University of Minnesota Athletics
Summer Off Campus: Lauren Miller
8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
University of Minnesota senior rower Lauren Miller is one of the many Gopher student-athletes who have unique experiences during their summer away from campus.
Miller, a neuroscience major from St. Cloud, Minn., worked as a research assistant in an Endocrinology Lab at Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital this summer.
GopherSports.com had the chance to catch up with her recently to talk about the experience.
How did you get set up with the job?
I had already been planning on moving out to Boston to participate in a rowing club there near Harvard. I have worked in a Neuroscience lab here at the U for a little over a year, and when I mentioned my summer plans to the professor I work under, he was able to get me connected with a collaborator of his at Harvard University.
What did you do to keep in shape/training over the summer?
I stayed in shape by rowing with Riverside Boat Club in Cambridge. They had 11-12 practices per week (with 2 lifts per week) throughout the entire summer; I normally would practice in the early morning before work, then again directly after work, as well as on Saturdays and occasionally Sundays.
Was there anything you've learned as a rower that you were able to apply to the professional work?
Rowing is the ultimate team sport; the other athletes in the boat can feel the direct consequences of your actions as an individual in the boat, whether it be the balance, power, or fluidity of the overall crew. I think my experience as a rower has helped with my ability to work with a variety of different coworkers effectively and has given me the flexibility to adapt during periods of high stress. It has also helped me to become more aware of how each individual contribution in a project in the workplace contributes to the "bigger picture".
What was the highlight of your experience, both professionally and personally?
This summer was a huge learning experience for me, both academically and athletically. Riverside Boat Club provided a high caliber of training, while my job at Harvard Medical School proved to be wonderfully challenging. During my time as a research assistant through Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital, I was one of only two undergraduate students among several medical students, Ph.D. students and post-doctoral research fellows. Initially it was very intimidating given my lack of experience in comparison to the people I worked with, but I think one of the main highlights of my summer experience was getting to work directly with students who have already gone through schooling/career tracks I am planning to pursue. I was amazed at the amount they knew and am more excited than ever to eventually experience more of the field for myself. Riverside also pushed me as an athlete to better myself technically and physically, as several of the athletes there have been or are currently on the US National Rowing Team.
Did you do anything fun outside of work that stands out?
Exploring the Boston area (especially the restaurants/coffee shops) was an experience in itself. Also, with Riverside, I was able to travel for Regattas and spend time with my teammates that way.
Anything else you'd like to add about your experience?
I am so, so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to live in Boston this summer and to have these two wonderful experiences. I learned more than I could have imagined in the short two months I spent there.
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