abroad which is an international program that works in providing host homes,
host organizations, and classes to students who are planning on studying abroad. This program
allowed me to work with an organization that would not only help develop my experience formy future career but which I could also contribute previously acquired knowledge to the best of
my ability in order to positively impact the organization’s mission. The organization that I wasmatched with is named Good Neighbors Chile. This organization is a non-profit organizationthat works to provide free access to school materials, education on children’s rights, andeducation on proper first aid care. My role at the organization was to work as a marketing andcommunications intern. In this role, I used my previous research skills to acquire accurate
information that can be presented as infographics on various social media platforms and also
composed a 10-page professional document for my supervisor that had various affordable
activities that promote education on children’s right to health.

Workspace at the office

Organization’s
workshops
16

Renae Austin
Chile

Baha’i temple

Valparaiso

Value Derived from the Experience: Working in a foreign environment comes with various

adjustments such as adapting to the language barrier, maneuvering different technology, andproducing at a different pace. After interning abroad, I’ve come to realize that Americans canmove very quickly through work and don’t tend to develop personal connections in theworkspace. In Chile, people tend to have lengthy deadlines but with the amount of time given
they are expected to submit work that is no less than perfect. Also, developing personalconnections was new to me but it is said to build trust in the workspace and strengthen thefoundation in future business deals. These adjustments took me time to adapt to, therefore it
required patience, empathy, and understanding. Being patient as well as empathetic allowed me
to understand these cultural norms and become a valuable intern at the organization.
Furthermore, working with different technologies introduced me to new presentation
techniques such as using Canva. It is an online website that can be used to further enhance myPowerPoint or any other presentation that is necessary.
All in all, I was able to learn new aspects about myself, new online marketing techniques, andmore information about the culture of my host country throughout this experience. The Iacocca
International Internship Program allowed me to not only learn these things but also value them
deeply by reflecting weekly.

17

Brianna Banful
Armenia

College of Arts
& Sciences
Journalism

Nor Luyce
Content Writing
InternCompany and Position Description: Nor Luyce is an organization co-founded by Shogher

Mikaelyan, a former Fulbright Scholar and Lehigh alum. The organization is dedicated toempowering young girls and providing them with opportunities for education and personal
development. As a content writing intern, my main tasks revolved around creating engaging
and impactful content. Throughout my internship, I worked on content creation, copywritingand editing, and content strategy and planning. In addition to this, my tasks also included
bridging the gap between English and the Armenian language. To further elaborate, I was often
tasked with translating content from Armenian to English so that the content would be able toreach a wider audience. While doing this, I was able to help expand the company throughcontent.

My office workspace

Coffee break18

Brianna Banful
Armenia

Khndzoresk Bridge

HikingValue Derived from the Experience: I am very thrilled that I was able to participate in the

Iacocca International Internship Program this summer. While working at Nor Luyce, I was able togain a plethora of professional skills. One of them was problem-solving. Due to the language
barrier, it was sometimes difficult to completely understand what was asked of me. However, I
was able to use this as a learning opportunity and try my best to communicate in ways that my
co-workers would understand. Whether it was by using Google Translate or finding somebody totranslate, I always made sure to overcome these challenges so that I could complete my tasks tothe best of my ability. In addition to professional skills, I was also able to gain personal skills as
well. Traveling to Armenia alone granted me the opportunity to truly learn how to be
independent. I feel as though this experience not only made me mature some more but also
allowed me to fully immerse myself in Armenian culture. From this, I was able to get a different
perspective on life and learn so much about Armenian culture.

19

Catherine Bigenho
UgandaCollege of Health

PDI

Community andGlobal Health

Sustainable
Livelihood InternCompany and Position Description: PDI is an organization dedicated to providing
education to children ages 3-5 in the Bududa district. In a country where government-fundededucation doesn’t begin until age 6, early education is crucial for the development of children.
A key component to success in Uganda is proficiency in English and delaying the developmentof language skills until age 6 puts students at a great disadvantage. PDI addresses this byfocusing on English language development alongside daily lessons in reading, writing, andmath. Beyond academics, PDI runs a soccer program for youth ages 5 to 25 – with the district’s
first-ever female team. This program began as a way to prevent alcoholism in youth byproviding safe and healthy alternate activities that empower students. As an intern at PDI, my
primary role was to help students refine their English skills, teach various lessons, and assist
with making lesson plans for the next day. Additionally, I contributed to establishing asustainable hygiene program with fellow interns to implement a handwashing station andinitiate a toothbrushing program. Due to the cost of toothpaste and toothbrushes, many
children in Bududa don’t brush their teeth, but by providing each student with their own
toothbrush, the children now brush their teeth every morning at school to ensure dental
hygiene. Lastly, I worked in the PDI office with administrative tasks, including grant proposal
writing and conducting assessments on former PDI students to evaluate potential weaknesses
where PDI can improve. This ensures that PDI continually evolves and enhances its programs.

Coursework withthe students

Student hygiene
program20

Catherine Bigenho
UgandaWaterfall on ourhike

The streets of
BududaValue Derived from the Experience: The main source of value I received from the Iacocca

International Internship Program was cultural awareness and perspective on the world.
Deliberately selecting a location with a very different culture from my own was challenging, but I
knew it would lead to significant personal growth which proved to be true. Knowing of
impoverished communities is one thing, but truly recognizing privilege requires immersing
oneself in developing nations for a significant period of time. I will never again take for granted
amenities like a washing machine, constant access to fresh drinking water, reliable power,internet, or having more than one pair of shoes. People in America are so fixated on material
items, but something I’ve learned over the past 2 months is that people are no less happy here
despite the lack of resources. One of my favorite things I heard this entire trip was a quote fromone of the workers at my homestay: “I am grateful for life because when you have life, you haveeverything.” I gained so much in terms of professionalism these past two months, but
experiencing beauty and gratefulness in simplicity is what I feel most lucky to have learned andwhat has permanently changed my outlook on life.

21

Sarah Campos
JordanCollege of Arts
& Sciences
Psychology

SELA
Youth
Empowerment
InternCompany and Position Description: This summer I had the privilege of working with SELA

for Vocational Training and Protection of Cultural Heritage, or SELA for short. This is a nonprofit
organization in Jordan dedicated to reducing unemployment and creating interest in theconservation of the archeological site Petra. I was on the youth empowerment track meaning
my main responsibilities were dedicated towards the youth of Petra. As an intern, my
responsibilities as well as the other interns I was with, were to clean the walls of a Roman
bathhouse near the Great Temple in Petra, repair a nearby wall with mortar conservation,
brainstorm interview questions for a community mapping project SELA was starting, andconduct around 60 interviews in Petra, Wadi Musa, Bedha, Umm Sayhoun, Madaba, andHesban. My responsibilities as a youth empowerment intern were to collaborate with the youth
empowerment director, create an activity for children to feel more connected with Petra andgain interest in the site’s conservation, and help carry out activities. For the activity, I put
together two versions of a modified Mad Libs game for children from the ages of 7-14 thatshowcased how to do an excavation at Petra.

Mortar conservation

Traveling in Wadi Rum
22

Sarah Campos
JordanBaby goat Paul!

Water hike in
Wadi Mujib

Value Derived from the Experience: The most important thing I have learned from the

Iacocca International Internship Program is to cherish and take advantage of the experiences
available to you. While in Jordan almost every single weekend was taken advantage of. The
group I was with and I went to the Dead Sea, Aqaba, Umm el Jimal, Wadi Rum, and Amman. In
all of these locations, I was so incredibly glad that I went and had the privilege of exploring moreof Jordan. Another important thing to note is my resilience was tested as well as my adaptability.
I came to Lehigh as a first-generation college student from across the country, so inevitably I had
to adapt. However, while in Jordan I had to learn to change habits, have a strong shift in myroutines, and all in all learn a different lifestyle. The shift was challenging to wrap my headaround but towards the end, I felt confident with where I was at.

23

Randi Conroy
UgandaCollege ofBusiness
Finance

PDI
Sustainable
Livelihood InternCompany and Position Description: Pathways Development Initiative is an NGO located in

Bubiita, Bududa in rural Uganda. PDI aims to mobilize its communities and encourage
individuals to improve their livelihoods through education, sports, and financial planning. PDI
had many ongoing projects to combat poverty, including an established sports program, ahygiene program, a preschool, an English and music program, and multiple financial planningand savings projects. During my time with PDI, I worked in the preschool to teach students
English and help them with classwork. After school, I helped create lesson plans with theteachers. The other interns and I also implemented a hygiene program at the school, where weequipped each student with a toothbrush. Every day before class, we would assist withtoothbrushing. Dental hygiene is very important to ensure no child becomes malnourished. I
also worked in the office, assisting with grant writing, assessments of students in neighboring
schools, Excel work, and other office tasks. My interns and I also developed a school lunch
sponsorship program that will help combat hunger within schools around Bududa. We also
participated in the sports clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I played football with the girls in the
program. It was a great way to show support and empower youth to participate in the sports
programs.

Daily classSports with thestudents
24

Randi Conroy
UgandaDaily commute towork

Bududa soccer
field

Value Derived from the Experience: The experiences and lessons learned in Uganda will

carry on with me for the rest of my life. I cannot put a tangible value on this experience. I am
extremely grateful to have been a part of an amazing program. My cultural competency has
grown exponentially, considering I have never left the country before. I can now confidently saythat I can travel anywhere comfortably. Becoming immersed in a different culture was the mostrewarding thing I have done, and I am very grateful for Bududa and the people I met during mytime here. The Prepare sessions definitely helped to equip me with the tools needed to embark
on this journey. It was comforting to know my co-interns as I headed to a different country. I also
enjoyed reading about other Iacocca Interns’ experiences on the WordPress website. The
support circle felt awesome. Working with PDI was an amazing experience, and I could not havedone it without the help of the Iacocca International Internship Program!

25

Greg Dardaris
Czech Republic

P.C. College ofEngineering
MechanicalEngineering

Tomas Bata
University
Life Cycle
Assessment
Research InternCompany and Position Description: We spent our first weeks reading research papers about thepast and future of battery technology, as well as the environmental impacts of producing batteries from
cradle to grave, and the general process of how to conduct LCA to produce meaningful results. During
this time, we got to join conferences where battery researchers and manufacturers discussed how theyplan to make battery recycling more effective and reach targets for the percentage of cathode materials
recovered. Then, we replicated a few studies that quantified the environmental impact of electricvehicle batteries with respect to retention rate, depth of discharge, and distance driven, and even foundsome discrepancies in published results. Lastly, we focused on analyzing the cost of batteries throughtheir individual materials and showed how the current prices of some materials like Lithium haveincreased dramatically in only a year’s time, while others, like Nickel, have stayed constant. This
experience has shown me the difference between school work and research in the real world.
Throughout college, we are normally given data, and learn how to manipulate it, but in this case,acquiring data was very difficult, whether it was intentionally obscured by manufacturers or not taken in
the first place. We need trustworthy data in order to reach any meaningful results, so open access isessential. At the same time, we worked with Oldrich Voyta in the footwear research institute to learn
how to make a pair of shoes starting from a plastic shoe last covered in tape and a drawn design, topanels of leather stitched together and joined to an outsole. It was interesting to see how much thoughtgoes into every pair, and during our time we also visited an insole factory to see how shoe components
are produced at a large scale.

