Internship Spotlight: The Research Center

By Jacob Clavijo ~ Staff Writer

The University of Lynchburg’s Research Center provided two students with transformative internship opportunities this semester. These opportunities allowed them to develop essential professional skills and gain practical experience to prepare for success after graduation.

 Emma Timberg ‘26 and Evan Price ’26, communications interns at the University Research Center, say that their roles at the center have helped them build their portfolios and expand their perspectives on research.

“Research comes in all shapes and sizes,” said Timberg. “A lot of students don’t even know they’re doing research.”

In her role, Timberg is responsible for expanding the center’s social media presence. The center focuses on highlighting student and faculty research around campus while promoting future research at the university.

This semester, Timberg has turned to TikTok and Instagram to create content previewing faculty research. The content is presented as part of the Lunchtime Faculty Research Presentation Series, held at Hall Campus Center Memorial Ballroom. Timberg hopes to inspire students through her content and convey the center’s motto, “Research is fun.”

Price, who oversees the center’s marketing and public relations side, has spent the semester conducting an audience analysis via surveys around campus. The analysis seeks to understand students’ perceptions of research better.

“Research is very malleable,” said Price. “It can be what you make it, and it can be fun.”

Price shared that out of the nearly 150 responses to the survey, over 50 percent of students noted that they greatly enjoyed researching on campus.

“People enjoy research, but it’s just that a lot of people don’t know it can be enjoyable,” Price said.

Price hopes the surveys will help students understand that the center is a reliable resource for future research endeavors.

“The research center is basically like a middleman. It’s helping students get in contact with professors who are conducting relevant research to the student,” Price said.

Dr. Jeffrey Herrick, the director of the University Research Center, said the center aims to create a culture of research around campus, which he believes will have a positive impact on students.

“Research is fun,” said Dr. Herrick. “So we really want to start to create opportunities where students see research and research experiences as fun.”

As they head into the second semester of their internship, both Timberg and Price want students to know that the research center is a valuable support system on campus.

“You have a community here that is very willing to help you and wants to see you succeed,” Timber said.

For more resources and to learn more about internships, visit the University Research Center.