High schooler Raja Moreno did an internship in our lab last summer before being admitted to Yale for his undergrad studies. He is also doing an internship with Anderson Cooper 360° this summer. In his own words:

At Teuscher Lab, I designed and implemented algorithms to automate the analysis of teaching and learning activity in a college classroom. I tested and documented the work for Professor Teuscher to use in a grant proposal. I also had a wonderful time getting to know the other members of the lab, and leaned on a lot of its senior members for help and advice.

Doing research in Teuscher Lab was my first “real” work-during-working-hours job, and it helped me get used to being diligent and focused during my work day. A lot of the critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills I nurtured in the lab also help me now on AC360°. Moreover, Professor Teuscher helped me figure out that I want to continue using quantitative methods to solve interesting social problems in my education and beyond. I try to pay the generosity and kindness he showed me forward to the incoming first-years I mentor. I look up to Professor Teuscher as an example of how to be kind and welcoming to everyone — he took me in when I had nothing to offer but curiosity and a bit of elbow grease and helped me learn. I will always be grateful to him for that.

Here’s a little more about what I do at CNN:

• I research breaking news stories and present my findings to our production team for use on air.
• I compiled an internal database for the booking team.
• I shadow our control room operations and pre-tapes. assist the APs/PAs, transcribe interviews, and investigate and pitch several stories per week.

The only thing I’d like to add is a big thank-you to Professor Teuscher