Hammering nails
of a petticoat

Beginning of a dress shoe
26

Greg Dardaris
Czech Republic

Clocktower inKroměříž

Prague Castle acrossthe Vltava River

Value Derived from the Experience: I am very grateful that I have been able to participate

in the Iacocca International Internship Program; I feel more confident about how tocommunicate in a work setting, and more comfortable with starting conversations with people
instead of waiting for them to make the first move. Having Prepare sessions and responsibilities
throughout the year was helpful to me because I carved out time to think about my summer
abroad which I might not have done otherwise. I left America feeling much more prepared than I
would without the group’s support, and the two things I kept in mind were to expect difficulties,
and that I would get out of the experience what I put in. I felt that my expectations of life inCzechia were realistic instead of idealized, and when there were times of difficulty I could stay
calm rather than frustrated because I trusted the people I was with. As for the second piece ofadvice, the path of least effort is always the easiest, but when you look back on things it is rarely
the best. I was mindful of my energy, and while resting is important I never got too comfortable;
whether it was asking more questions, biking to a new place, or eating different foods, I tried to
do as much as I could during my two months in Zlin. One takeaway I had on the plane ride home
is that there is no reason to stop living this way just because I am back home; there is always
more to see.

27

Fenet Demissie
Singapore

Intercollegiate
IDEAS

SUTD
Research InternCompany and Position Description: SUTD is a higher education institution with a huge

focus on research, innovation, and design. At SUTD, I am a research intern through the iUROP(inbound undergraduate research opportunities program). I am involved in two iUROP projects
this summer. One of them is using survey data to analyze the walkability of Southeast Asian
cities. I analyze sociology surveys and identify questions that can be used to determine thewalkability of cities, and I use SQL to extract information from the survey data and to build adashboard that makes such data easily searchable and accessible for later research. I am also
completing a secondary project and participating in a literature review that is focused on neuralengineering and neural assistive devices. I have read and discussed topics that were very new
to me in neural assistive research. This project has allowed me to explore a research interest I
hadn’t explored before in a topic that was different within my field of study. I also got topresent a collection of papers and facilitate discussions.

Working withother interns

Changi Airport,
Avengers fountain28

Fenet Demissie
Singapore

National
Botanical Garden

Marina Bay Sands
GardenValue Derived from the Experience: Travelling close to 10,000 miles from Lehigh, thissummer has been challenging and gratifying in many ways that I did not expect. Navigating a
new country, completing immigration formalities and responsibilities, and exploring Singapore
have allowed me to taste (literally) new cultures and perspectives. Singapore is diverse in a waythat is different from the US. It is clean and harmonious. However, through conversations withart curators and artists, I have also come to learn about its censorship and maintenance of thestatus quo. This has allowed me to value my voice and use it. Professionally, my internshipproject ended up changing after I arrived here. I had to seek out new projects, reach out toprofessors, and advocate for myself. With a delayed start to my internship, I had to hurry to catchup in the beginning. My new projects were also almost completely remote except for a few
check-in meetings. I was challenged to seek spaces and communities to avoid isolating myself as
I completed my remote work.

29

Anna Donovan
Austria

College of Arts &Science
Behavioral
Neuroscience andCognitive Science

International
Institute of Applied
Systems Analysis
Climate andEnergy ResearchInternCompany and Position Description: IIASA is a well-known nonprofit institution thatreceives money from the EU and other organizations to conduct research that aims to mitigate
climate change and improve sustainability internationally. IIASA works with other companies
around the world in numerous research grants. It has about 400 staff filled with experts in theirfields. The organization is divided into six research groups, and within these research groups,
there are more specialized projects. I worked in the energy and climate change research group.
My job was to support the senior scholars in their research. This looked different from day today. The most common task I had was to create summaries of research projects and uploadthem to the website. I also spent a portion of my internship creating a website for a larger
research project IIASA will be conducting starting in August. On top of these, I did a lot of
detailed tasks to help organize the company. For example, I created a GANT chart thatorganized all the different research projects going on in our division. This chart marked different
milestones, costs, and companies involved.

Research paper
summaries

My office30

Anna Donovan
Austria

Hundertwasser
House

Hallstatt, Austria

Value Derived from the Experience: After working at IIASA, I have greatly improved myscientific literature reading and writing. This is because I was able to read research proposals andsummarize them so frequently that I became confident in reading this type of material. I also
greatly improved my technological skills while working at IIASA. A majority of the tasks I was
assigned were online and related to the company website in some way, whether it be posting an
upcoming event or creating an entirely new website. These tasks made me feel comfortableplaying around with website creation and editing, something that I had no previous experience.
Lastly, I learned a lot about Excel when I created the GANT chart, and this is a skill that isrequired for a surplus of jobs. Because I had this lengthy task, I am much more comfortable using
this software. Above all, working at IIASA and simply being in Austria for two months allowed me
to grow in confidence and independence. Now that I know I am capable of navigating a new city,
a new work setting, and thriving in both, I know I am capable of whatever I want as long as I stay
positive, kind, and vulnerable in the process.

31Tessa Dougan
Singapore

College of Arts
& Sciences
Environmental
Science andEnvironmental
Studies

SUTD
Research InternCompany and Position Description: My internship location was the Singapore Universityof Technology and Design in Singapore where I performed research on the walkability ofSoutheast Asia. I did this by utilizing geographic information systems, in my case this was QGIS.
I had to learn the program and work with data to create maps that could generate an objective
walkability index using Python. In other words, I compiled data to create a number that could
statistically tell people how walkable an area is. There was another aspect of the project thatworked with subjective survey data, but we were not able to completely compare the data sets.
My specific project focused on green spaces such as parks as an indicator of walkability in cities
such as Jakarta. We were also interested in building density and population density as factors as
well. Overall, the project taught me a lot about technology that I could use in my future career,and I really value this new knowledge. The school itself is very technology-focused and so I was
introduced to coding, something I have never worked with before, and robotics. As an
exchange student, the university was more concerned with us learning something rather thanjust producing results, as a result, I spent time exploring the campus and the city and did a lotof research on the topics of interest.

SUTD

The view from thehostels at SUTD
32

Tessa Dougan
Singapore

Thai street-style foodInternational
Yoga Day

Value Derived from the Experience: This experience has shown me a lot about myself andabout the workforce outside of Lehigh. I have seen some of the things I want to do and aminterested in, such as the research I was working with, as it aligns very well with my career
aspirations, and I also saw things I did not want to do, such as strict independent work. I havelearned that some environments don’t serve me, and I do better when I am surrounded byothers. I learned my limits, and I also learned to advocate for myself, there was a lot of
uncertainty in my project, and I had to work for myself to get to a place where I felt like I was
valuable and using my time well. Immersing myself in Singapore’s culture showed me that there
are so many different ways of working and interacting with others. I noted in my WordPress
posts that people seemed to really respect other cultures there and didn’t have to debate
whether someone was worthy or not based on the color of their skin, religion, or where theycame from. While I do live in two places that have a good mixture of cultures, Singapore offered
a new mix of cultures I had not been exposed to. It shows how much more of the world there isto learn about and the different values that come with different kinds of people. This also
showed me that everyone, EVERYWHERE, has to adapt to other people. No one is going to be
exactly the same as you, so it is important to keep an open mind when you are working withothers to help everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. I also learned that you really do get outof it what you put into it. Carol kept saying this all through our prep time, and it really is true. I
could have sat in Singapore doing nothing and learning nothing, but I pushed myself to interact
with the people and the culture and generate a whole new world for myself.

33

Cole Fahrney
Ireland

College of Arts
& Sciences

Irish Council forInternational
Students

Global Studies

InternCompany and Position Description: I interned with the Irish Council for International

Students, or ICOS. They are an advocacy group for international students representing 26
institutions, including every university in the country. In addition to lobbying on behalf ofstudents from other countries, they manage Ireland’s Fellows Programme, providing
educational opportunities and support to graduate students from 25+ countries in Africa, Asia,and the global South. ICOS only has 8 employees, and the summer is a common time forworkers to take leave, so I was responsible for filling in the gaps while they were spread thin.
This mainly consisted of updating the information on the ICOS and fellowship websites and thecourse directory for the incoming cohort of fellows as well as any other informational resources
sent out to the fellows. I also did some graphic design for event invitations, including their Prideand end-of-year events. I attended these events to help set up and make sure they ransmoothly.

Team photo

Dublin pride
34

Cole Fahrney
IrelandMarching at
Dublin Pride

Peace walls in
BelfastValue Derived from the Experience: My work with ICOS was extremely rewarding. Meeting

students from across the globe expanded my worldview and brought me a better understandingof Ireland’s (and America’s) role in a global society. It also brought me more clarity of purpose. I
knew that I liked global studies, but I didn’t know what kind of work I wanted to do with mydegree. Now I know how fulfilling nonprofit work can be, and would like to do more of it in the
future. My opportunity to march in Dublin Pride was the highlight of my time in Ireland. It helped
me feel like part of something bigger by exposing me to the international LGBT community. I
found immense joy in the celebration of shared experiences across cultures. I also foundcommunity in the other students there through IES, forming connections I hope will last me alifetime.

35

Tess Furnari
JordanCollege of Arts
& Sciences
Anthropology andEnvironmental
Studies

SELA
Archaeology &Community InternCompany and Position Description: SELA aims to combat the long-standing history of colonizationin archaeology by involving the host community in the conservation and preservation of heritage. SELA
places control and power back into the community’s hands when it has historically been foreign“experts” leading excavations with little respect or care for those living there. For the first two weeks of
our internship, we worked in Petra learning conservation techniques, such as wet/dry cleaning andmortar repair, in a Roman-Byzantine Bathhouse. This was the same training done by any other intern or
employee of the company and gave us the opportunity to have hands-on archaeological experience onsite. Conservation training was only a minor part of our internship, however, as for the majority of ourtime with SELA, we did the groundwork for a five-year project in community mapping. Maps havetraditionally been systems of power, made by those in control and declaring the importance of certain
places over others. Community mapping takes the input of the local community to learn important local
places and traditions, aiming to preserve the heritage and leading to an outcome that will benefit thehost community, whether a traditional map or not. During our time in Jordan, we conductedethnographic research in two separate locations, Hesban and Petra, and in total conducted over sixty
interviews not just about place, but tradition, history, and preservation as well. With the compilation ofthis information, we were able to inform SELA of what we saw to be important and possible pathways
for the company to move forward as they embark on this longer project.

First day ofmortar repair.

Umm al-Jimal
36

Tess Furnari
JordanRiding camels in
Wadi Rum

The interns in
Wadi Rum

Value Derived from the Experience: Working in Jordan was unlike any other experience I

have had and I learned so much, both professionally and personally. Working with the local
community, I found a passion for ethnography and community archaeology. I have spent myacademic career learning about other cultures and in Jordan I finally had the opportunity toexperience another culture head-on. While I was not considering it before, I have begun thinking
about possibly continuing in academia. I grew better at communicating with others through theinterviews and gained a thirst for knowledge, two things I look forward to bringing to theupcoming academic year and beyond. On a personal level, I am so grateful for all of the amazing
opportunities I had while in Jordan. We got to see so many amazing things, whether it was the
Red Sea, Ajloun Castle, Wadi Rum, or even just views of the landscape. Sometimes I think about
how I had the opportunity to become familiar with Petra, a Wonder of the World, and I am in
awe. I learned all about these amazing people and places and in turn, learned about myself. I
gained new values that I am bringing back to the United States, such as a desire to be morewelcoming or a newfound love for the desert. I am so grateful for the Iacocca International
Internship Program and my time in Jordan. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had,and Jordan will always have a special place in my heart.

