Alex Umanzor

At the beginning of the program, my main goal was to get real world experience working on a real product, not just school projects. I wanted to understand how a system is built and maintained when real users depend on it. I also wanted to improve in reading a large codebase, debugging problems, and working in a team environment. Another small goal I had was to feel more confident contributing to code that is actually used, because before this I mostly only did assignments.

During my internship at Surgery AI, my duties included helping build and maintain
features for the surgery scheduling system, debugging frontend and backend issues,
and supporting the product during deployment. Since the company is a small startup, I
also had the chance to work on different parts of the product instead of only one area. I
worked closely with the CTO and founding engineers, which helped me learn much
faster because I could ask questions directly and see how experienced engineers
approach problems.

One of the main projects I worked on was implementing real time updates for the
scheduling system using AWS AppSync. Before this internship, I had never worked with real time systems before, so at first it was confusing for me. I spent a lot of time trying to understand how subscriptions and backend events work together. Another project I worked on was improving the surgery calendar UI using Bryntum. I helped make the interface easier for hospital staff to view and update schedules. I also helped debug issues where the backend data did not match what was shown on the UI, which sometimes caused scheduling information to appear incorrectly.

Another project I worked on near the end of the internship was helping redesign and
build the company marketing website. I worked from a designer’s mockup and helped
turn it into a working site. This was different from my other engineering tasks because it focused more on communication and how the company presents its product to
customers. It helped me understand that software engineering is not only about coding
features, but also about helping users and customers understand the value of the
product.

One moment that was very meaningful for me is when the product went live for the first customer in London in March. During that time, I helped fix bugs and support the
system. It made me realize that even small bugs can have big impact, especially in
healthcare. For example, if scheduling information updates incorrectly or too slowly, it
can affect doctors, nurses, and patients. I also saw that the system helped improve
surgery room usage, which made the work feel more real and important. This is
something I did not experience before in school projects.

Through this internship, I learned many technical skills. I improved a lot in React
frontend development, backend debugging, and working with APIs. I also learned new
tools and technologies such as AWS AppSync and Bryntum. Besides technical skills, I
also improved soft skills like asking questions, communicating with teammates, and
managing tasks when priorities change quickly. At the beginning, I was sometimes
scared to ask questions because I thought I should know everything already, but later I
realized communication is very important in engineering teams.

There were also many challenges. At the beginning, I struggled a lot with understanding the codebase. It is much bigger and more complex than anything I worked on before. Sometimes I would spend hours trying to understand one small bug. I also felt unsure sometimes and had to ask many questions. Another challenge is working in a startup where things move fast and priorities change often. I had to switch between tasks like backend, frontend, and even marketing website. At first it felt messy, but over time I got more used to it.

This internship also made me think more about ethical issues in technology. Since the
product is used in healthcare, reliability and accuracy are very important. I realized that
engineers need to think carefully about how bugs or bad design can affect real people.
For example, hospital staff depend on the scheduling system to organize surgeries, so
mistakes could create stress or delays for patients. I also learned that when working
with healthcare related systems, privacy and handling data carefully are very important responsibilities. This made me think more seriously about the impact software can have on people’s lives.

My goals also changed during the internship. At first I was mostly focused on technical
skills, but later I realized that understanding users and product is also very important.
After launch, I saw how important reliability and user experience are for hospital staff
who are already very busy. This experience made me more interested in product
thinking, not just coding.

In terms of future plans, this experience changed how I think. Before, I just wanted to be a good engineer technically. Now I also want to work on products that have real impact and maybe continue in startup environment. I like the feeling of having ownership and seeing the full picture. At the same time, I also realized I still need to improve a lot, especially in system design and building more scalable systems.

Introduction
Hi! My name is Natalie Scott and I am a Junior Mechanical Engineering student at UC Berkeley. This summer, I had the opportunity to spend two months in Barcelona, Spain, completing an engineering internship. This also included experiencing life in a culture very different from what I was accustomed to in California. My internship allowed me to apply my technical skills in a professional environment while challenging me to adapt to different communication styles, workplace expectations, and daily routines.
This experience quickly became one of the best things I’ve ever done!

It was amazing not only gaining professional engineering experience, but also getting to immerse myself in new environments and learn from cultures I wouldn’t have otherwise. This didn’t even stop with just Spanish culture, while I was there I got to experience how Catalan culture integrated into everyday life and took weekend trips around Europe! I got to learn so much from so many different people and so many experiences.

