NJIT Honors Students for Their Work at the National Cancer Institute and Siemens
NJIT’s Career Development Services recognized both a graduate student and undergrad in its annual intern and co-op of the year awards.
The grad student, Pooja Kittanakere Balaji ’22, is pursuing a master’s in computer science, while the undergrad, Rivka Farrell ’23, is majoring in biology.
CDS honored Farrell for her work as a research intern at the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute during the summer of 2021, and Balaji for her role in a cooperative educational experience at Siemens Digital Industries between June and December 2021.
Each has ambitious goals and is grateful for such valuable real-world experiences — the kind that CDS is designed to provide. Here are their main takeaways.
Rivka Farrell ’23
Pursuing a bachelor’s in biology
Internship in the endocrine surgery section of the Center for Cancer Research at NIH’s National Cancer Institute
Why it suited me
My lab consisted of a welcoming, kind and supportive group of results-driven individuals. That’s a place that I want to be actively involved in. On campus, there’s a feeling of excitement and anticipation — how is science going to progress today? I believe that NCI represents a community of growth, learning and teamwork and an alliance of individuals with wholesome positive goals.
My mentors
The PI of the lab, Dr. Samira Sadowski, had so many different responsibilities, yet she made time to meet with every member of the lab weekly to discuss the next steps in research. Dr. Sadowski conducted lab meetings in a manner that allowed for discussion, questions and feedback. Since my internship, I have contacted her about updates on my research and recommendations for expanding my experiences in the medical sciences. I am truly grateful for her help with applying for some scholarships and internships. Also, early in my internship, the director of the Surgical Oncology Program, Dr. Martha Zeiger, offered advice to augment my experience at NIH. I really appreciated that kind gesture.
In five years …
I envision myself conducting cancer research, working in a clinic and doing something within an educational role. I understand that these are big goals. However, I also believe that strong passion and ambition are essential to achieving them.
Pooja Kittanakere Balaji ’22
Pursuing a master’s in computer science
Co-op in design and simulation systems at Siemens Digital Industries
Why it suited me
After earning my bachelor’s in 2016, I worked for Siemens Healthineers for three years. That experience and the courses I took during my master’s studies helped me land the co-op at Siemens Digital Industries. It gave me an opportunity to gain practical knowledge of some of the advanced technology, including machine learning, cloud computing and analytics.
My mentors
A senior full stack developer, Pratik Thakkar — who’s an NJIT alum — taught me how to be assertive, understand the projects that I’m working on and focus on results. He also gave me feedback after every sprint, which helped me understand my weaknesses and encouraged me to knock off at the end. A research scientist, Baris Erol, helped me understand the business needs and expectations of the client and how to work on proof-of-concept projects.
In five years …
I would like to work for the betterment of humanity by improving health care tech.
