Hanna Chastain recently began working as a marketing intern for Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Technology Licensing Office (TLO). She says Wichita States focus on applied learning lead her to her internship.

More than 5,000 Shockers each year take what they’ve learned in the classroom and transfer that knowledge into real-world environments. Applied learning — which is required for every Wichita State student — happens in offices, factories, laboratories, nonprofits, industries and companies across the globe. Students work side-by-side with seasoned professionals to ensure that they’re fully prepared to make meaningful contributions to their employers and their communities when they graduate.

Andover, Kansas

Biological Sciences, Emory Lindquist Honors Scholar Track, and Spanish minor

Senior

I am a marketing intern for MIT's Technology Licensing Office (TLO). I am responsible for writing tech briefs on MIT's licensable technologies that are posted on the TLO website and other channels. I also research the marketability and commercialization pathways for licenseable technologies to help TLO staff identify and reach out to potential licensees.

My internship Starts June 1 and ends Aug. 30.

I learned about this opportunity on LinkedIn. I attended a webinar hosted by MIT's TLO where they spoke about the marketing internship position.

It will provide me the opportunity to see how technology transfer is done. I am getting to learn from TLO staff that have years of experience in new business ventures, law, research, and marketing This is invaluable to preparing me for a career in technology transfer.

Wichita State’s focus on applied learning has led me to where I am today. This includes my work with the First Year Undergraduate Research Experience Program (FYRE), the Shocker New Venture Competition, and WSU’s Tech Transfer and Commercialization Office. Through these programs, I’ve gained a unique college experience. To this day, I am still doing research with my mentor (Dr. Heidi Bell, College of Applied Studies assistant professor and undergraduate coordination. She's amazing!) I was paired with here during my FYRE class at my very first semester of college. 

Jump into opportunities even if you feel like you aren't prepared or 'smart enough' or 'outgoing enough' or any other negative reason. You don't have anything to lose. Even if you don't do well, that failure will teach you what you like and don't like. Cold call professors you want to do research with. Don't give up, and shoot for the stars. Try experiences that you weren't even originally open to, they may surprise you, and you may enjoy it.