37Isabela Giraldo
UgandaCollege of Arts
& Sciences
Healthy, Medicine,& Society andEconomics

PDI
Sustainable
Livelihood InternCompany and Position Description: During my time at PDI, I alternated between teachingat the school and working in the administrative office. At the school, we implemented healthand hygiene initiatives, such as the successful Toothbrushing Program. In the office, I mainly
assisted with the Community Youth Assessment Program, which involved designing aquestionnaire to account for cultural and language barriers and routinely conducting
assessments in over five schools within the area to identify the needs and challenges faced byyouth. A pivotal moment during my internship occurred when I noticed a concerning andunfortunate trend among children in the community who could not afford lunch at school andwere going hungry throughout the day, most likely at home as well. Having witnessed firsthandthe struggles arising from food insecurity in our community, I felt deeply moved to take action.
In an attempt to address this issue, I took the initiative and created a dedicated website tofacilitate sponsorship for kids in the PDI program, directly paying for their school lunch fees. To
ensure the effectiveness of the website and its cultural appropriateness, I collaborated closelywith my team at PDI and engaged with local community members. My time at PDI was truly
transformative, allowing me to make a positive impact on the community and bring about
meaningful change in the lives of these children. Moreover, the warm and welcoming
community of Bududa, along with the rich Ugandan culture, left a lasting impact on me, onethat I will cherish forever.

Working with students

Helping thestudents with sports
38

Isabela Giraldo
UgandaAfter a hikeGroup intern photo

Value Derived from the Experience: Participating in the Iacocca International Internship

Program has been an incredibly transformative and enriching experience, leaving an indelible
mark on both my personal and professional growth. The program’s emphasis on cultural
immersion has broadened my horizons and deepened my appreciation for diversity and global
perspectives. One of the most significant benefits I derived from the program is a heightened
cultural awareness and competency. Working in an international setting and interacting withcolleagues from different backgrounds taught me the importance of embracing diversity andcultivating inclusive environments. I especially appreciated the privilege of working and living in
the impoverished rural area of Bududa which allowed me to forge genuine connections andwitness first-hand the daily struggles faced by the community. Unlike any other internship backhome, this unique experience reinforced in me the values of open-mindedness and empathy,
fostering a genuine desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Engaging inmeaningful projects with global impact honed my problem-solving, critical thinking,communication, and collaboration skills. Assuming leadership roles taught me to take initiative,
navigate challenges, and drive projects effectively. The unparalleled work experience also
instilled in me adaptability and resilience, enabling me to thrive in dynamic work environments.
Overall, the Iacocca International Internship Program has been an invaluable experience, shaping
me into a well-rounded individual with enhanced cultural awareness, versatile skills, and aheightened sense of empathy and leadership. I am confident that these newfound attributes will
propel me toward a successful and impactful future, both personally and professionally.

39

Dina Gofman
FranceIntercollegiate

Lab of the Future

IDEAS

Material Science
Research InternCompany and Position Description: The lab that I interned at was called LOF, or Lab of the

Future. LOF was owned by the company Solvay, and hosted researchers from the University of
Bordeaux, as well as from CNRS. Most of the research done at LOF was focused on soft matterand microfluidics. The goal of my internship was to continue the research of a recent Ph.D.
student that had graduated from Lehigh. At LOF, I worked at a microfluidics lab investigating thedrying of binary colloidal dispersions and trying to observe diffusiophoresis. A colloidal
dispersion is when small insoluble particles are suspended in a fluid. During my time at this lab,
I made solutions of different concentrations of particles, placed a drop of these solutions undera microscope, and took a timelapse of it drying. With the help of my postdoctoral mentor, I
tracked the movement of these particles as the drop dried. I also used ImageJ to analyze myresults. The data collected from my experiments allowed us to characterize the substance andprovided us with information useful to the paint and coating industries.

Making a new sample.

Presenting my research
40Dina Gofman
FranceEiffel Tower

St. Andrew’s Cathedral

Value Derived from the Experience: This program provided me with a travel experiencethat had a perfect balance between work and exploration. I am extremely grateful for theopportunity to have a fully funded trip to France, to get professional research experience, and to
fully immerse myself in the Bordeaux culture. I have always dreamed about living in Europe, andthis summer, I truly felt like a Bordeaux resident. I learned how to slow down and appreciate mysurroundings, rather than always rushing to the next activity. I also got comfortable with being
uncomfortable, which I believe to be a crucial life skill. In many situations, I had to communicate
with people who did not speak English. At first, I was embarrassed to pull out Google Translate
or try to speak the little French I knew. However, I realized that in those situations, all thatmatters is that you show the person that you are trying your best and that there is no reason tobe embarrassed. During my time in France, I also learned how to travel alone and be
comfortable with being by myself. I found that venturing into the city alone was always exciting.

I really enjoyed reading about other interns’ experiences through the IIIP WordPress. It was great
to be connected to everyone, even if all of us were in different parts of the world. I am extremely
grateful for everything the Iacocca International Internship Program has given me and it truly
was an experience that I will never forget.

41

Noah Griffin
Chile

College ofBusiness
Finance

WatgenBusiness andMarketing InternCompany and Position Description: Watgen is a startup solar company based in Santiago

working to bring Chile closer to 100% sustainable energy. One solution Watgen is selling is aninnovative solar panel device to compete with diesel generators in the construction, mining,
emergency response, and off-grid housing industries. At Watgen I was a Business andMarketing intern and my primary responsibilities were finding ways Watgen can grow as acompany and market their solar solutions to these target industries. I had another intern fromthe United States that I worked with to achieve these goals. Despite this being my role, myresponsibilities were extremely dynamic due to Watgen being a small company with only 3
employees and 6 interns. For example, I did an interview with an Electric Power Systems expert
and looked for inexpensive solar providers in Chile to create inexpensive solar solutions for
local flood victims. Each day presented a new challenge as responsibilities were constantly
changing. This led to learning how to be adaptive and flexible in my thinking.

Universidad de Chile

Visiting the prototype42

Noah Griffin
Chile

Atacama Dessert

Valparaiso, Chile

Value Derived from the Experience: By participating in the Iacocca International Internship

Program I was able to have a meaningful global experience. Instead of being a tourist
disconnected from local culture I was immersed and given the opportunity to experience theChilean lifestyle. Initially, I didn’t believe I would be able to experience Chile authenticallybecause I would be treated like a random tourist from the States. This could not be farther fromthe truth. I engaged with Chileans of all ages, sat at tables with them, experienced the city withthem, and received crucial support when I really needed it. Of course, diving straight into Chilean
culture was overwhelming at times but the perspective I have gained in how I view the world hascompletely shifted. For me, the world has become something real instead of something I only
really imagined. My curiosity has been ablaze and at the same time my respect for eachcountry’s sovereignty has increased. In every country, there are simply people living the best
they can just like in the United States. I used to say that in theory, but now I know by experience.

43

Nicole Guglielmi
JordanCollege of Arts
& Sciences
History

SELA
Archaeology &Community InternCompany and Position Description: SELA’s mission is to involve local community members
in preservation projects, resisting previous models in which foreigners have taken the lead onthese projects. Another of SELA’s primary goals is to prioritize the conservation of Jordanian
heritage sites. Oftentimes, excavation is carried out without first establishing plans to conserve,leaving newly excavated sites vulnerable to environmental degradation and other forms ofdamage. In accordance with SELA’s organizational mission, we underwent conservation training
prior to any on-site work. This training allowed us to later be able to distinguish between
different forms of detachments, cracks, deformations, etc. Understanding the physical nature of
deformations, for example, ensured we avoided these fragile areas during our cleaning so as
not to harm the rock. We conducted a wet and dry cleaning of the Roman-Byzantine BathComplex with the aim of desalination and aesthetic improvement. We also took part in lime
mortar repair to ensure structural integrity. A majority of our internship though was spent
conducting community mapping interviews. Community mapping is a non-traditional
ethnographic methodology that involves community members’ input throughout the process.
We led 50+ interviews, both in the greater Petra and Madaba areas. These interviews included
questions regarding participants’ favorite traditions, as well as places of significance anddesired preservation. Our aim for these interviews was to reach a more comprehensive
understanding of Jordanians’ experience of place.

Lime mortar repair

Petra ArchaeologicalPark
44

Nicole Guglielmi
JordanAmman Citadel

2000-year-old
staircase

Value Derived from the Experience: The IIIP provided me the opportunity to experience

Jordan in a way I would have never otherwise. I was able to enjoy homemade stuffed grape
leaves (my new favorite) and learn to Dabke from a family I didn’t know an hour prior. As a resultof our interviews, we had the pleasure of experiencing Jordanian hospitality a dozen times over,as well as building really meaningful relationships with a few families. This alone has me set on
returning to Jordan, whether that be in five or fifteen years. Furthermore, my internship allowed
me to gain ethnographic experience, as well as a very different perspective on interviewing.
While I have conducted dozens of interviews as a journalist, doing so ethnographically and oftenwith the help of a translator was very new to me. This not only taught me a new range ofinterviewing and research skills but also motivated me to start learning Arabic beyond my time in
Jordan. I’ve also been able to experience so many beautiful things: I saw my first shooting star,sled down a sand dune, walked through the towering canyons of the Siq to see the wonder thatis the Treasury, floated in the Dead Sea, and even snorkeled for the first time (in the Red Sea!).
Not only this but because of our program leader Dr. Mickel, I was able to experience theauthentic form of travel that so many of our interviewees shared too many tourists miss out on.
We supported local shops and places to stay, rather than multinational hotels and stores.
Without the IIIP, I’m not sure I would have gotten this experience which I am so grateful for andthat I know I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

45

Sammy Haggert
Czech Republic

P.C. College ofEngineering
ChemicalEngineering

Tomas Bata
University
Biomaterials andFootwear Design
InternCompany and Position Description: I was assigned to work on two projects. The first wasin a biomaterials lab where I was taught the process of growing bacterial cellulose by 2 Ph.D.
students. After synthesis, the bacterial cellulose was tested for antibacterial and scaffolding
properties per each student’s PhD project. The second project I worked on consisted ofdesigning and crafting a pair of women’s high heels led by my supervisor in the Footwear
Research Institute. In this project, I was also taught the underlying technologies aroundfootwear through visits to factories; one characterized by its development of midsoles (the partof the shoe that allows it to maintain its shape and provides comfort to walk), and the otherdefined by its up-and-coming 3D technologies around shoe production.

Preparing a subculture

Holding up our
shoe lasts
46Sammy Haggert
Czech RepublicCharles Bridge in
PragueA double rainbow
over Zlin

Value Derived from the Experience: This past summer in Czechia was amazing. The entire

experience allowed me to immerse myself in a culture and style of living I had limited knowledge
of. Furthermore, I grew as a person by studying abroad through the Iacocca International
Internship Program. Although I have always felt fairly independent, I can confidently say that I am
more self-sufficient now than ever before. I was able to explore Czechia, as well as travel toneighboring countries all on my own. This internship placement has similarly expanded my vision
for my future career. Before coming, I was pretty set on not pursuing further education after myundergraduate degree. Now, however, I am extremely interested in obtaining a Master’s degree
at an abroad institution. Seeing the Ph.D. students’ drive and passion for their research inspired
me in ways I can’t describe. Although I don’t know if I will truly end up getting my Master’s, thevalue I received from the IIIP was crucial and an experience I will never forget.

