Research has been a passion for Mira Schoenberg ‘28 since high school. After participating in Stanford’s Institute for Medical Summer Research Program (SIRM), where she worked on a neuroscience clinical trial involving twins with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. When Schoenberg enrolled in college, she knew she wanted to continue exploring her research.
She initially pursued a biology degree on the pre-med track, but soon discovered that her greatest interests were not only in scientific processes, but in understanding people and the social structures that shape their lives. She changed her major to sociology, a shift that opened a door to new areas of research. Schoenberg became the research assistant to Professor Anna Muraco at LMU, this experience led to the Advanced Summer Program for Research Experience (ASPIRE), a summer internship program that gives students the opportunity to engage in hands-on, faculty mentored research and develop skills as a researcher in the fields of academia and beyond. Through ASPIRE, Schoenberg has continued working with Professor Muraco on research examining how remote schooling and quarantine practices during the pandemic affected students opportunities, milestones, and development.
Her work with ASPIRE began with coding interview transcripts and identifying themes and patterns in student experiences. She then took this data and conducted extensive data research, combing through peer reviewed articles that follow a similar academic conversation; the ways in which students affected by the pandemic have missed out on opportunities previous generations were granted. She is now taking these findings and exploring how disrupted milestones may affect students’ socio-emotional skills and education.
The internship has strengthened Schoenberg’s qualitative research skills while giving her a deeper understanding of how individual experiences connect to larger social structures, education and inequality. Most importantly, the experience has affirmed her interest in research and has helped shape her plans for graduate school and a future career in social work and sociological research. Schoenberg said of the experience, “Getting a job can be very daunting and scary as an undergraduate, but the best preparation is connecting with others who don’t think the same way, solving problems, and getting hands-on experience.”
“Its all about trial and error,” Schoenberg affirms. “and it takes time and dedication,”
Her advice to those curious about participating in a summer internship is simple, “Just do it. You won’t be disappointed.” She continues, “you never know how much you will get out of it, and most of all, you will gain valuable experience and make meaningful connections.”