My Internship in Barcelona
During my internship, I worked in the 3D printing industry. With CAD, Adobe Illustrator, and other softwares, I got to contribute to the development of new designs for both the company I was working at and their clients. Additionally, I helped with manufacturing–learning how to better operate 3D printers, tuning quality, and the post-processing of parts. I absolutely loved how much I got to learn outside of an academic setting; I got to work through problems where manufacturing capabilities, communication, budgets, and timelines all influenced the final decision.

I got to work on a multitude of projects including reverse engineering parts, optimizing for manufacturing, designing company merchandise, and designing an outer shelf to hold filament dryers on a wide range of shelves. Another interesting part of the experience was seeing how different areas of a company connect. My technical work was only one part of a larger process, and conversations with my coworkers helped me understand more of the business and communication sides of things. My CEO also
explained how the global growth of 3D printing has made printers and filament more affordable, which made me think more critically about the larger systems behind the products I was working with.

Getting to Know My Coworkers
Workplace communication in Barcelona was often more direct than what I was used to. At first, I sometimes had to remind myself that direct feedback was not necessarily criticism; it was simply another way of communicating. These interactions pushed me to become more comfortable listening before reacting and paying attention not only to what people said, but how they communicated. I became more willing to adjust how I spoke, listened, and interacted depending on the situation. These small changes
became some of the most valuable lessons of my internship.

Conversations with my coworkers also gave me a better understanding of what life looked like in Spain. We discussed differences in vacation, work hours, holidays, healthcare, parental leave, social norms, and their views on globalization and tourism. I even enjoyed incorporating their views and recommendations into my daily life–leading me to look at Barcelona from a different perspective.

Experiencing Barcelona
One of my favorite parts of Barcelona was simply walking around the city. Growing up in the suburbs of San Diego, I was used to long car rides just to get somewhere as simple as a restaurant. Barcelona felt completely different. Its Superblocks created small communities where people could walk, sit, eat, and spend time together. I especially loved the idea of the “15-minute city,” where many everyday necessities
are within walking distance. I found myself stopping spontaneously for food or exploring streets simply because I happened to walk past them.

Barcelona also introduced me more deeply to Catalan culture. Seeing how seriously locals value their language, history, and identity made me realize that globalization does not require cultures to become the same. An unforgettable experience was Sant Joan’s Eve. I celebrated at the beach with friends while thousands of people gathered for fireworks. Eventually, everyone began running into the Mediterranean Sea. I had not brought a swimsuit, but I decided to join them anyway. Jumping into the water fully clothed was spontaneous and slightly ridiculous, but it became one of my favorite memories from Barcelona. It showed me how traditions can bring strangers together through shared experiences.

Weekend Trips
My weekends gave me another way to experience Europe beyond Barcelona. I traveled to Prague, Paris, Florence, Rome, Athens, Naxos, and Santorini, while also exploring coastal towns like Tossa de Mar, San Feliu, and the Cinque Terre. Each trip showed me a different side of Europe, from historic cities and Mediterranean beaches to islands and smaller coastal communities.

My solo trip to Florence and Rome was especially memorable because it challenged me to navigate unfamiliar cities completely on my own. I had to plan transportation, choose where to go, and make decisions without relying on anyone else. Traveling alone made me more confident and independent, while traveling with friends taught me how much shared experiences can strengthen relationships.

Although each destination was different, returning to Barcelona after every trip made me appreciate it more. I began to see my time abroad not as one experience in one city, but as an opportunity to compare different cultures, lifestyles, and ways of seeing the world.

Conclusion

Overall, my time in Barcelona became much more than an internship abroad. I gained professional engineering experience, but I also learned how much everyday environments influence the way people communicate, work, travel, and build relationships–something that will be indispensable throughout my career. I became more comfortable with unfamiliar situations and more willing to question assumptions I had previously considered normal. Barcelona challenged me to become more curious and adaptable. Yes I left with a greater appreciation for engineering, but also for the people, cultures, and systems that engineering ultimately serves. My experience taught me that living abroad is not just about seeing another place—it is about allowing that place to change the way you see your own.

