Student Testimonials
Student Staff Testimonials
Testimonials from Undergraduate Student Assistants
“As an undergraduate research assistant I learned everything I know about program evaluation at CERSE. Evaluation work is very important to support the improvement of program practices that in turn promote more equity and representation in STEM fields. I enjoy working on many different projects and learning about various programs focused on improving equity in STEM. I also really enjoy the work environment fostered at CERSE. While our work is generally independent of one another, there are many opportunities to connect with fellow CERSE staff through weekly staff meetings, living our values of equity (LOVE) meetings, co-working sessions and more. I also appreciate how accommodating the director is to the busy schedule of college students! I have learned great skills such as writing evaluation reports, analyzing survey data, updating databases, data visualization and more. I believe if you have a passion for equity, willingness to learn new skills and ask questions, and a baseline understanding of Microsoft Office you can surely succeed in this position.”
– Naomi Yuen-Schat, Undergraduate Student Assistant, 2021-2022
“Working at CERSE was one of the most educational, fun, and worthwhile experiences I had throughout college. I got to learn so many useful skills, such as quantitative coding, during work hours. The atmosphere at CERSE is so welcoming and supportive. You get to contribute to meaningful projects while working with a tight knit community of dedicated professionals.”
–Cordelia Ilton, Undergraduate Student Assistant, 2018-2019
“Working at CERSE prepared me for other research environments after graduation. At CERSE, I practiced managing and communicating how my new projects compete with my workload and priorities, asked clarifying or follow-up questions, requested input from peers/graduate RAs, documented decisions in my work to help answer potential questions, and incorporated feedback from my supervisor to finalize the project. I now work as a data analyst at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), a global health research institute. I work on research visualizations frequently and I attribute a lot of my relevant skills to working with my supervisor at CERSE. I enjoyed my 1:1s with my supervisor because I saw the level of detail that good researchers put into conveying research findings. For example, I aggregated evaluation survey data, created percentage bar graphs, and wrote the short description for a PowerPoint presentation. My supervisor and I went through multiple drafts to ensure the colors and fonts were legible and readable, and the description was insightful and conveyed the significance/impact of the evaluated activity. My supervisor was also available and was willing to help whenever needed.”
–Johnathan Hsu, Undergraduate Student Assistant, 2017-2018
Testimonials from Graduate Research Assistants
“As someone who is currently an assistant professor involved in research and educational activities to create a more equitable society, I can confidently say that at CERSE, I was able to acquire concrete skills (e.g., translating academic jargon into terms that anyone can understand), analytical techniques (e.g., utilizing a greater variety of research methods than is generally required in academic research), and above all, a basic stance or fundamental way of thinking that is indispensable for those working on diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
–Daiki Hiramori, Graduate Research Assistant, 2017-2022
“This is my fourth quarter of working at CERSE. I’ve had a chance to get my hands on a variety of research and applied work opportunities, and I’ve enjoyed trying out different things. It’s also been nice to have regular check-ins with a supervisor, as grad school can often feel isolating. The office space is nice, and each desk has a computer. Not having to carry my laptop around has been convenient.
My sense is that the CERSE RA experience varies considerably based on the project(s). Some positions entail more program evaluation, while others offer hands-on research opportunities. So, make sure you pay attention to the job description to figure out what to expect. The bulk of my time is dedicated to research, but I also spend time on evaluation projects. I found evaluation to be surprisingly fulfilling because it lets me use my skills to impact real-world projects. I find it nicely counterbalances typical grad school research, where you don’t get to share your work with people as much and as often. I’ve also been fortunate on the research side; it overlaps with my own interests but it doesn’t get overwhelming à la dissertation work (the work is measured by the number of hours you put in rather than a particular outcome that might seem out of reach). Overall, logging hours has made me more cognizant of my working hours and has led to a healthier work/life boundary.”
–Selen Güler, Graduate Research Assistant, 2021-present
“Working at CERSE was a great experience and it supported me in my path to pursuing a PhD. Through working at CERSE, I gained research and evaluation skills – both qualitative and quantitative – as well as practical skills such as data visualization. Most importantly, I appreciate CERSE’s mission of providing equity-focused evaluation and its commitment to racial justice. As someone interested in evaluation long-term, this RA-ship provided me with several experiences that have prepared me to pursue a career in this field.”
-Mary Padden, Graduate Research Assistant, 2021-2022
“Working at CERSE under my supervisor’s guidance was one of the most fulfilling workplace experiences I’ve had, both personally and professionally.”
-Theresa Henry, Graduate Research Assistant, 2019-2021
“Working as a Research Assistant for CERSE provided me with invaluable research and evaluation experience, from project development and planning through dissemination, including presenting project results at national conferences, conducting workshops with clients and publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, I received outstanding mentorship throughout my time at CERSE, and I developed longstanding relationships with supportive colleagues, some of whom I continue to collaborate with today in my work as an equity-focused evaluation and research consultant.”
-Cate Samuelson, Graduate Research Assistant, 2013-2014