47

Kareem Hargrove
Italy

College of Health
Population
HealthNet4Market
Market LaunchInternCompany and Position Description: Net4Market is an e-procurement platform that allows

users to manage a list of suppliers’ telematics, activate procedures or telematic tenders, andreduce costs and time of supplying. The e-procurement software provided by Net4Market is
flexible and customizable in relation to each business reality, seamlessly integrating with otherexisting information systems. In the healthcare sector, Net4Market supplies services to six
major providers in Italy.

Colleagues and their dogs

Exhibition hosted
at Net4Market
48

Kareem Hargrove
Italy

Biking by the river

The Grand Palaceof Torino

Value Derived from the Experience: Participating in the Iacocca International Internship Program

has been an invaluable experience that has enriched both my personal and professional growth. As a
Market Launch Intern, I was assigned to the HR department at Net4Market, where my responsibilities
revolved around increasing the company’s market share and developing strategies for talent acquisition
and retention in alignment with the organization’s goals. One of the significant values I derived from thisinternship was the opportunity for extensive professional development. Working alongside seasoned
professionals and collaborating with colleagues from various backgrounds and disciplines provided mewith unique insights and perspectives. Participating in multidisciplinary teams on group projects taughtme the importance of effective teamwork and problem-solving, which may prove to be essential skills for
my future career. Moreover, the program fostered the development of an extensive network, both
domestically and internationally. I had the chance to interact with fellow interns from different years,
majors, and locations across the country, creating lasting friendships that continue to benefit my personal
and professional life. Additionally, working with colleagues at Net4Market’s Italian office allowed me tounderstand and appreciate the nuances of work culture in different countries. The cultural exchange
aspect of the internship was another enriching experience. Engaging in philosophical conversations about
politics, society, and the purpose of life with colleagues from diverse backgrounds broadened myhorizons and deepened my understanding of global perspectives. Furthermore, living and working in adifferent country taught me to be adaptable and open-minded, finding a new sense of self while
prioritizing the value of experiencing new ways of living. Overall, the Iacocca International Internship
Program has been transformative in shaping my career aspirations and personal growth. The exposure to
real-world business challenges, combined with the cultural exchange and professional networking
opportunities, has made me more confident in pursuing research-based work and methodologies. I am
grateful for this exceptional experience, as it has prepared me to thrive in a globalized andinterconnected world while fostering a passion for continuous learning and personal development.

49

Charlotte Imperatore
Chile

College of Arts
& Science

Chile21

Global Studies
and Spanish

Research AssistantCompany and Position Description: This summer I lived and interned in Santiago, Chile at

Chile21, a non-profit progressive think-tank. In the first four weeks of my internship, mycoworker and I created a comprehensive presentation and a report in Spanish on 8 different
non-profits and NGOs in both Chile and Europe that we believe Chile21 would benefit the mostfrom. We found organizations that aligned with Chile21’s values and purpose and researchedtheir finances to make a realistic and sustainable partnership. Then, with feedback from thedirector and a new direction, we began grant-writing for the U.S. Embassy. Working in
conjunction with them unveiled a plethora of opportunities and funding for Chile21. In the nextyear, Chile21 will apply to two grant programs offered by the U.S. Embassy. In the last two
weeks of this internship, I will be utilizing my comparative research on policy in the UnitedStates and Chile to create a podcast in Spanish for Chile21. The purpose of the podcast is tocompare and contrast the United States and Chile using our completed comparative research.
Some topics include immigration policy and national sentiments, the education system, thehealthcare system, and a decentralized country.

Chile21 conference

Coworkers
50

Charlotte Imperatore
Chile

San Pedro deAtacama

Salar de Atacama

Value Derived from the Experience: I will forever be grateful to the Iacocca International
Internship Program for my experience in Chile. Receiving the opportunity to live and work fully
funded in such a welcoming, fascinating, and evolving country and immerse myself in the
Spanish language is something I could never have imagined for myself. The past 7 weeks havefelt very surreal, and as I finish up my last week, I am reflecting on the immense value that I havebeen privileged with here in Santiago. In my internship, I have learned that a workplace functions
more effectively when coworkers get to know each other on a personal level when they showthat they care about what is going on in their real lives. I was blessed with a work environmentof constant conversation – even when they had to be patient with my Spanish – that made me
look forward to contributing to the company. Furthermore, my Spanish improved the most when
my boss, the secretary, the cleaning woman, and other interns and I would sit at lunch together
for two hours every day to discuss our projects and major issues happening in Chile and theUnited States. There was space for me to have a voice for my opinions and for my Spanish. I will
also be leaving Santiago with five new astute, adventurous, and curious friends that I may never
have met without this opportunity. Throughout my time here, we have taken advantage of every
weekend to travel to a new region of Chile and challenge ourselves every day. The people I have
met here are open to feeling uncomfortable in a new culture and adapting to it, even when it
was easier to stay comfortable in what we knew from the United States. There was constantly asupportive and encouraging environment, which I will remember forever. I also owe the Iacocca
International Internship Program so much gratitude for showing me a place like Chile that I now
have the resources and network to return to in the future if I choose to. Having the option tocontinue my work here is an opportunity that I hope to take advantage of. Thank you Iacocca andthank you Chile!

51

Devon King
Ireland

Intercollegiate
Marketing andPsychology

Dublin City
University’s
Outreach andSocial Media
Coordinator

Company and Position Description: Our office was focused on creating spaces for learners

older than the typical college age, especially old age pensioners. We create specially designed
courses to help teach these students information that might be particularly interesting or
relevant or that may not have been available the first time through the education system in
addition to other programs designed to help enable students creatively, socially, or both. My
responsibilities included contacting external organizations to schedule events or reserve spaces
and managing our social media presence to advertise our programs and celebrate our students.
As it was a small office and I had some technical expertise, I also aided in the creation andinterpretation of some of our research materials, which served to better demonstrate the needfor and value of services like what we provided to governments and other universities.

At my desk

Building Stories students
52

Devon King
IrelandHowth coast

Granite pillars ofGiant’s Causeway

Value Derived from the Experience: I have a difficult time putting how valuable thisexperience really was, even to myself. There were so many things, all very small, such that I felt
everything was different but pointing out what was different is still very difficult. Some things are
simple though: I can say that my empathy is much better now than before I went; I didn’t fit inwith Irish culture and many of the interactions I had were very tiring and grating, and learning toovercome and adapt to that, to leave behind my way of doing things to adopt a method I dislike,became like second-nature by the end of my experience. I am also much more prepared careerwise, now with concrete experiences of what I like and what I don’t about the field I am aiming
for, experiences that will help me craft my work going forward. However, what feels like the mostsignificant changes to me, the most significant lessons learned, are still so subtle that even thetime I’ve had back with my home culture has been unable to show the contours of my new
person. I will cherish this experience for years to come, most assuredly.

53

Nana Kyekyeku
Chile

College of Arts
& Sciences

Pontificia
Universidad
Catolica de Chile

Biochemistry

Researcher

Company and Position Description: The first 2 weeks there I was just learning basic

techniques you would need for a biology lab. Although I am a biochemistry major, most of mystudies have been chemistry-based so I needed to learn how to do techniques like western
blots or electrophoresis. After learning the techniques I was able to work on the main focus of
our cancer research which was vasculogenic mimicry. This is a phenomenon where cancer cells
gain the ability to organize themselves into tubular structures that can attach to normal bloodvessels and obtain nutrients and oxygen. While my lab professor was really nice and helpful I
worked mainly with the grad and undergrad students. There wasn’t much of a language barrier
because I was encouraged to talk in English and they were encouraged to practice their English
with me because unfortunately a lot of scientific papers are written in English and the professor
wanted his students to get better at English. We had lab meetings every Tuesday to present theexperiments we were working on during the week. By the end of internship, I was able toexperiment by myself and give insight on experiments during our lab meetings.

In the lab

With my coworkers
54Nana Kyekyeku
Chile

Isla Choros withfriends

La Higuera

Value Derived from the Experience: One of the best things about the Iacocca International

Internship program was that I got to know the people that were going on the same internship as
me. There were al ot of university students that were from the same university in IES Santiago
but they didn’t know each other. I think it was only the Lehigh students that knew each otherand it was a sense of comfort to know that I could always talk to them if I needed anything eventhough we had different job placings. Also knowing that everything wasn’t going to be easy isreally good to know. I think without the internship I would just go and expect everything to go
well but being told beforehand that there will be times where I’m homesick, frustrated andconfused made me feel prepared. The first week we were there I was really homesick but I knewthat was a possibility so I wasn’t so shocked by it and knew it would end eventually. The
WordPress also allowed me to express myself and I didn’t even think anyone but Carol was
reading them but it was super nice and comforting when Charlotte read mine and asked me
what’s wrong.

55

Rachel LischinFranceIntercollegiate

Lab of the Future

IDEAS

Materials Science
Research InternCompany and Position Description: In my internship, I was assigned to a project with thegoal of manufacturing patient-specific model kidneys using a 3D printing technique intended
for soft materials. The purpose of these models is not to have transplantable kidneys, butrather life-like ones that can allow surgeons to practice as well as explain diagnoses andprocedures to patients. My role in this project was to characterize the flow of and interaction
between different fluids in the printing needle, which will later be important for switching inks
mid-print. In characterizing the fluids, I imaged the flow under different conditions and usedrecordings to analyze the diffusion between them.

Working in the lab

3D printing results
56Rachel LischinFranceSpelling out IIIP in
Opera Garnier

Biarritz, France

Value Derived from the Experience: The Iacocca International Internship Program has beensuch an amazing opportunity in many ways, but I think my favorite part about the program isthat I did not have to choose between a summer internship and an exciting, travel-filled summer.
It really was the best of both worlds, as I gained valuable research experience while getting toexperience another culture. In terms of professional development, this was the first time I wasable to work full-time in a lab setting, and it really helped me solidify and reinforce my goal of
having a career in research and development. On the other hand, the cultural experience ofliving abroad for 8 weeks is one that I will remember and appreciate for the rest of my life.
Traveling to a different country is one thing, but living there for 2 months feels like an entirely
different experience. You really begin to see the similarities and differences in everyday life, andthe way people see the world. With how exciting the experience was, I could definitely see
myself forgetting the goals I had for the program, and having the assigned updates on WordPress
was very helpful in giving me time to breathe and reflect. This program is really a dream cometrue for anyone who wants to make the most of their time off from school, and I am so thankful
to have been given this opportunity.

