I arrived in San Diego without any issues, and the housing I secured through FurnishedFinder has been satisfactory. I’m renting a room in a shared apartment approximately a 20-minute walk from Aquillius. My housemates—a woman and her child—are respectful of shared spaces and communicate effectively. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to explore downtown yet, the glimpses I've seen are beautiful. The weather is warm but not overly hot, and the neighborhood offers numerous shopping centers. A brief visit to the ocean left me feeling refreshed and serene; the tranquility of walking along the seaside made me realize my desire to live in a coastal city in the future. I look forward to exploring more of San Diego next weekend.
From my first day at Aquillius, the founder, MyPhuong, ensured I felt welcomed and helped me immediately engage with the project. Currently, I am conducting tests on a new respiratory device under development. Most of my days are dedicated to these tests, rekindling my appreciation for hands-on lab work. As a Computer Science and Mathematics major, my coursework at Cornell has involved limited laboratory experience. This opportunity at Aquillius has inspired me to seek ways to integrate scientific experimentation into my future career in mathematics and computer science.
Another project I am undertaking involves developing a website for Aquillius. Without the Software Development class taught by Ajit Chavan, I would have been uncertain about how to approach this task. The Agile development principles we learned in that course have proven extremely useful. I am currently in the early stages of this project and am eager to see how it evolves.
I appreciate the working culture at Aquillius. We hold daily meetings with a team of 8–9 people, through which I am gaining insights into marketing and sales. Despite my lack of prior experience in these areas, this exposure presents an opportunity for personal growth and adaptation to the corporate environment. I find inspiration in participating in the financial aspects of the company, and during breaks, I make an effort to learn about marketing from one of the marketing managers at Aquillius. I am curious to see how much I can learn about marketing by the end of my internship. In the coming weeks, I plan to continue engaging in casual conversations with colleagues about various fields. The occasional networking events hosted at Aquillius also provide excellent opportunities to connect with experts and learn from them, whether in AI, biotech, or other areas.
In summary, my initial week at Aquillius has been both enlightening and inspiring. The combination of technical work, exposure to interdisciplinary fields, and a supportive team environment has already contributed significantly to my professional development. I am enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead and am committed to making the most of this internship experience.