Alumni speak to the history and legacy of the BIO5 Ambassador Internship program
Entering its eighth year as an internship program, the BIO5 Ambassadors has a network of 20 alumni making impactful strides across diverse fields, from public health and medical clinics to finance and research.
(Left to right, top row) Jorey Cohen, Alexis Carbine, and Will Peterson and (left to right, bottom row) Emma Wallace, Joe Mirabito, and Drew Seiser are alumni of the BIO5 Ambassadors internship program at the University of Arizona BIO5 Institute.
The goal of the internship program through the University of Arizona BIO5 Institute is to expose curious undergraduate students to the business and outreach side of a research institute while allowing them to earn internship credits.
It started in 2012 when a group of passionate students driven by a shared enthusiasm for science education and outreach formalized the BIO5 Ambassadorship. Initially, the club's affiliation with BIO5 Institute was limited to the logo on their t-shirts.
Recognizing untapped potential, Gina Coniglario, a club member and undergraduate majoring in cellular and molecular biology, assumed a pivotal role when hired as a public affairs assistant at the BIO5 Institute in 2016. She wanted to elevate the partnership by bridging the gap between the club and BIO5.
By summer 2017, a transformative proposal led by Coniglario emerged.
“I talked to Amy Barber, BIO5 marketing manager, about writing up a project proposal for dissolving the club and turning it into an internship. This way, BIO5 could benefit from their assistance while the students gained experience and (hopefully) academic credit,” said Coniglario.
This innovation aimed to symbiotically benefit BIO5 and students, offering valuable experience and academic credit. With BIO5 leadership approval of the proposal, Coniglario became the Ambassadors internship coordinator.
"It allowed for a more in-depth learning experience with BIO5, exposing students to a business environment they can learn from regularly. This model seemed more beneficial to BIO5 and the students,” said Barber, who became the BIO5 staff member overseeing the internship program.
Meticulously crafting the internship's framework, Coniglario conducted market research, designed marketing strategies, and facilitated application processes. Each year saw the program evolve, attracting talented students eager to contribute to BIO5's mission.
“Seeing how this internship has evolved for the better over seven years has been so exciting. It’s a legacy I’ve left behind at the University of Arizona, and it’s meant so much to me,” said Coniglario.
The collective achievements of the BIO5 Ambassadors stand as a testament to the program's enduring legacy, validating its role in shaping future science leaders.
Hear from a few alumni on how the BIO5 Ambassador Internship program helped them achieve their professional goals.
Alexis Carbine, BIO5 Ambassador 2018 - 2019
As a BIO5 Ambassador, I met with stakeholders to discuss and address various projects. This ultimately sparked my interest in the field of public health, as it allowed me to advocate for the needs of a population on a large scale. Similarly, as an undergraduate student, I learned about the research projects being conducted at the institute.
This propelled my future research at the Johns Hopkins Center of Health Equity while I completed my master's in public health at the Dartmouth Institute.
Emma Wallace, BIO5 Ambassador 2018 - 2019
The BIO5 Ambassadors internship allowed me to integrate my passion for science with my interest in business. It gave me the opportunity to develop my interpersonal skills by implementing marketing initiatives, interacting with community leaders, and pitching project/event ideas. The leadership experience I gained as a part of the program helped me secure a job managing a medical clinic in Chicago, IL upon graduating.
From there, I was able to further break into the corporate world and have been working at a financial tech company, servicing investment and wealth management professionals in the healthcare and life sciences industry.
My ambassadorship at BIO5 propelled me forward by exposing me to new opportunities at the intersection of business and scientific innovation and gave me the confidence to pursue a career that would enable me to engage with both worlds.
Jorey Cohen, BIO5 Ambassador 2019 - 2020
I love science so deeply that I double majored in neuroscience, cognitive science, and molecular cellular biology. I never fully knew what career I wanted to pursue but centered my efforts on academia and pursuing research.
However, the BIO5 Ambassador program opened my eyes to the intersection of business and science and that love grew into a passion — with the addition of business.
I am now a senior market research analyst in the healthcare field where I get to work on projects centered on life saving medications (science) with health system operations and processes (business)
Joe Mirabito, BIO5 Ambassador 2021 - 2022
For my BIO5 Ambassadorship, I was paired with Sean Cadin, the senior business manager at BIO5.
We worked together on the GEMM core financial modeling where we analyzed trends in revenue and expenditures. Sean and I also interacted weekly with university researchers to discuss how funding is available to them through grants from the university, NIH, FEMA, etc.
These experiences have helped my understanding of the financial side of research where I now work with the Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS), assisting in inventory management and budget analysis. Sean and I have stayed in contact, and he has become a trusted mentor to me during my graduate program at the University of Arizona.
Will Peterson, BIO5 Ambassador 2022 - 2023
My time with the BIO5 Ambassadors programs broadened my sense of community within the University of Arizona and Southern Arizona.
Thanks to the Ambassadors program, I traveled for the BIO5 Institute’s KEYS Research Internship and shared my passion for science with high schoolers across Tucson through recruitment presentations.
These presentations allowed me to meet a wide range of Tucsonans, from educators to students, while also honing my presentation and science communication skills.
Within BIO5, I met research faculty and business staff who I can look to for guidance and support during medical school at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.
Drew Seiser, BIO5 Ambassador 2022 - 2023
As a BIO5 Ambassador, I worked alongside my mentor Tammy White on event planning and tours. Through her guidance and insight, I was able to gain skills in public speaking, organization, and project management.
I also attended many professional development workshops where I could hone my writing skills and apply them to my resume and cover letter, learn what it means to be a good employee, and how to engage in science communication.
Through this internship, I was also given the opportunity to interact with the business office and the variety of researchers that work onsite at BIO5. As a molecular and cellular biology major, it was insightful and valuable to hear about the many areas of science that were available to me. This experience also allowed me to work in one of the BIO5 members' labs, Frank Duca studying metabolic disease.
Through the network of BIO5 and my acquired skills, I am inspired to pursue a PhD in research. I thank BIO5 for their help in shaping my future!
The BIO5 Ambassador Internship is a unique two-semester opportunity open to all University of Arizona undergraduates at the BIO5 Institute. Selected students work one-on-one with a BIO5 staff member on a project of their choice, ranging from business administration, educational outreach, and digital marketing, while attending professional development workshops.