Irene Soteriou (she/her/hers) is a junior Cognitive Science and Statistics double major with a minor in Communication. We had a chance to discuss her virtual internship at Genocide Watch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to predicting, preventing, stopping, and punishing genocide through raising awareness and influencing public policy.
What were your position responsibilities? Were there any projects or aspects of the job that you had a special interest in?
Interning for Genocide Watch was such a rewarding experience. My primary responsibility was to monitor three assigned countries with respect to internal genocidal activity and/or potential for future violence. I was expected to conduct thorough research on each, and to then write corresponding country reports for publication and distribution to an international network of interested parties. Coming from a STEM field with little flexibility to engage human-rights-oriented coursework, this was one of the most valuable aspects of the internship for me. It enabled me to grow in my awareness of ongoing crises, explore my interests in the intersection of cognitive mechanisms and conflict prevention, and expand my understanding of entrenched systemic challenges that I’d like to continue working to address moving forward. My other responsibilities lay more within the scope of outreach. The program offered tremendous opportunities for interns to become involved in areas outside of their originally assigned tasks. As a result, I became very involved in the construction and expansion of the Alliance Against Genocide, a global network of 80+ countries from 30+ countries that works to predict, prevent, stop, and punish genocide and other forms of mass murder. By the end of my internship, I was working with the Alliance team to coordinate means of best utilizing the collective resources and influence of the Alliance to create the largest impact for genocide prevention. This included planning events, publishing a monthly newsletter, and communicating virtually with member organizations on a regular basis.
When and how did you secure this opportunity? Do you have any tips for students trying to secure a similar opportunity?
I was fortunate to secure this opportunity in mid-August of 2020. I had missed the summer internship deadline earlier, so I remember applying as soon as the fall applications opened up! The process required a writing sample and transcripts, in addition to a résumé and cover letter, so I would advise other interested students to start preparing several weeks in advance, if not earlier. I would also suggest visiting the Center for Career Development for additional help with résumés, cover letters, and interview preparation.
Did you have any previous experiences that prepared you for this one?
Given the amount of research that was required to publish a comprehensive country report, I found that getting involved in undergraduate research while at UConn offered valuable preparation for my experience as an intern. I also felt that my involvement in extracurricular student groups, such as the Student Coalition for Human Rights and the Undergraduate Student Government, among others, equipped me to take a more informed approach to network building and member engagement within the context of the Alliance Against Genocide.
How did this experience impact your decision to pursue a career in this field?
This experience solidified my interest in pursuing a career at the intersection of law and international conflict. I am interested in examining how we can take what we know about the brain to inform our approach to conflict prevention and survivor support; this internship gave me the opportunity to consider how this line of thinking could be expanded on within the context of more structural change. I began to consider how international legal policy could fundamentally reconstruct the flawed institutions that perpetuate the proliferation of terrorist groups and violent actors, and how such policies could benefit from a deeper understanding of both systemic human rights challenges and cognitive processes. Ultimately, this internship provided me with the experiences I needed to gain greater clarity into how I could best direct my interests into a single fulfilling and sustainable career path.
What’s one important thing you think anyone searching for an opportunity similar to yours should know?
One thing that I feel is very important for anyone searching for a similar opportunity to keep in mind is that it’s incredibly important to take the time to reflect and assess why it is that that internship or opportunity is the best fit for you. I was fortunate to be studying purpose with a professor and role model of mine at the time that I had initially applied, and it was this research that pushed me to closely consider the purpose of my choices in extracurricular and professional engagement. Every single member of the Genocide Watch staff is tremendously hard-working and self-driven, and what I’ve since come to realize is that my experience would not have been nearly as fruitful, nor as productive, had I not shared their understanding of the greater purpose of our work. Regardless of the opportunities you apply for, being cognizant of this purpose will enable you to put more into it, and to get more out of it as well.
What advice do you have for individuals starting a virtual experience?
I would recommend that individuals starting a virtual experience try to familiarize themselves with typical virtual communication platforms. Proficiency with Teams, Zoom, and Wix came especially handy in my internship, allowing for a much smoother transition process into the new work environment. I would also recommend finding a quiet space, if possible, from which to participate in important meetings. Last, but certainly not least, try to keep your camera on! Not everyone has this flexibility, but if you do, I highly recommend taking advantage of it. Building relationships with co-workers is arguably one of the most rewarding aspects of undergraduate internships and can make the experience even more engaging; as long as we can’t get to know one another face-to-face, keeping your camera on is the next best way to developing those lifelong friendships.
