Tessa Lacara shares some thoughts on her summer intern experience:

AgBiome-

The last few months have been a whirlwind of adventure filled with growing pains and becoming comfortable with the unknown. A litany of meetings, benchwork, long periods of analyzing data, and information overload all contributed to my struggle the first few weeks. I thought I could find comfort in benchwork but was sorely mistaken. Lab work was the same as academia, but industry challenged me to move at a faster pace without the constant instruction you might find in an academic lab setting. However, everyone was welcoming and willing to encourage me and applaud my efforts.

As time passed, a pattern emerged from the chaos as my confidence in my abilities grew. I can now navigate company committees and project teams, follow product pipelines, and conduct lab protocols on my own. I’m not afraid to be curious and ask questions because AgBiome has created a work environment that myself and others can speak without fear of judgement. As my time here comes to a close, I look at where I started and how far I’ve come. I successfully silenced my inner-critic, gained confidence, and have immensely improved and expanded my skillset.

AgBiome is like an ecosystem where each person has several functions and connects with others to maintain an environment that fosters trust, innovation, creativity, and autonomy at its finest. As an intern, I leave here with a unique experience not many of my classmates will have a chance to explore.

Thank you for the opportunity,