Every Project Onramp intern shares certain qualities: intellect, drive, a passion for science and an interest in helping people.
Beyond that, each of our interns has unique stories to tell—stories about where they came from, what drives them, and what they hope to accomplish in their careers. Here’s a look at just a few of our interns!
Erin McIsaac thought she was going to be a teacher when she decided to pursue a double degree in History and Teacher Education at Loyola University in New Orleans. She had a passion for service and felt that teaching was a natural choice of career. However, things changed right away, during her freshman year of college. “Exposure to various fields led me to develop an interest in the chemical composition of the human body and its interactions. I eventually found my passion in Biochemistry, particularly in understanding how substances and genes affect both the body and mind.”
This led her to transfer into the Biochemistry major. She says, “I then also realized the value of a background in computer science, which complemented my interest in biomedical engineering and deepened my knowledge.” The Boston native is now double majoring in Biochemistry (pre-med) and Computer Science. “This year, some of the most interesting courses I am taking include Biochemistry, Artificial Intelligence, Physics, and Analytical Chemistry.”
Erin interned as a research assistant at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. She says that the best part of the experience was gaining exposure to Bioinformatics and conducting experiments to test potential therapeutic targets. “I learned about software and techniques that I would not have encountered during my undergraduate studies. This experience, facilitated by Project Onramp, helped me gain invaluable insights and develop clarity about my future career path.”
Erin brings many strengths to any work environment. She says that she tried to approach every day at Alnylam with “eagerness and a strong drive to learn and perform. This enthusiasm helped me adapt to new tasks, allowed me to take on different responsibilities, and enriched both my learning experience and my network.” Erin found the Alnylam team welcoming, supportive, and well-organized. She says that despite their demanding schedules and workloads, they worked well together as a team and maintained a healthy- work life balance. “I have stayed connected with the team I was working with via LinkedIn.
My professional network has expanded significantly, unlocking a new level of confidence, as well as opening future opportunities.”
Erin says she learned many things this summer. She especially appreciates gaining the insight that “showing up with a positive attitude, paying attention, and being open to trying new things will take you far, even if you are not yet an expert in the field. Flexibility and willingness to adapt are essential; they give you the opportunity for exposure in different tasks and contribute to gaining a well-rounded experience.”
Erin is excited about the future and is looking forward to completing her undergraduate journey and beginning a career. She says “I’ve worked hard and made decisions that have allowed me to blend my interests in healthcare, engineering, and teaching. I look forward to applying what I’ve learned, making a positive impact in the world, and continuing to grow in my chosen field.” Good luck Erin!
Born in Brockton, MA Wendy was fortunate enough to be able to spend her teenage years in Vila Velha Brazil. Returning to the States, she matriculated at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. “I am now in my junior year, and I overall love college. One class I’m excited about is Computing for Health & Medicine, which I’m taking next semester.” While she eventually chose Computer Science as her major, Wendy did not always know what she wanted to study. “I’ve always had many different interests throughout my life. Taking a gap year helped me figure it out, as I had the time to think about my interests and what I’d like to pursue, and I was able to take a coding bootcamp, which sparked an interest in computer science for me.”
Wendy’s Project Onramp internship was at X4 Pharmaceuticals, which is a company developing therapies for those with rare diseases of the immune system and significant unmet needs. Wendy enjoyed her work at X4 and enjoyed her colleagues even more! “I worked as an IT intern, and what I liked most about the experience was the company culture, as it really thrives on an open-door policy. The employees try to create fun activities to participate in that don’t involve work, which builds strong relationships within the company.” She found the people at X4 open and inclusive, which made Wendy feel comfortable working on her own professional skills. “I developed a few real strengths this summer – communication, open-minded thinking, and problem-solving among them.” Wendy also realized that she is “very people-oriented, so it’s important for me to be able to connect with others at my job, especially my boss.”
Looking forward to her last year in college and graduation, Wendy is excited and hopeful about the possibilities that a computer science career holds. She’d like to focus on computational work, which she thrives on. “After this summer with Project Onramp, I feel I have a broader professional network both at X4 and a few other companies. This makes me excited to stay in the Greater Boston area and possibly work in biotech.” Good luck, Wendy!
Project Onramp 2024 intern Wilhen Hui Mei was born and raised in Venezuela, and moved to Quincy, MA nine years ago. He graduated in 2024 with a degree in Computer Science from U Mass Boston. “I knew that I needed to attend college, as I wanted to learn more about my career choices, but did not initially know what I would major in. I ended up choosing Computer Science, because I wanted to use technology to create a positive impact on our surroundings.”
Wilhen had not really considered a career in the life science industry, until he came across the Project Onramp program. He was able to secure an internship in summer 2024, as a Computational Chemistry intern at MOMA Therapeutics. “I enjoyed being involved in multiple projects at once, as something new was happening every day. I felt so productive working on all these projects. The work culture was amazing, and I’m still in touch with the people I worked with.”
As he reflects on what brought him to apply to this type of internship, and what he learned this summer, Wilhen says “I believe that my previous experience with AI and Machine Learning allowed me to see that there’s a lot you can do with these tools and models, and MOMA Therapeutics believed in me when I was explaining my research and projects during the interview process. I guess my passion for learning is what brought me to the internship, and I’m grateful that they gave me an opportunity to grow.”
Wilhen had an enjoyable summer because of the work at MOMA, but also, he says, because of the people. “The people enjoyed their work and were very productive. They knew their stuff and were very social, especially at the many work events. Honestly, they were great to work with.” He was eager to build a strong professional network, given that he is currently looking for full time work. “Through Project Onramp, MOMA Therapeutics, and One-To-One from Life Science Cares, I was able to build a network full of professionals and experts. I keep in touch with many of them.”
As he heads into the working world, Wilhen is excited, hopeful and believes in himself. “I’m very excited about what is ahead of us, especially with how life science is progressing with AI. I’m still in search of a full-time job, but this field is full of innovation and many companies are looking, so I hope to get into a role so I can contribute to a common goal of more technological advancements for the betterment of society.” In the meantime, he is reflecting on his takeaways from this summer: “I learned to rely on others, ask questions so you don’t delay your team, and enjoy your work!”