Embarking on a Virtual Journey: My First Week as a Primary Research Mentor

Introduction:
Greetings, fellow readers! I am thrilled to share my summer internship experience with you all. As a rising Junior and physics major at Juniata College, I have been fortunate enough to secure few prestigious internship, and ended up joining two of them for this summer. One of them is a position as a Primary Research Mentor at the Science Internship Program (SIP) at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Under the guidance of esteemed faculty mentor, Professor Raja GuhaThakurta, I am leading an exciting project titled “Exploring the Kinematics and Substructure of M31 and M32: A Comparative Analysis of SPLASH and DESI Surveys.”

Project Overview:
The Andromeda galaxy (M31) and its satellite galaxy M32 hold a wealth of scientific mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Despite being two of the closest and most studied galaxies in the sky, there is still much we don’t know about their formation and evolution. This research project offers a unique opportunity to delve into the comparative analysis of two cutting-edge astronomical surveys: the SPLASH and DESI surveys of M31 and M32.

By examining the kinematics and substructure of these galaxies as measured by these two surveys, we aim to gain valuable insights into their history, merger and accretion events, and the distribution of dark matter within their halos.

First Week: Reaching Out and Establishing Connections
My journey as a Primary Research Mentor commenced with a remote first week, wherein I began by connecting with my four talented interns. I initiated the process by crafting a detailed group email, introducing myself and shedding light on the project’s objectives. To facilitate their comprehension, I attached relevant research papers, encouraging them to delve into the materials before we commenced our collaborative efforts.

However, I firmly believe that personal connections are key to fostering a nurturing and productive working environment. With this in mind, I dedicated time to read each intern’s application thoroughly, allowing me to familiarize myself with their backgrounds, interests, and aspirations. Drawing from this information, I personalized my follow-up emails, establishing individual connections and expressing my enthusiasm for their participation in the program.

Furthermore, recognizing the importance of a strong technical foundation, I encouraged my interns to attend an upcoming Python workshop. As Python serves as a fundamental tool for our project, this workshop offered them a valuable opportunity to enhance their coding skills and become acquainted with the tools we would be utilizing extensively. To gain a better understanding of their learning experience, I decided to attend the workshop alongside them, ensuring I could provide guidance and support based on their acquired knowledge.

Reflecting on an Eventful First Week:
As the first week of our summer internship drew to a close, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the journey ahead. The initial steps of reaching out to my interns, understanding their aspirations, and encouraging their professional development have laid the foundation for a collaborative and enriching experience.

Other than work, I also went on a small workavation ( Work + Vacation), travelled to a new city for work but also got a vacation. Explored the town and ate tasty cuisines. It was an adventurous 1st week. Also, got done with my one of bank related task, which I was postponing for a while, so gave myself treat for it.

Stay tuned as I delve further into our research endeavors, sharing the progress we make, the challenges we face, and the discoveries that lie ahead. Also, I will keep sharing about the travel adventures and foods. This summer promises to be a thrilling adventure, combining the joy of scientific exploration with the rewards of mentorship. Together, we will unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, one data point at a time.

Thank you for joining me on this virtual journey. Until next time! Read my next week adventures on the website. (rohitsummerinternship.wordpress.com)

Rohit Raj