Each year, Genova sponsors Interns pursuing degrees that will lead them to a career in software engineering. This year, we’ve hired four interns… Bridget, Ella, Greyson and Sydney. We’ve asked them to take a few minutes out of their schedule to answer a few questions about interning at Genova. Here’s what they had to say:
How did you come across this opportunity?
Bridget – My sister, who used to work here.
Greyson – Google recommendations when searching for internships.
What interested you about Genova and our work?
Bridget – I had heard that it was good experience working with a team with embedded systems, a strong interest of mine
Sydney – I knew Genova was a small company, but it did big heavy work for their clients. Small companies are great because you get to have the one-on-one connection with your team.
What skills do you bring to Genova?
Greyson – A slightly different perspective and background by not being a software engineer.
Sydney – The skills I bring are my determination, my active willing to learn and listen. I also try to participate in every meeting so I can really grasp the internship experience.
Why software engineering?
Ella – I enjoy math, problem solving, and using creativity, so software engineering is a nice combination of using problem solving to come up with creative solutions. 🙂
Sydney – Software engineering has a low rate in women, let alone women in STEM. I wanted to become a software engineer so I could run a non-profit program for my Hopi tribe. I want to become a leader to them and show that they also can join the STEM world. I really try to encourage the youth to continue their education due to the growing numbers of high schoolers staying on reservation after graduation. I know that they too can impact the world.
Do you have any extracurriculars or projects?
Ella – For a while in college, I was in a video production group at Iowa. We made little, short films every Tuesday evening.
Sydney – I am a part of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and I also co-founder of a new club on campus called SPICE. It is a club to combine both Engineering and Computer Science departments to get them involved in a sense of community. Within the club I am also aiming to have a small Women Who Code club. I am hoping in the foreseeable future we will be able to be mentors to the high school students in the community. One of the projects I am working on is my nativestemwomen account on Instagram. I try to encourage other fellow native women who are interested in the STEM world. It is still a work in progress, but I know it will grow slowly.
What do you expect to gain this summer?
Bridget – I hope to gain knowledge of programming and hardware, as well as improve my ability to learn quickly in a workplace environment.
Ella – I hope to gain some real-life experience working in a company, and be able to apply some of the things I have learned in school. (And some popcorn/donuts in the breakroom.)
Which body part would you not mind losing?
Greyson – Appendix — it’s just a ticking time bomb.
Sydney – I probably would not mind losing a middle toe on either of my feet. I believe all body parts help me function but losing a middle toe doesn’t seem all that bad.
If you weren’t a software engineer, what would you be?
Bridget – Electrical engineer
Ella – I would really like to be a baker. I enjoy making different doughs for pizzas/breads.
What has been your favorite class so far in your degree?
Ella – Last semester I took a Virtual Reality class which was a course for Computer Science students and Psychology students. I got the opportunity to work with people from another discipline, and do some work with Unity and build small projects that would run in our Oculus Quest 2’s. It was a fun class, we even got to have class in VR once!
Sydney – My favorite class so far was Parallel Programming. It was the most difficult, yet satisfying course I had taken. Most of the topic was very complex but I know it will help me in the future.
What excites you most about being a part of Genova?
Ella – I’m excited to have an ‘in office’ experience. My last internship was virtual, and I am excited to have the opportunity to work in an office this summer.
Sydney – What excites me the most about being a part of Genova is feeling belonged and feeling like my ideas are being heard. I am with an incredible team and they acknowledge all of my ideas. They make me feel like I am actually in the team.
Where do you see yourself after graduation?
Ella – Just like before graduation, in the mirror.
Greyson – Hard to say as it depends on what opportunities come up.
What will finally break the internet?
Bridget – Probably [co-worker] Juan trying to hack into something online.
Greyson – Greed
What’s the most useless talent you have?
Bridget – Solving a Rubik’s Cube
Greyson – Picking up new instruments but starting a different one once I become mediocre at it.