Written By: Natalie Scott

UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate

An Engineering Internship in Singapore

Hi, my name is Ava Raugust, and I’m currently a junior at Cal. I’m majoring in civil engineering and minoring in mechanical engineering. I am grateful to have received the Global Discovery Scholarship as I was able to learn and enjoy my summer abroad to its fullest extent. 

This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to complete an eight-week engineering internship in Singapore as a Production Intern at Additive Inn, a small additive manufacturing start-up. Going into this experience, I viewed it primarily as a chance to develop my technical skills in a new environment. However, after returning home with more than two months of international experience behind me, I realized that the true value of working abroad went far beyond the work itself. My time in Singapore challenged my assumptions about workplace dynamics, expanded my technical capabilities, and helped reshape my understanding of what it means to be a global citizen.

A Day in the Life of a Production Intern

On our first official day of work, my friend from the Global Internships at Berkeley program, who ended up interning at the same company, and I took the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system, commuting about forty-five minutes to the office. Interns were expected to arrive at 9:00 AM, which was an hour before the full-time employees. My daily routine started by checking the 3D printers for runs completed overnight, cleaning up any finished pieces, and carefully removing support materials. Next, I logged into a custom task portal coded by the co-founders to check for incoming client orders. If an order needed to be printed, I started it immediately to ensure the client received their product in a timely manner. Afterwards, I worked on my assigned engineering projects.. At noon, a couple of other interns and I would walk to a nearby hawker center, or food court to grab lunch together. After returning, I continued monitoring print runs, post-processing finished parts, packaging orders, and photographing products in a light box to update the portal for clients.

Hands-On Projects and Technical Growth

Even though I major in civil engineering, interning at a small start-up exposed me to every side of the engineering process and business operations. I observed how the co-founders wore many hats, balancing programming, 3D design, business logistics, and client satisfaction. I was fortunate to work on several major projects that broadened my technical skills:

1. Underwater Robotics Vent Piece: My favorite project involved reverse engineering a vent component for an underwater robotics firm. Using CAD software, I reconstructed the physical geometry from scratch into a precise 3D model. Learning to reverse engineer real-world components gave me practical design skills that I will carry directly into my civil engineering studies.

2. Pizza Hut Architectural Models: Our largest contract was an order from Pizza Hut Singapore. They needed scaled mini-models of their front-end and back-end restaurant furniture to physically rearrange and visualize new store layouts. Managing a production run of thousands of miniature parts taught me how to maintain strict organization under high volume. To ensure the team could seamlessly track inventory after my departure, I took detailed notes every shift and cataloged all printed components using spreadsheets.

3. Web Development & AI: I also assisted with building the company website. Programming was not my strongest skill initially, but I learned how to “vibe code,” which just using natural language prompts to write and debug code efficiently.

Weekend Adventures Beyond the Office

Beyond the office, my summer was shaped by the strong bonds I built with my UC Berkeley cohort. On the weekends, we took full advantage of living in Southeast Asia. We spent days exploring Universal Studios Singapore, biked through the trails of Pulau Ubin island, and even took an unforgettable trip to Bali together. Navigating new places together created lasting bonds, and I am so excited to continue these friendships back home.

Final Reflections

On our final day at Additive Inn, the company hosted a lovely dinner party to celebrate our contributions. One of the co-founders’ mothers, who previously owned a food stall, prepared an extraordinary Thai meal for us. Reflecting on those eight weeks over amazing food with new friends was the perfect end to the experience. Before this internship, I thought being a global citizen mostly meant being comfortable working with people from different backgrounds. Now, I realize it also means being willing to recognize what you don’t know and learn from the way other countries approach work,  technology, and life. I came home from Singapore with much more than engineering experience; I returned with lifelong friends and a stronger curiosity about the world outside the United States.

Written By: Ava Raugust

UC Berkeley Civil Engineering + Mechanical Engineering Minor Undergraduate

This summer I had an absolute blast traveling to Madrid, Spain! The experience of working on an exciting research project in addition to being able to experience a different culture and explore the world was something unheard of to me before attending Berkeley. Fortunately programs like GLOBE’s Discovery Scholarship helped bridge the gap, making it possible for first generation students like myself to engage with engineering at the international level. As a Civil Engineer at Berkeley, I’m especially grateful to have used this opportunity to explore my academic interest
in the field of Bioengineering.