57

Francesca Logozzo
Luxembourg

College of Arts
& Sciences

Luxembourg
Institute of Health

Biology

Laboratory InternCompany and Position Description: The Luxembourg Institute of Health is an institutecontaining various research groups studying topics that can range from nutrition, cardiovascular
health, diabetes, and cancer. The mission of this organization is to conduct patient-centeredresearch that contributes to translating experimental results and analyses into optimized
patient treatments. My work consisted of contributing to the NutriHealth research group, run
by Dr. Torsten Bohn, a research group dedicated to learning about how people’s nutrition
impacts their health and what diets are best. I worked in the lab carrying out various tests on
plasma and urine samples from participants who were given diets high in fiber for one week
and then diets low in fiber for another week. Then we compared how their plasma and urine
samples varied in oxidation and antioxidation levels depending on fiber content to see how this
impacts the gut microbiota and chronic health. My first responsibility was to carry out acreatinine urine analysis, which measures the amount of creatinine excreted by the body. The
amount of creatinine is proportional to an individual’s muscle mass and is used to normalize
data in assays through urine samples, which is why this was one of the many tests that wereconducted. The second tests that I carried out were DNA/RNA oxidative damage ELISA tests,
which detect the amount of oxidized guanine species in DNA or RNA. Oxidation that occurs as aresult of aging or disease causes damage to DNA and RNA so the results from my tests showed
how much damage diets high or low in fiber caused due to oxidation.

Working in the lab

My lab station
58

Francesca Logozzo
Luxembourg

Sightseeing a castle

Enjoying a picnic

Value Derived from the Experience: This experience at LIH was extremely valuable to me

as it gave me the opportunity to participate in soon-published research and allowed me toexperience what it really means to earn a Ph.D. and conduct research as a career possibility. I got
the chance to work in a large team and gained perspectives from many different minds, but at
the same time, I also had the chance to be very independent in the lab. There were only 2 otherpeople working in the lab carrying out their own experiments as I worked too, so I was on myown for a lot of the work and just asked questions as I went along. I think the most valuable
thing I learned was how to be more confident and outspoken in my abilities. In my meetings withmy boss, I was the one to suggest that I be given some responsibilities in the lab at the beginningof my internship, and by the 5th week, my coworkers had seen my abilities and skills and feltthat they were able to trust me with more complicated tests and gave me experiments to carryout while they were away on holiday. It was nerve-wracking at first to think about carrying out
the work with no one there to turn to if I needed anything, but the fact that they trusted mewith the work and gave me guidance before they left showed me they themselves believed in myabilities and valued my work.

59

Virginia McMahon
Luxembourg

College of Arts
& Sciences
Cognitive Sciences

Luxembourg
Institute of Health
Deep Digital
Phenotyping
TraineeCompany and Position Description: The Luxembourg Institute of Health is a leading

research institution in Luxembourg, looking to improve patients’ lives through biomedical
research. The Deep Digital Phenotyping unit focuses on investigating vocal biomarkers for early
detection of chronic diseases, using artificial intelligence to develop digital biomarkers, andresearching type 1 diabetes. During my internship I have been tasked with designing andwriting a systematic review. This review focuses on how closed-loop insulin delivery systems
affect the diabetes distress of patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. I performed this review
under the supervision of Dr. Gloria Aguayo and Dr. Guy Fagherazzi. A systematic review is an
involved process, starting with defining the scope of the review in the protocol and designing asearch strategy with a science librarian. Every paper resulting from the search is thenindependently read by two reviewers. The process continues by extracting the data from theincluded studies and, if possible, performing a meta-analysis on the data.

Sprint session

Team retreat
60Virginia McMahon
Luxembourg

Vianden castle

Place de Metz,
Luxembourg

Value Derived from the Experience: Participating in the Iacocca International Internship

Program might have been the most valuable decision I made during college. No other program
could have offered me the support and opportunities that the Iacocca International Internship
Program has. My trip being almost fully funded by Lehigh allowed me to do my best work in myorganization without the stress of the financial burden on myself and my family. I have also been
particularly fortunate to be placed in Luxembourg. I feel tremendous support from mysupervisors and coworkers, support that I will be able to draw upon long after this internship has
ended. The cultural diversity in this small country is not something I was expecting, I have beenable to meet people from all over the world. Luxembourg is also uniquely situated between
Belgium, France and Germany, allowing for easy travel between all three countries and theirmajor cities. Not only have I grown comfortable with my ability to problem solve and adapt, but I
have also developed confidence in my professional skills.

61

Alex Meyer
FranceCollege of Arts
& Sciences
Biochemistry

Lab of the Future
Materials Science
Research InternCompany and Position Description: As a material science intern, I was assigned to a

project called “The Characterization of a Skin-on-chip Model for Rosacea”. This projectsurrounded the development of a more physiologically-accurate model to represent the chronicskin disease, Rosacea. Allowing for more accurate research into the causes of the disease andpotential treatments for the disease. As an intern, I was in charge of characterizing different
properties of the microfluidic chip that could interfere with physiologically accurate cellular
culturing. Notably, this task called for me to measure both the hydrophobicity and permeabilityof different porous membranes that had been treated with different chemical and physicalagents. The second aspect of my internship involved developing and manufacturing a novel
microfluidic chip design that would enable future researchers to test different culturingconditions. I designed this chip to allow researchers to test 8 different flow rates
simultaneously, allowing for easier and quicker optimization of culturing conditions. This workoverall, should play a small part in enabling future researchers to better design their Skin-onchip models for rosacea and other diseases.

In the lab

Final presentation
62

Alex Meyer
FranceVineyards ofSaint-Emilion

Peixotto park

Value Derived from the Experience: This experience has greatly impacted my life bothprofessionally and personally, and I am so grateful for the opportunity.

Professionally, I have planned on joining a Ph.D. program after graduation for a couple of years
now. However, now that the time to apply is rapidly approaching I recently started having doubts
and concerns about my future. The biggest fear I had was that I only enjoyed research becauseof my limited experience with academia-style research and would hate a more privatizedresearch setting. During the internship, I kept asking current Ph.D. students and Post-doctoral
researchers if they enjoy what they do and if there are any aspects of their job they dislike.
Through these talks and through actually doing the work myself in a non-academic setting, I wasable to silence these concerns and reinvigorate myself toward my future path.
Personally, I have felt that before this experience I had been in a rut for a while, with no clear
path out. However, the people in my new office all seemed to enjoy work while also having a
productive personal life, which was exactly what I have been struggling with. After talking withthem and the other interns, I was truly able to enjoy my time in France while being productive atwork. This showed me how to truly “stop and smell the roses” with every aspect of my life,
and is something I will take with me forever.

63

Matyas Negash
Germany

P.C. College ofEngineering
MechanicalEngineering

TU Dortmund
ElectricalEngineering InternCompany and Position Description: The electrical engineering lab works at the forefrontof flexibility markets, which are markets where electricity can be traded in a systematic way.
After the transition to more renewable energy sources, like wind and solar (both of which arevariable), there becomes a need to better handle issues like grid congestion and the flexibility
market is one way to deal with it. In the lab, I worked specifically with the electrical vehicles on
a program underneath my two supervisors, to deliver flexibility. Flexibility being defined as anelectrical volume of power that a system can provide in hopes of easing grid congestion. My
tasks included communicating with the car using an API to remotely enable, and disable
charging, and set charging setpoints. At the end of my internship, I was able to deliver a
program that delivered a flexibility volume averaging 95% accuracy of the prescribed charging
volume in the set time. The program will hopefully be incorporated into my supervisors’ bigger
project, GLocalFlex after a match is made on the flexibility market to deliver the accurate
volume of power in either decreasing or increasing charging according to grid conditions.

Presentation day

My supervisor and I
64

Matyas Negash
Germany

Brandenburg Gate

Canals in Hamburg

Value Derived from the Experience: From the Iacocca International Internship Program,

most of the value derived was in personal growth and professional development. I found a senseof accomplishment in going to work every day and confidence in the work I interacted with on adaily basis. Professionally, I learned a lot about workplace interactions, especially from mysupervisors in how they addressed challenges and setbacks. It was as if they were working froma handbook, checking through a checklist of what could be the problem, a handbook I hadn’t
seen before. Culturally, I was able to visit family I had never seen (or frankly known) about before
and glimpse, acclimate, and revel at a culture so similar yet so different from my own. This
experience held up a mirror into my life and the culture I live in in the States, and what I canchange about my habits here. These 3 months, I will cherish as my first international experience,and hope that a program that was run this well is available to more Lehigh students.

65

Joshua Nsubuga
FranceIntercollegiate

BioImaging &Optofluidics Group

IDEAS

Materials Science
Research InternCompany and Position Description: BioF uses microfluidics and 3D optical imaging to

explore applications in tissue engineering, oncology, and regenerative medicine. The specifictechnique BioF uses is called Cellular Capsule Technology, which is a novel 3D approach toculturing cells. By imaging stem cells in hollow spheres, we can answer biological questions that
resemble our 3D world that could not be answered using 2D Petri dishes. This builds a better
match between the biomedical questions we ask and the tools scientists use to answer them.
Advancements in 3D culture may lead to animal-free drug testing, tissue and artificial organ
engineering, and advancements in cancer and neurodegenerative disease research.

Working in the lab

Lab meeting66

Joshua Nsubuga
FranceInternship groupat Parc Peixotto

First Bordeaux dinner

Value Derived from the Experience: This opportunity broadened my scientific range andinspired me to continue my education to become a culturally-minded physician-scientist. On thejob, I learned engineering techniques, finding patterns in concepts, and lab technology likemicroscopy. Outside the job, I learned even more about myself and the importance of slowing
down. I also recognized the importance of perspective, identity, and connection through thepoliteness, humor, and appreciation for quality time that my French counterparts showed me. I
won’t forget the hours of conversation I spent learning about their personal values; the friends
and experiences I came across undeniably made my time in France an unforgettable experience.
Thank you BioF and the Iacocca International Internship program at Lehigh University for thisamazing experience. I will take the skills and knowledge I’ve learned and apply it to all facets of
my life.

67

Katie O’Donnell
Spain

College of Arts
& Sciences
Int’l Relations
ModernLanguages
and Literature

GBSB Global
Business School
Business Admin
InternCompany and Position Description: Within GBSB is the G-Accelerator program, which is a part of theEntrepreneurship Center at GBSB, with the purpose of supporting students who aim to start an entrepreneurial
project. This program offers participants training, mentoring, networking, and financial support. The training
program lasts for six months and is divided into four blocks: Triple Impact, Ideation, Market Testing, andManagement Skills. Within each of these blocks are subsections that allow for a specific focus on an area. The
mentoring program is divided into two major categories, with the first being a trainer assigned to you in order toassist you throughout the program. There are also expert mentors that are temporarily assigned to you dependingon the stage of the program you are in. In the networking portion of the program, students network with thebeneficiaries of the program, as well as the international entrepreneurial community, providing a strong sense ofcommunity and resources. Lastly, with financial support, up to 3,000 euros are provided to students whose’
pitches make it the entire way through the program.
Through my internship, I worked alongside my supervisor Alessia, in order to make sure that all of the details andplanning stages were set before the launching of the G-Accelerator program on June 21st. After the program hadlaunched, and the students were attending the sessions, I worked to keep the Moodle platform up to date andassist Alessia wherever possible. Moodle is where the four blocks of the training section are organized, as well as
each of their subsections. From here, the students have access to the slides that are presented by guest lecturers
each week, as well as to the QR codes that allow Alessia and the G-Accelerator staff to track who is attending eachsession. Moodle is also where assignments are posted for the students to complete. There is a lot of behind-thescenes preparation and planning that goes into making sure that this platform is up to date and running properly
in order to ensure the program runs smoothly, and this is where I come into play. Overall, my tasks directly
correlated to the maintenance of the G-Accelerator program and assisting my supervisor.

