Erin Lincoln, a senior majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry at Merrimack College, exemplifies the power of internships and early career exploration. While her internship at Pfizer’s Summer Growth Experience program this past summer was a pivotal moment, Erin’s journey in career development began long before.
Erin secured an internship working at Charles River Laboratories as an Animal Care Technician during the summer before her sophomore year. Before landing this internship, she had previously talked with a representative from Charles River at a virtual internship and career fair hosted by the O’Brien Center for Career Development, so she was familiar with Charles River. Erin worked with animals such as mice, rats, beagles and monkeys at Charles River, which inspired her to do more research around drug development.
Navigating challenges during her junior year internship search, Erin sought guidance from her career advisor, Laura Thibodeau. With Laura’s support, Erin refined her resume and applied for Pfizer’s Summer Growth Experience. She secured a position in analytical research and development in Pfizer’s Andover location. Erin worked on a summer long project collecting essential data for the ongoing method development for a subset of stability testing, and she outlined a future protocol with recommendations based on her findings. At the end of her internship, Erin presented her research to a team of over fifty people, which she said was an amazing experience and solidified her passion for the field.
Back on campus, Erin is a research assistant for Dr. Azam Noori researching the effects of silver nanoparticles on tomato plants. Erin noted that the internship at Pfizer gained her industry experience, and being a research student will allow her to gain more academic research experience. After college, Erin plans to land a job in her industry and then continue her education by pursuing a doctoral degree.
The best advice Erin has for other students who are job or internship searching would be to “start searching early…there’s no such thing as too early.” She emphasizes the relief of securing internships early, urging others not to limit their options, as unexpected opportunities can be transformative. Another great piece of advice Erin shared is to “take advantage of all the great professors we have [at Merrimack].” Using your network of faculty and staff is a great way to learn, and it opens doors for new opportunities – for Erin, being a research assistant! Erin’s story stands as a testament to the power of early exploration, mentorship and a proactive mindset. Erin emphasizes the importance of asking questions about others’ journeys and how they reached their current positions, recognizing that each person’s path is distinct and unique.
