International internship

As an Interdisciplinary Global Programs student, you will have access to some of the best professional development resources at NAU.  With your internship experience abroad you’ll find IGP provides unparalleled opportunities to stand out.

Pursue your greatest ambitions

From oceanography research in Spain to studying the mountains of China, our student internship experiences are incredible. See what past students have done with these highlights.

Bradlee Wahid Cotton, Environmental Sciences & Spanish

Jujuy, Argentina

Alluvial and gravitational processes in the Humahuaca River Valley

My internship was a research project studying the formation and evolution of alluvial fans at two sites located within the Humahuaca River Valley in Jujuy, a province in the northern region of Argentina. The dominant processes and flow types were analyzed and determined through the use of geologic field techniques and various computer programs. This data was then utilized to evaluate these risks and to advise local inhabitants.

Hannah Caldwell-Meurer, Electrical Engineering & Japanese

Fukuoka, Japan

Researching Fiber Optics to Detect Tremors in Parkinson’s Patients

During my time conducting research at Kyushu University, I was a part of the Integrated Electronic Systems lab. My research centered around finding a way to detect tremors in people who have Parkinson’s disease using optical fiber. Focusing on measuring the tremors in the hand as there is a need to find a way to measure the tremors without the need of using expensive equipment or inconveniencing the patient. From these criteria, I concluded using the Mach Zehnder interferometer would be a viable option. Measuring the tremors with Mach Zehnder Interferometer with artificial vibrations, I tested the accuracy of detection, pattern recognition, and potential improvements. Using various pattern recognition, I focused on detecting vibrations between a certain Beats per Minute that is seen in Parkinson’s patients. My time in Japan was not only focused on research but also enjoying and experiencing the lab culture in Japan. Being a part of the lab, I was able to gain insight and grow in other various ways that would not have been possible if I had only traveled to Japan.

Oscar Vazquez,
Management & Spanish

Madrid, Spain

Creating a business plan and marketing strategy for a start-up

I did my internship with a startup company, Drone Hopper. Drone Hopper designs and manufactures high capacity drones for fire extinction, fumigation, search, rescue and duty. My internship consisted of creating business and marketing plans for different products, as well as creating market research for different countries in which there is potential of incorporating our drones. Being able to represent Drone Hopper in various exhibitions around Europe was one of my biggest accomplishments during my internship, in which I gave pitches of our drones to possible investors and entrepreneurs in Europe to obtain more capital for Drone Hopper.

Zach Kramer,
Computer Science & German

Jena, Germany

Transitioning into an embedded world of computing

As computers become more powerful and compact, they also become more involved in our everyday lives, from smartphones to smart homes. These tiny computers that have dedicated functions, such as processing images on a camera, are referred to as being embedded. Embedded devices still have a vast number of fields that they can greatly benefit, but often times in these applications it is not yet possible to replace a large, general computer with a tiny, dedicated one. When these fields feel that they are on the edge of becoming embedded, a prototype is usually built to prove that edge right or wrong. I found myself testing one of these edges in Jena, one of the most innovative cities in Germany, tasked with researching and prototyping an embedded device (which I unfortunately cannot disclose). This took me down a long journey of unknowns, surrounded in an unfamiliar environment that challenged many values that I am used to in the States.