IES coworking space

Inside the IES
Abroad center
68

Katie O’Donnell
Spain

Exploring the streets of Barcelona

Socializing with friends

Value Derived from the Experience: Participating in the Iacocca International Internship

Program was one of the best things that I have done in my college experience thus far. Having
the opportunity to intern in Barcelona, Spain for nine weeks fully funded would have never beenpossible had it not been for the IIIP. The skills that I have learned while living abroad, as well as
the things that I have experienced living in another culture and around another language, arethings that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I have been able to improve my Spanish
skills this summer, travel to other countries around Europe, and meet so many new people. The
WordPress allowed me to reflect on my experiences abroad on a weekly basis, which I know I
otherwise would not have done. So, I am really excited to look back at all of my posts, and otherpeople’s posts in the fall and for months to follow and be able to cherish all of the memories thatwere made. I am super grateful for Lehigh and this program, and I hope that other students had
similar great experiences this summer and that others will be able to do so in the future!

69

Oluwafunmbi Ojo
Luxembourg

College of Arts
& Sciences
Behavioral
Neuroscience and
Health, Medicine& Society

Luxembourg
Institute of Health
Biobanking
Research InternCompany and Position Description: This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at the

Luxembourg Institute of Health NORLUX Neuro-Oncology lab. As a Biobanking ResearchIntern/Trainee, my role centered around gathering and organizing crucial data for biobanking
purposes, specifically focusing on metastatic tumors and rare tumor types, such as diffuse
gliomas and ependymal tumors. Working closely with the central hospital of Luxembourg, I
participated in obtaining cancer patient biopsies with their consent, which were then utilized toderive patient-derived tumor organoids. These organoids were later implanted in mice, toestablish a Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDOX) model to investigate tumor behavior and explore
potential treatment options. Additionally, I contributed to the collection of blood, plasma, andtissue samples for organoid derivation and played a role in shadowing the Post-Doc students in
drug screening testing to seek effective treatments to target and eradicate tumor cells. This
hands-on experience in biobanking and cancer research has deepened my understanding ofresearch and its potential impact on advancing cancer treatment and patient care.

Working in the lab

Working withother interns
70Oluwafunmbi Ojo
Luxembourg

Enjoying time with friends

Exploring a castle

Value Derived from the Experience: Participating in the Iacocca International Internship

Program has been an unexpected and transformative experience that I never imagined having. It
had its highs and lows, but it truly helped me grow as an individual. It has provided me with theopportunity to work in an international research setting and immerse myself in new cultures.
One of my favorite things was being able to explore and access neighboring countries easily. The
overall relaxing atmosphere of the country allowed me to unwind and fully enjoy my experience.
Although it didn’t start exactly as I had hoped, I was determined to make the best of it, and I’m
glad I did. The journey was filled with adversity and challenges, but I was able to overcome andadjust as needed. The challenges I faced taught me resilience and adaptability, and theyultimately contributed to my personal growth and development. It has also strengthened mycareer readiness by making me more aware of the pathway that I choose to pursue in the future.
I learned that I have to be very open-minded and ready to learn regardless of what environment
I’m in.
Overall, the Iacocca International Internship Program has shaped me both professionally andpersonally. It has provided me with unique and unforgettable experiences, allowing me to build
deeper connections with my lab members and get to know two of my fellow Iacocca Interns(Fran and Gigi). I am grateful for the opportunity, the lasting memories, and the meaningfulconnections I made.

71

Bianca PalominoIsraelCollege of Arts
& Sciences
Earth &
Environmental
ScienceTechnion-Israel
Institute ofTechnology
Environmental
Engineering InternCompany and Position Description: My host organization was the Technion – Israel
Institute of Technology at the PMV (Porous Media Visualization) Lab of Environmental
Engineering. The first project I was given was to informally research green roofs and their LCAs
(Life Cycle Analysis) as they relate to the climate of Israel. Two papers were combined in an
Excel sheet that concluded an analysis of the LCAs of green roofs. These two papers measured
the impact categories in the same units making it simple to compare and integrate both data.
This allowed for a more comprehensive view of the boundless research on green roofs and themany ways to implement them. The second project was to replicate a prior experiment that
increased the capacity of soil to hold water in an effort to mitigate floods. This was done with a
new soil medium, an alluvial/silt-clay soil, that is more common in Mediterranean urban
environments. Three experiments were carried out and analyzed in an Excel sheet andfurthermore in a research report. The general day-to-day was to arrive at 9 in the morning andleave around 4 in the afternoon. Towards the end of the internship, more hours were dedicatedto finishing the projects given to me. Overall, I learned new concepts from each of the projects
but also learned from the research of my fellow lab mates who were pursuing either their Ph.D.
or Master’s degrees. I am grateful for the opportunity to delve into both projects and for thefriendliness of the others in the lab.

Testing soil

Showing experiments
72

Bianca PalominoIsraelCamels in Petra,
Jordan

Old City
Jerusalem

Value Derived from the Experience: The value of participating in the Iacocca International

Internship Program is incredibly unique, special, and personal. For one, after having spent twomonths in Israel, I can say with enough certainty that this country is like no other place in theworld. The culture is embedded in Jewish practice as even the weekend is on Friday andSaturday instead of Saturday and Sunday due to Shabbat. During this practice, all public
transportation and most stores close down from Friday afternoon into Saturday evening. There isalso a song that is played loudly in the city of Haifa for all to hear when Shabbat begins. On theTechnion campus there is also a synagogue which can be likened to the chapel on Lehigh’s
campus seeing that Technion is not a Jewish college per se just like Lehigh is not a strictly
Catholic university. However, it differs from Lehigh’s chapel in that the synagogue is only used for
Jewish services while the Lehigh chapel is used for a number of different religions and faiths.
These are practices that magnify the Jewish tradition and embed it into the lifestyle. The
experience was special as well in the many people that I was able to meet throughout my time
there. I am grateful for the many conversations around the political climate, the faith and evenacademically seeing that Technion is a very academically rigorous institution. Among theseconversations, simply being able to live life with people is something I hold dear to my heart.
Finally, on a personal level, Israel is known as the Holy Land across the Abrahamic religions andbeing able to spend 2 months there as a Christian was really beautiful for me. To be where Jesus
walked, ate, and taught and to meet other Christians as well as to hear their own stories on how
God is working in their lives. I am so grateful to have had this experience and will continue toencourage others to apply and explore the world!

73

Tahmina Raisa
Spain

College of Arts
& Sciences

University of
Zaragoza

Biochemistry

Biomedical
Engineering
Research InternCompany and Position Description: Our lab here is focused on topics surrounding cancer

models, cell and tissue mechanics, cellular migration and tissue engineering, etc. I specifically
was assigned to work with the lab technician and accompany her with smaller projects thateventually contributed to her main project. Every week, I was assigned to make a set number ofmicrofluidic chips that have a specific geometry with respect to the type of experiments
conducted. I was responsible for preparing them using PDMS, autoclaving them, and thensealing them onto individual plates until they were ready for use in cell culture. I conducted
multiple assays with my supervisor through which I learned a lot more about Chimeric Antigen
Receptor or CART cells which is one of the main components used in the immune-therapeutic
approach in this lab. I seeded CART cells with and without MDA and also conducted
immunofluorescence staining to check for certain molecules in CART and PBMC and also
conducted assays to check their migration in software such as ImageJ and Matlab. Overall, I
was able to gain valuable experience and gain lots of research skills which I will be able to apply
in my field as I continue to advance in my career.

Looking at cells

Working in the lab
74

Tahmina Raisa
Spain

Soller in Palma De
Mallorca

MadridValue Derived from the Experience: Participating in the Iacocca International Internship

Program has been an immensely enriching experience that has left an indelible impact on bothmy personal and professional growth. Over the course of 8 weeks, I was able to engage in aunique research opportunity while also developing essential laboratory skills that willundoubtedly shape my future career in the scientific field. Beyond the technical knowledge I
acquired, the program provided me with a transformative global experience. Immersing myself
in a foreign country, away from the familiar comfort of home, allowed me to develop a sense of
independence, resilience, and adaptability which I value immensely. Navigating culturaldifferences and language barriers taught me invaluable lessons in communication andunderstanding. Moreover, living in Zaragoza introduced me to the richness of Spanish culture,from its wonderful historical landmarks to its vibrant cuisine. I was also able to foster meaningful
relationships with not only my supervisor but also the graduate students here who taught mefurther about the culture here and contributed greatly to my overall experience while working
here. Overall, the Iacocca International Internship Program has been a transformative journey,
instilling in me a profound appreciation for cultural diversity and the confidence and adaptability
skill to tackle future challenges head-on. This experience will help serve as a solid foundation for
my future endeavors, as I carry forward the lessons and memories from this incredible journey.

75

Emily Randolph
UgandaP.C. College ofEngineering
Bioengineering

PDI
Sustainable
Livelihood InternCompany and Position Description: Pathways Development Initiative (PDI) is a non-profit

organization in Bududa, Uganda dedicated to empowering youth and giving them the resources
they need to build sustainable livelihoods. The branches of PDI that I was fortunate enough to
be involved in were the preparatory school, office, sports program, music program, and English
program. In the school, the students are ~3-5 years old so I was mainly there to help students
with their lessons and monitor behavior. Something really cool we were able to do was reintroduce a teeth brushing program to the school as many of the kids aren’t able to do this at
home. In the office, I worked on different administrative areas of need for PDI including crafting
staff bios and program descriptions to put on their updated website, carrying out check-in
assessments of kids in the sports program, and digitizing information. For the sports program,the main focus is on soccer and both participating in practices and watching games is reallyenjoyable. The music and English programs are both super fun to participate in and they fallunder the PDI Resource Center which they hope to expand in the coming years. There were avariety of things to do every week and we rotated often. We also got the opportunity to
shadow at a couple of local health clinics, which was really special. Overall, it was an amazing
experience that I am extremely grateful for.

Working with students

Me with one of
the students
76Emily Randolph
UgandaOne of our hikes

Group photo

Value Derived from the Experience: The Iacocca International Internship Program provided

me with a community of other Lehigh students that I learned a lot from as we all prepared
together to go abroad. It allowed me to not only meet some of the people going on myexperience but to form connections with others. Having the prep focus on both the career andcultural aspects of the internship was extremely beneficial as it really made me think about what
I want to do in the future and how this internship aligns with that. I enjoyed reading the
WordPress blog throughout the summer to see what everyone else was up to and to see any
similarities or differences between their experiences and my own. Being in the country for 7
weeks was extremely special and very much needed. Many of the meaningful connections I havehere now were not this strong even two weeks ago. You really do need to stay in a place for an
extended period of time to fully immerse yourself and I’m very glad I was able to do that throughIIIP. I also learned so much about myself including how I approach new situations and challenges
as well as possible career paths.

