Stepping Into the Lab: How I Found Connections by Emmy Tumurbat, Digital Scholars 2025

As part of my internship for this program, I worked at the environmental science lab on restoring a piece of equipment used to analyze chemical compounds in water samples for analytes such as ammonia, orthophosphate, and nitrate. The task sounded simple: we were given this machine called the Lachat QuikChem 8500 Flow Injection Analysis system, which hadn’t been used in years and was presumed broken. I had never worked in a lab before, but I thought this project would be interesting. Even though I am majoring in computer science, I figured the process of troubleshooting and navigating the complex software the machine used would be a good experience for me.

The first few weeks were very fast-paced. We had to quickly complete safety trainings with EH&S as well as trainings from the Lachat company itself. The help and support I got from my mentor and a faculty assistant specializing in lab equipment was a lot and very valuable. I got to learn a bit of chemistry and even wear the PPE (personal protection equipment) used in these labs.

The reason I joined this program in the first place was so I could meet new people and build my network. I would say that I struggle with opening up and taking the initiative, but I know how important these skills are if I want to succeed as an aspiring software engineer and data analyst. I do believe that I got some real exposure to those skills during my time working in the environmental science lab.

During one of the workshops that I attended as part of this program, we learned about informational interviews. I told my mentor about it, and since she had a close relationship with the director of Institutional Research (who also works as a data scientist at our university), she helped me schedule an interview with him the following week. I was surprised at how easy it was to get started on these things. Since I am interested in minoring in data science or data analytics, it was a great opportunity for me to hear about his experiences and gain insight into my own wants. I think getting started in things like these is the most difficult part, so I was lucky that my mentor supported me in making those connections.

I also attended School of IAS staff meetings and STEM lab meetings, where I got to meet the team and hear about their updates and projects. The new thing I learned there was just seeing for myself how the work gets done behind the scenes. They talked about the upcoming autumn quarter, improving lab areas, preparing machines for classes, and always keeping students in mind. I thought it was nice to see how dedicated they were to supporting students. I also got to share my own updates on the project, which made me feel included and part of the team. There were always new things to learn and new chances to participate, and I’m glad I took advantage of
them.

For future Digital Scholars, I would recommend being open and communicating with your mentors about anything questions, thoughts, or ideas you might have, communication is the best tool here. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for more connections. If your mentor knows someone working in your area of interest, they may be more than happy to introduce you.

Overall, I think being part of this program has been rewarding, and I am incredibly grateful to have had this experience

Learn more about Digital Scholars Program at UW Bothell