Zoey Yao is a senior majoring in Statistics & Computer Science. She heard about the ATLAS Internship Program through Instagram and decided to join ATLAS to gain meaningful work experience during the summer. She was drawn to the program because ATLAS offers opportunities to develop both technical and professional skills through the integration of technology with real-world projects. The program also provides support in building résumés and encourages reflection throughout the internship. With the guidance of the ATLAS staff, she was able to enhance her project management skills and her ability to adapt to a professional work environment.
Zoey is a Web Developer intern on the ATLAS Web Development Team. Her responsibilities have included creating a personal website featuring her favorite music, food, and pets; updating intern spotlights and newsletters on the ATLAS content website; and creating a website about the daily lives of her orange cats, Mango and Lychee.
Through her internship, Zoey gained technical skills in using WordPress and Drupal for content management, as well as experience in creating accessible websites that meet web accessibility standards so users of all abilities can interact with them. She also developed presentation skills, specifically in communicating technical content clearly and understandably to a non-technical audience.
Zoey has learned through her experiences at ATLAS the importance of taking initiative when facing delays from external departments. Though it is common for communication to take time, she realized that in the meantime she could improve existing work or take on additional tasks. Zoey’s ultimate career goal is to join the workforce as a data scientist, and she is considering pursuing a graduate program to strengthen her skills and knowledge. Zoey does not shy away from complex problems—she breaks them down into smaller, more manageable parts when faced with one.