77

Vito Russo
JordanCollege of Arts
& Sciences
Anthropology

SELA
Archaeology &Community InternCompany and Position Description: I was sent to Jordan to work for a start-up named SELA with my internshiplargely centering on two main aspects: conservation and community mapping. The first, conservation, took place
during our first few weeks in Jordan, when we were living and working around the city of Wadi Musa. Wadi Musais an incredibly important city in Jordan because it’s located directly beside the ancient city of Petra, which was theprimary location of most of our training. As such, many of the locals living in and around Wadi Musa are involvedin the incredibly extensive tourism industry of Petra. SELA aims to preserve much of the history, culture, andheritage of the area by keeping Jordanians in touch with this legacy despite a growing industry of outsiders
consistently moving in and out. In our first few weeks at Petra, we were working with their archaeology teams,
learning about conservation. Petra is full of centuries of history that has been maintained in a myriad of ways,
from large reconstruction of buildings to hastily rescued walls glued by cement. The biggest takeaway from theconservation training we received was just how intricate of a process it is – in the past, with foreigners in charge of
maintenance, conservation was inconsistent. Now – with companies like SELA taking an active role in working topreserve the structures of Petra, the local communities, who maintained the site for centuries, have a hand once
more in preserving their heritage. Our job was to learn from them. After our training in conservation was finished,
we transitioned to the main objective of our work in Jordan – community mapping. Community archaeology isn’t a
new phenomenon, but for much of the profession’s history, locals have taken the backseat to foreign experts. Our
goal in community mapping was to pilot something different for SELA: suggesting a path forward, and prioritizing
the voices of community members in the preservation of Jordanian heritage. In short, we conducted just over 60
interviews across our time in the country, with the result to be a summarizing report of our findings, outlining not
only the similarities between interviewees but suggesting potential ways to further tailor SELA’s focus to thethings that Jordanians truly care about preserving. I think this is where our work really stands apart fromtraditional archaeology; we were there to listen and learn from people, not tell them what to do.

Conservation training

Applying lime-mortar
78

Vito Russo
JordanWorksite goatHeadscarf I got asa giftValue Derived from the Experience: Witnessing what I did in Jordan was life-changing. I’dnever seen most of it before – the desert, the towering red cliff faces, or the way the sky looks atnight when it isn’t obstructed by even the faintest light. As I told my professor, Dr. Mickel, who
not only introduced me to this program but was there for us in country, this was an opportunity I
would not get to have otherwise. I’d never left the country, I’d hardly left the East Coast. Getting
not only to experience my first time abroad in such a beautiful place, but also to take part in a
project that aims to decolonize such an important industry, was an amazing journey for me. This
is of course alongside all of the smaller parts, which were just as often as beautiful, like the many
conversations with hundreds of the most diverse and kind of people, who never refused us asingle courtesy. That kindness is definitely the thing that sticks with me most, even after arrivingback in the US. It makes me want to return more than anything, which is the best praise I could
give.

79

Liana Secondino
UgandaCollege of Arts
& Sciences
Journalism

PDI
Sustainable
Livelihood InternCompany and Position Description: As an interning teacher for my host organization andcertified NGO, Pathways Development Initiative (PDI), located in Bududa, Uganda, I haveparticipated in and created several initiatives within the organization. Initially started as a
football program, PDI has since expanded to a preparatory school, a second-chance programfor youth who are raised in inequitable circumstances, a sports academy, and a hygiene
program. I worked in three classrooms with different grade levels and worked alongsideteachers. My main responsibilities in the classroom were teaching English lessons. When I
wasn’t teaching, I was walking around the classroom providing individual attention to students
who were struggling with their classwork, and after school, I wrote out lesson plans.
During my internship at the school, I helped launch a health and hygiene program that mypeers and I created. We provided and individually labeled 100 students’ toothbrushes andcreated posters with our very own rhymes for washing hands and brushing teeth. Additionally,
I helped to create an Excel sheet that keeps a record of students’ paid tuition fees. I helped
research and write grant proposals, worked closely with village health teams and nearby
hospital staff to extract immunization records for students at the school, and created a
GoFundMe that is pertinent to fulfilling school costs. I also interviewed PDI alumni to write
success stories for the organization’s website.

Hygiene program

Working with students
80Liana Secondino
UgandaSome of myfavorite students

Waterfall

Value Derived from the Experience: If I hadn’t been an intern in the Iacocca International

Internship Program, this experience and the communities that I’ve developed relationships withwould not have been possible, especially since this has been my first time leaving the country.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, it was hard to be as involved with IIIP this past springsemester, but close contact with leaders of the program made accommodations that made me
feel included and recognized. Personally, I don’t think I would have had such a wholesome,
impactful experience if it wasn’t for proper preparation in regards to self-reflecting and setting
goals as well as getting to know my peers within the program. During my time here and with theprogram, I’ve truly drawn upon the values of teamwork and community, gratitude, adaptability,
and resilience. I’ve become extremely close with my IIIP peers through interning and project
collaboration, especially because we previously learned a lot about one another through
WordPress posts. Also, my research of core values and competencies has helped me tounderstand my strengths more in areas like adaptability, global/cultural fluency, empathy, mostimportantly professional development toward my career in journalism. Particularly in recognizing
and having an eye for the bigger picture, the systemic oppression of post-colonialism in Uganda,
and how it hinders the ability to create organized self-governing systems in education. That being
said, there’s a lack of urgency for pressing needs within the community and as a journalist who
always probes into injustices, my research of Bududa and self-introspection prior to my arrival
has amplified my ability to adapt to different communication styles and become fluent insensitivity and patience towards communities.

81Rachel Sobocinski
Croatia

College ofBusiness

PAR University
CollegeBusiness
Info. Systems

Program Dev.
Specialist

Company and Position Description: PAR University is a private higher education

institution in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in Croatia that is the first and only of its kind. It
focuses on bachelor programs in Business Management and Management in Gastronomy andRestaurant Business, as well as graduate programs in Business Management withconcentrations in Financial Management, Enterprise Management, and Sport Management.
The vision for the future of PAR is to become the leading institution of international educationin the region. It helps connect students from all over Europe and gives them an educational
experience of change, growth, and success.
My position at PAR University was under the title of Program Development Specialist in theInternational Office. I focused on the research and development of short-term programs foruniversity students, as well as prospecting high school students. Along with those tasks, I
completed context analyses of the education systems in nearby countries in Europe, such as
Romania, Serbia, and Cyprus. As a final project in my internship, I also created promotional
material and content from my experience as an intern working and living in Croatia for sevenweeks with another Iacocca Intern, Julia.

Working in the office

PAR offices82Rachel Sobocinski
Croatia

Split, Croatia

One of thebeautiful beaches

Value Derived from the Experience: Participating in the Iacocca International Internship

Program has given me the benefits of gaining professional development, as well as knowing,
learning, and understanding the importance of cultural competency. For my first time abroad, I
was nervous but excited. My nerves were settled throughout the preparation phase of the
program as I had support and recognition of my feelings from the other interns. During myinternship abroad, I did not know how much the support system would grow and would help theadjustment process. It greatly helped knowing I was not alone in my initial feelings of culture
shock, anxiety, and being overwhelmed. The biggest support I had, though, was from the fellow
Iacocca Intern I was with, Julia. Since we were the only interns at our host organization, we reallyleaned on each other for support and guidance in navigating this experience together.
Throughout this entire experience, I learned so much about myself and grew entirely as aperson. I gained many professional skills, such as the knowledge of working in an office withcolleagues of different ages and experiences, the value of communication, especially in anenvironment with a different language, and how to work productively and efficiently with others
in a professional environment. I also gained skills and experience in how to live in anotherculture and the adjustment process that it takes to do that. There were many challenges andobstacles that we faced that we didn’t necessarily anticipate but helped us grow as people
together.

83Isabelle Torrijos
Czech Republic

P.C. College ofEngineering
Materials Scienceand Engineering

Tomas Bata
University
Biomaterials
Research Intern
Footwear Design
InternCompany and Position Description: This summer, I worked in Zlín, Czech Republic at

Tomas Bata University. Here, I had two roles. One was a biomaterials research intern where I
was led by two PhD students as they taught me how to synthesize and test bacterial cellulose
for antibacterial and tissue engineering purposes. Some of my responsibilities included going to
the lab when the Ph.D. students were in the lab, creating plates of bacteria, performing thesteps of making bacterial cellulose (each process takes two weeks), compiling external relevant
research, and writing an end-of-internship lab report. The other role was a footwear designintern where I collaborated with a Czech footwear designer and he taught me how to bothdesign and hand-make a pair of women’s heels from just a 3D shoe form. Here, I visited two
shoe-making factories to learn about how technology is improving the footwear industry,drafted three different footwear designs from a 3D printed shoe model called a shoe last,learned about the different parts of the shoe and how different materials give parts of shoes
different properties and finally constructed the shoes using methods of sewing and gluing.

Microbiology lab

Working with our
molds
84

Isabelle Torrijos
Czech Republic

Kromeriz visit

Prague trip

Value Derived from the Experience: Being an Iacocca Intern is an invaluable experiencethat I am so fortunate to have participated in. Working and living abroad made me realize howeven though I am far from everyone I know and love, the world is so interconnected that I am
never truly isolated. This experience allows me to reflect on myself more while also pushing theboundaries I subconsciously had created for myself. I am finding myself much more independentand self-reliant than I expected. I am comfortable taking public transportation by myself,
traveling and going to new countries alone, advocating for myself when things do not go as
expected, and presenting my best self to everyone around me. My experience may have looked
different because I took on two roles and one was mostly independent research, but working
with Ph.D. students gave me a sense of what life may be like if I choose to pursue further
education. Overall, I think my time as an Iacocca Intern provided me with lifelong memories,
experiences, and lessons that I will carry with me throughout my future career and even life.

85

Coby Walmsley
Czech Republic

P.C. College ofEngineering

Tomas Bata
University

MechanicalEngineering

Environmental
Researcher

Company and Position Description: I worked in the Center For Polymer Systems doing

environmental engineering research and also in the Footwear Research Institute, where I
learned about the material specifications and processes used to make modern men’s andwomen’s shoes.

For the Center of Polymer Systems, I worked on environmental and economic Life Cycle
Analysis for Lithium-Ion batteries for electric cars. I made Matlab simulations, replicatedpapers, and Greg Dardaris and I disproved a paper that the institution had been referencing forabout five years. We replicated multiple other different LCA studies done by the school or othercollaborating institutions. We also attended international environmental policy meetings andbrought up mistakes we had found in another university’s Life Cycle Study.
Basically, our Life Cycle Analysis research goals involved finding the total negativeenvironmental impacts or costs from every stage of lithium-ion battery production,transportation, use, and disposal. Negative environmental impact was quantified with factors
like CO2 emission equivalent, damage to human health, or heavy metal release.

Manufacturing shop

Working on our
shoes
86

Coby Walmsley
Czech Republic

All the interns together

Working with theother interns

Value Derived from the Experience: This experience definitely built my professional skills

and general confidence because of how often I was thrown into situations where I was expected
to be much more knowledgeable than I already was, and I would have to repeatedly turn myboss's perspective of me around, which I always did. The food, the people, and the travel in the
Czech Republic were all incredible, and they definitely added a much deeper experience than adomestic internship would have given me. Overall, I took enormous value away from thisexperience and would definitely recommend applying to anyone at Lehigh.

