Name: Alex Toy

Brown Affiliation: Class of 2004

Company/School: AmeriCorps

Degree(s) Earned:

BS Biomedical Engineering, Brown University

Contact Info:  Alex_Toy@brown.edu

What experiences were you able to gain in biotechnology during your undergraduate years at Brown?

• one semester, drug delivery/bioavailability research, Edith Mathiowitz

• summer internship, drug metabolism, SUGEN - cancer pharmaceutical

• summer Hughes Fellowship, nerve regeneration, Diane Hoffman-Kim

• two semesters, nerve regeneration group research project, Diane Hoffman-Kim

What advice do you have for undergraduates seeking summer positions?

As far as industry, don't stress out too much about getting an internship after freshman or sophomore year.  A lot of internships are only open to rising seniors unless you have a personal connection, and Brown's connections to industry internships are currently weak.

On the flip side, opportunities for research at Brown during the summer or school year are great.  Many professors are welcoming towards undergrads; you just have to ask them.  So go to the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) socials!

What are your plans after graduation?

I've been accepted to serve with AmeriCorps (Southeast region) next year.  AmeriCorps does projects such as Habitat for Humanity, tutoring/after school programs, disaster relief, and park service/environmental education.  This summer, I will work as an intern at Tularik or another biotech company in the California bay area.