After applying to the UCEAP Engineering Research in Madrid program, I was pleased to have been matched with my mentors Gonzalo Izuzquiza and Sergio Nombela, where I joined a project researching the optimization of dendritic cell viability and immune activation in a 3D human skin model. Under Gonzalo, I focused specifically on the development of microfluidic organ-on-chip 2D skin models as well as 3D air-liquid interface skin models. During my time in the lab, I developed various skills in both wet lab bioengineering and microfluidic device prototyping such as cell culture, creating fibrin gels, CAD design, resin 3D printing, curing PDMS casts, and plasma bonding. I was also fortunate enough to learn flow cytometry, isolation of dendritic cells from blood samples, and Alamar Blue experimentation under Sergio with my lab partners, James Castillo and Gisselle Avina.

I was happily surprised to start working with cells within my first week, with the goal of
culturing human fibroblast cells for the 3D skin model. The human fibroblast cells, as well as other components, were used to make a fibrin gel that simulated aspects of the human dermis–specifically, the dermal environment during wound healing conditions by using a fibrin-based, bloodclot-like matrix. This was followed by culturing human keratinocyte cells to deposit as a monolayer on top of the gel samples, acting as a simplified epidermis. With the dermis and epidermis assembled into the semi-permeable culture well chambers, the demonstrative model was complete.

On the microfluidic side of things, I was able to design a two chamber chip mold using CAD software. I utilized the resin 3D printer to print out the mold for the top chamber in my microfluidic device. After post-processing the mold, I poured a PDMS and curing agent mixture to cure in the oven for a little more than 24 hours. Later I utilized plasma bonding–which functions via oxidizing the PDMS microchip surface to create polar silanol groups which then interact with glass slides to form Si-O-Si bonds–creating a permanent, leak free bond between the microfluidic chip and glass slide.

Testing the prototype gave me another important part of the research experience: navigating issues. Upon testing the prototype, we discovered that the main channel for the 2D skin model prototype had unintended contact with the glass slide, impeding proper flow during testing. We concluded that the next steps in design would need to accommodate for this possibility of unintended surface plasma-bonding as well as ensuring a fully-cured PDMS chip.

My research experience also extended beyond the UC3M lab. My lab partners and I had the opportunity to visit my secondary mentor, Sergio, at another lab where he volunteers, Fundación Lair. It was a super enriching experience to witness how experimental work can be applied in real-life scenarios to impact everyday people. At Fundacion Lair, we learned the application and operation of flow cytometers as well as the method for extracting dendritic cells from patient blood samples. After utilizing the Alamar Blue process to observe the fluorescence of dendritic cocultures created by Sergio and his team, it was concluded that the highest metabolic rate for dendritic cells was in collagen gels, suggesting that collagen gels provided the most optimal
conditions for higher viability.

Outside of the lab, I had the opportunity to experience Madrid and travel throughout Europe with my roommates and peers. One of my favorite parts of being abroad was how easy it became to turn an ordinary weekend into an entirely new experience. Throughout our stay, my roommates and I were able to visit the historic Spanish destinations of Toledo, Valencia, Barcelona, and Mallorca where we had adventures ranging from zip lining and visiting landmarks like La Sagrada Familia to relaxing at beaches and trying local cuisine.

Our first trip outside of Spain was to Porto, Portugal where we went on a sightseeing tour through the historic Douoro Valley, visited several markets and attractions, and enjoyed the incredibly calm city vibe with locals.

As the summer continued, we traveled farther across Europe. In Rome, Italy, we tried the delectable local cuisine, visited the angelic St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, and saw the awe-inspiring Roman Colosseum. In Paris, we were able to visit the beautiful Notre Dame, the impressive Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre’s infamous Mona Lisa, and the iconic Eiffel Tower.

One week, we left the lab work week a day early to squeeze Germany, Austria, and Switzerland into one extra-long weekend. In Germany, we took a guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle; in Switzerland, we visited Albert Einstein’s undergraduate locker and tried Swiss chocolate; and in Austria, we toured Mozart’s birthplace and took a rail sled down a mountain. Visiting three countries was surprisingly relaxing despite the number of fantastic sites we visited. It was definitely a testament to my roommates’ and my ability to coordinate travel plans.