87

Luke Weaver
Singapore

College of Arts
& Sciences
Physics

SUTD
Research AssistantCompany and Position Description: The lab that I was a part of was focused on researchand development of different robotics technologies, especially on reconfigurable robots andtheir possible sanitation and cleaning applications. The main focus of the lab was “fromconception to market”. In other words, we worked on creating robots with the intention to sell
and market them, unlike other labs which may focus primarily on advancing knowledge ofrobotics.
I worked on the Smorphi platform, a Tetris-inspired reconfigurable robot, to research how it
might be used to transport cleaning liquids. I was responsible for creating a “slosh model” toobserve how the movements of the robot may affect the liquids it is carrying. In doing so, I
designed and manufactured a sensor array, for which I wrote the firmware and software
responsible for interpreting the data gathered from it. Additionally, I created mounting
hardware to interface with the Smorphi, allowing the robot to transport liquid while
simultaneously gathering data from the sensor array.
From the data gathered, I wrote a Sensor Letter to be published in the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) about the application of the sensors that I used to construct theslosh model and how it improves the understanding of such models. For this paper, I
communicated with and conducted experiments with, a colleague in a sister university to verify
the experimental results.

Complete experimental setup

Debugging88Luke Weaver
Singapore

Beautiful sights ofSingapore

Playing football

Value Derived from the Experience: While participating in the Iacocca International

Internship Program, I learned a number of valuable skills and lessons. On one hand, I grew withrespect to my cultural awareness and respect. It is quite easy to anticipate how you may act in a
new country, environment, or situation in general. How you actually act and respond is anotherstory. I experienced a number of new cultures and, most importantly, learned how torespectfully inquire about said cultures and make new friends across cultures.
A major skill that I developed throughout this program is grit. It is not easy to be thrown into a
new country and environment with what feels like no support. To build on this, those in
Singapore seem to be quite reserved and it can be quite difficult to make new friends here. As aresult, I felt quite lonely and isolated for three-quarters of the program, however, I slowly got toknow my colleagues and made friends. From this experience, I learned that sometimes it takes
perseverance and grit to emerge on the other side.
While working on the project and paper, I improved some of my technical skills, including Serial
Communication, I2C Protocol, Bluetooth Serial Communication, and formal paper writing. I
further developed my 3D modeling and printing skills while strengthening my problem-solving
abilities. Additionally, I learned more about collaboration on papers and experiments.

89

Julia Wilczynski
Croatia

College of Arts
& Sciences
International
Relations andPolitical Science

PAR University
Assistant
International
OfficerCompany and Position Description: PAR University of Applied Sciences is a private college

in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County of Croatia and is the only private higher education
institution in the region. It offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in business
management and gastronomy. It is also very involved with international projects and actively
engages with the European Union’s ERAMUS+ program. The ERASMUS+ program is an initiative
started by the European Union to support education, training, and sports in Europe throughstudent and staff mobility. My internship responsibilities revolved around working within thescope of the ERASMUS+ program to expand inter-institutional agreements between PAR andother universities in Europe and to create promotional materials for the university. I drafted
emails, sent them to universities, and set up meetings to discuss building partnerships with PAR
University. I also set a goal to build partnerships with universities outside of Europe to extend
the reach PAR has. During my time at PAR, I also interacted with students and got a sense of
their goals regarding the utilization of their student mobility, which is a way for ERASMUS
students to study abroad. Overall, I am glad to have positively impacted international students
at PAR University and helped create new connections between PAR and other universities
around the world to support the vision of the ERASMUS+ program.

In the office

Office group photo90

Julia Wilczynski
Croatia

RijekaZagrebValue Derived from the Experience: The Iacocca International Internship Program is one of

the most fruitful and unique experiences I have ever had. It offers more than a traditional
internship that is based close to home or through a remote platform. The cultural aspect of thisexperience is what makes it special because it emphasizes growth in places other than justprofessionalism. Through being placed in a foreign country, you inevitability learn to adapt to adifferent way of life that you might have not considered before. Being out of your comfort zone
is where most of the growth happens, and where you learn the most about yourself. In my
experience, I learned how to independently navigate challenges, how to be open-minded withexperiences, and all about a culture other than my own. I also gained an amazing friendship withthe other Iacocca Intern with me on the experience, Rachel. My experience being part of the
Iacocca International Internship Program has allowed me to see and learn about things that I
never have been able to experience before, all while working on my career goals and aspirations.
This has been one of the best things to ever happen to me and I will forever remember it as avery positive and rich experience.

91Sarah Wilhelm
BermudaIntercollegiate
IDEAS

Bermuda Instituteof Ocean Science
Research InternCompany and Position Description: BIOS addresses critical environmental issues (bothlocally and globally) by researching the ocean. BIOS is home to the longest-running time series
on seawater chemistry, biology, and physics, providing critical data for longitudinal studies
surrounding a variety of topics. Through field expeditions and state-of-the-art research, BIOS
scientists make groundbreaking discoveries in the marine science field.
During my internship I conducted my own project studying the temporal and spatial dynamics
of marine viruses, essentially comparing viral dynamics from the Sargasso Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean by looking at viral abundance over depth and seasons. My duties for thisincluded processing water samples, imaging filters on the microscope, and analyzing theimages to collect data. While at BIOS, I was given the opportunity to participate in the
BIOSSCOPE cruise, a five-day multi-institutional research expedition aboard the R/V Atlantic
Explorer in the northwest Sargasso Sea. On this expedition, I took sole responsibility forcollecting viral abundance data for a collaborative project with a visiting scientist, as well asworking with another team of scientists to help collect samples and data for their fungal
experiment.

Immersion Suit

Sampling fromthe Niskin bottle
92

Sarah Wilhelm
BermudaBlue Hole National Park

View of BIOS

Value Derived from the Experience: The Iacocca International Internship Program has been

the perfect opportunity to gain valuable work experience while still being able to travel andexperience a new culture. Getting to live in a different country for two months has reallybroadened my horizons. I’ve been able to meet so many people in the marine and environmental
science field, allowing me to learn about the different careers available to me. Not only that, but
in my internship, I gained technical lab skills and data analysis techniques that will be helpful inthe future. I also gained more experience with scientific writing and communicating effectively
with other scientists. This internship allowed me to experience working in the field I am
interested in, while also letting me explore a new country.

93Alexandra Wnuk
Spain

P.C. College ofEngineering
Materials Science
And Engineering

University of
Zaragoza
Biomed.
Engineering
Research InternCompany and Position Description: At the University of Zaragoza, I worked in the
Biomedical Engineering department, which had several ongoing projects regarding cellularmigration, hydrogel applications, and tissue engineering. I worked with my supervisor on an
experiment regarding the morphology of two pancreatic cancer cell lines, where my main goal
was to quantify changes in cells’ morphology when subject to various coatings over a two-weekperiod. On a weekly basis, my responsibilities included seeding the cells, preparing well platecoatings, photographing cells via light optical microscope, and analyzing them using ImageJsoftware. I would upload my photographs into the software and measure the cells’ length andaspect ratio, then present this data into a violin plot using GraphPAD. I did this for 100 cells per
coating and time point, which amassed over 4,000 cell measurements that I performed
manually. Additionally, I immunostained cells and operated a confocal microscope to observe if
the cells displayed any mesenchymal characteristics, which meant their morphology hadchanged during the EMT (Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition). Towards the end of myexperience, I began to work on creating new hydrogel mixtures and testing their applications in
microchips. Overall, this was my first research experience and I gained a lot of knowledge
regarding lab techniques and cell culture. My work from this experience will be published in apaper, which I am beyond thankful for and proud that my work here had a meaningful
contribution.

Observing cell morphology

Working in the Fume Hood
94

Alexandra Wnuk
Spain

Madrid, Spain

Barcelona, Spain

Value Derived from the Experience: During the Iacocca International Internship Program, I

have derived value in cultural, personal, and professional ways. I am forever grateful for thisopportunity giving me the experience to live and work in Zaragoza, Spain for eight weeks, where
I learned so much about myself and the world around me. I had the privilege to performresearch in a laboratory where my colleagues and supervisors were so welcoming they made me
feel open to ask questions, practice my Spanish, and spend afternoons with them walking
around the city center. In these conversations, I learned the most about the culture by asking
them questions ranging from their childhood to their traditions, which has made me grow myglobal competence. Additionally, I’ve grown my independence and adaptability in a challenging
yet rewarding way. I have navigated the transportation system myself, solo-traveled, and learned
how to advocate for myself. Certainly, none of this came easily, but being in Spain with Tahmina,
another Iacocca Intern, and reading IIIP WordPress posts from my peers have developed into an
unbelievable support system. This gave me the confidence to perform my best in the workplace,where I gained valuable research experience in a field, I had never given thought to before. By
performing hands-on work on a project that has the potential to positively impact others, I am
now considering pursuing higher education in the future. Overall, I am beyond thankful for thisopportunity and the lessons I have learned will stay with me for years to come.

95

Zaara Yakub
Ireland

P.C. College ofEngineering
Computer
Science &Engineering

AI_PREMie
Data
Science/Software
Development
InternCompany and Position Description: AI_PREMie is a tool that harnesses artificial intelligence todiagnose preeclampsia and predict its progression over time. Preeclampsia is a disease that can occur
during pregnancy, affecting 1 in 10 pregnancies. Due to its elusive symptoms, it often remains
undetected until complications become life-threatening or too late for effective intervention. Therefore,
early diagnosis is crucial to provide health risk assessments and support clinical care decisions with data.
Despite lacking a background in biology, I applied my skill set in computer science to create a toolcapable of quickly analyzing large amounts of data collected from patients. Specifically, the lab I worked
with collaborated with clinical care facilities throughout Ireland to collect blood from patients, fromwhich platelets were obtained and analyzed using mass spectrometry procedures. This allowed us toclosely examine the protein peptides present in the blood. Identifying a peptide that exists in diseased
patients but not in healthy patients could serve as a clear indicator of preeclampsia, simplifying thediagnosis process. During my internship, I successfully coded a program that automates the creation of astatistics summary report, swarm-plot figures of peptide expression, and formatted Excel sheets, allfrom a single messy data file containing thousands of rows of peptide information. ​To ensure
accessibility to my colleagues in the lab, many of whom are unfamiliar with coding or data analysis, I
developed a user-friendly GUI program. They only need to download this program, select the desired
data file for analysis, and with a simple click of ‘run,’ streamline the data analysis process.

Last day at work

My workspace96

Zaara Yakub
Ireland

Cliffs of Moher

Daily bus stop

Value Derived from the Experience: Participating in the Iacocca International Internship

Program has been an invaluable opportunity for me. Throughout this summer, I had the chance
to immerse myself in my first in-person work environment, which significantly contributed to mygrowth in communication and presentation skills—both professionally and personally. Navigating
Dublin independently and immersing myself in the local culture allowed me to assert myself andadapt quickly to new situations, enhancing my ability to make informed decisions. Moreover, theinternational work experience I gained during this internship is vital for adjusting to the modernday workplace, where global teams often collaborate on tech industry projects. I encountered
new challenges that I hadn’t had in my studies, which improved my problem-solving skills.
Fortunately, I had an exceptional manager and supportive peers who provided me with the tools
and autonomy to assess problems creatively and find innovative solutions. This experiencetaught me to embrace challenges and the feeling of not knowing everything, as it ultimately led
to my personal and professional growth. I now feel more comfortable stepping out of mycomfort zone, knowing that it is an opportunity for continuous development.

97

Carol Strange, Program Director: csh205@lehigh.edu
Anastassiya Perevezentseva, Assistant Director: aap218@lehigh.edu
Abby Hill, Coordinator: abh223@lehigh.edu
https://global.lehigh.edu/internships