Name: Dan O’Brien
Class Year: 2017
Title: Research Assistant
Organization Name: Georgetown University
In one sentence, what does your job entail?
This position entails implementing hands-on research in a microtechnology lab.
What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?
I originally intended to conduct research here at Holy Cross, but wanted to apply my physics degree to a research project in medicine. With this in mind, I applied to Research Opportunities for Undergraduates positions, and the lab that offered me the job conducts intriguing and progressive research in the field.
What were you involved in when you were on campus?
I participated in and served in leadership positions for the Society of Physics Students, and was a member of the Science Ambassadors. Additionally, I helped to found a student-run advising program for students in the sciences.
What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?
As a physics student, I learned problem solving skills that will help me in any field in which I choose to use them. The physics faculty at Holy Cross opened my eyes to the importance of research in medicine, and I am thankful for the career lessons they have taught me.
What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?
Once again, the problem solving and time management skills are two “intangibles,” per se, that I use in my everyday work. In my research position, the skills that I aggregated in laboratory courses at Holy Cross were equally crucial.
What advice do you have for students on campus today?
Get involved, be real, and follow your passions.
