“Like the legend of the phoenix
All ends with beginnings” -Daft Punk (Get Lucky)

Although I lament the end of this internship, I can’t help but notice that this is not an ending or a beginning, but rather another chapter in an infinite cycle of endings and beginnings. We are all Jedis in training, with no particular goal in sight besides excellence itself. We must heed the words of Master Yoda, “PATIENCE YOU MUST HAVE my young padawan,” for it will be a long journey. Whether it is math, physics, engineering, or biology (and don’t forget social science) it is not the next problem that is the objective, it is the journey that is important. Dwell not on endings and beginnings, dwell instead on the infinite succession of nows which have flowed for infinity before us, and which will flow for infinity to come.

And remember, we must not take the path of the dark side, AKA – DoD fellowship, because “If you end your training now — if you choose the quick and easy path as Vader did — you will become an agent of evil.” – Yoda again

“Fight! Vanquish foes and doubts, dear hero! Slay what haunts thee in fond shapes”
-Arjuna

Now Go!!! Congratulations, and fond wishes of good luck and enlightenment to all 🙂

-Paul Kovacs

My name is Paul Kovacs, and I’m working on a project through the CNS which looks at the historical origins of nanotechnology in food. It has been great working with everyone here at CNS. Roger-Eardley Pryor, my mentor, has been incredibly supportive since the beginning. He has proved to be the best mentor I could have hoped for. The other mentors and interns here at CNS have been great to work with too. Through them I have been exposed to a wide range of interesting backgrounds and perspectives. Galen is extremely knowledgeable in anything related to politics and/or public policy. Cassandra has an encyclopedic knowledge of nanotechnology related activist groups. Kelli participated in the model UN and learned a lot about patent law, intellectual property, and scientific innovation policy. Merisa shares my sense of humor and is a lot of fun to joke around with. In short my “work” environment is interesting and fun.

I learn so many new things every day that I am here, my brain feels like it is bursting at the seams. I know I will walk away from this internship experience with both an extremely thorough understanding of the subject matter of my research, and a better appreciation of the work that academic researchers do. I’ve already learned so much, and it’s only the end of the third week. I wonder what I will have learned by the end of the eighth.