One of the most memorable moments of the entire trip happened on our flight back from Paris. I was super excited to try and catch the end of the World Cup game, so excited, in fact, that my roommate and I waited with hundreds of other Spaniards to watch the game’s final moments in the airport. When the game clock stopped and everyone realized that Spain just won the World Cup–everybody lost their minds. People in the airport were running around shouting and chanting national songs and the taxis in the street were blasting their horns in a symphony of excitement. The weekend in Paris followed by the airport World Cup frenzy was an experience
I’ll never forget.

Furthermore, the day after the World Cup Final, when I was counting cells using a
Hemocytometer Structure, I saw a stain that looked surprisingly reminiscent of the shape of Spain, complete with the national colors of red and yellow. While my mentors believed it was a coincidence, no-one could offer an exact explanation of what could’ve caused it nor a prior, similar experience with stains of this color or shape. I’ll let you decide whether this was a coincidence or some sort of mysterious World Cup phenomenon.

As I conclude, I’d like to thank my mentors Gonzalo Izuzquiza and Sergio Nombela. Their kind mentorship and expert guidance gave me an incredible deep dive into bioengineering. Their engaging curriculum between UC3M and Fundacion Lair helped paint the context for how academia and the industries of bioengineering function together to make an impact on the medical and public health field. The diverse range of skills I learned also emphasized how varied the work of bioengineers in industry can be. Moving forward, I’m very optimistic to apply the various techniques and methods that I’ve learned in related contexts at the intersection of biology, chemistry, civil engineering, and public health. I definitely have a newfound interest in
the discipline as I will look out for opportunities to apply my experiences at Berkeley and beyond.

Overall, this experience was more rewarding than I ever could’ve imagined. Between the research in a new, exciting field and the weekly adventures all across Europe I learned so much about bioengineering, academia, European culture, complicated travel itineraries, and especially about myself. I feel like I’m leaving this experience as a more resilient and outgoing person with a wider view of the world and the different ways to live in it. As a first generation, low-income student I’m so grateful to have had support from GLOBE’s Discovery Scholarship to have made this opportunity possible.

Written By: Isaac Mendoza

UC Berkeley Civil Engineering Undergraduate

Over the summer, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain, through the UCEAP Engineering Research Program at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Thanks to the generous support of the GLOBE Discovery Scholarship, I was able to participate in an amazing experience. As a Bioengineering and Business Administration student, I was able to combine my passion for research with the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture through this program. 

During my time at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, I worked in a Bioengineering Laboratory focused on tissue engineering. Our research consisted of creating a human skin model capable of replicating immune activation by incorporating dendritic cells into a three-dimensional human skin model. Our model consisted of fibroblasts that were embedded within a fibrin hydrogel derived from human plasma, along with a monolayer of human keratinocytes to represent the epidermis skin layer. Being able to contribute to a research project involving hands-on lab experiments allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of how tissue engineering can be applied to create biological systems. Throughout my internship, I was introduced to a variety of laboratory techniques and procedures. During my time in the lab, I had the chance to isolate dendritic cells, perform cell passages, prepare plasma and collagen-based gels, and work with different components to help create a skin model. Additionally, I learned how to evaluate our experimental results through techniques such as flow cytometry and Alamar Blue. Through each procedure, I learned incredibly valuable skills that I hope to apply in future experiences. 

One of the most meaningful aspects of my research abroad experience was the opportunity to work with a bioengineering PhD student. By observing their research process, I gained insight into what pursuing a career in research can look like beyond undergraduate education.  This mentorship helped me become more comfortable with engaging in research and applying it to an ongoing laboratory project. 

My study abroad experience extends far beyond the laboratory. Living in Madrid allowed me to learn more about Spanish culture and experience daily life in a completely new environment. I learned how to navigate unfamiliar situations and adapt to cultural differences. Outside of academics, I was fortunate enough to travel to several countries in Europe. I traveled around Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Each trip gave me the chance to experience different cultures, languages, food, and architecture. 

Overall, studying abroad at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid was an amazing experience and opportunity to grow as a student, researcher, and individual. The laboratory experience I did strengthened my interest in bioengineering and gave me a clearer insight into pursuing a PhD in tissue engineering. The support of the GLOBE Discovery Scholarship played an important role in making this experience possible. I am grateful to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow in an international environment. 

Written By: Gisselle Avina

UC Berkeley Bioengineering + Business Administration Undergraduate