July 07, 2014

Intern Profile: Nathaniel Klimpert ’16

Meet Nathaniel Klimpert ’16, a biology major and intern at Oregon Health & Science University. 

Nathaniel Klimpert ’16

Major: Biology
Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois

Can you tell us what you’re doing this summer? What are your basic duties as an intern?

This summer I’m working in the Logan Lab at Oregon Health & Science University’s Junger Center. We use D. melanogaster fruit flies as a model organism to understand the role that glial cells play in responding to brain injuries.

My average day is split between caring for the flies and dissecting them for imaging. That said, dissections have been taking up more and more of my time lately as I get bigger projects to work on. 

How has Lewis & Clark supported you in the process of finding, securing, and funding your internship?

I have Assistant Professor of Biology Tamily Weissman-Unni to thank for getting me in touch with Mary Logan and guiding me through the process of applying both to the lab and to the Miller award. Thanks to the latter, I can support myself financially while living in Portland, since my internship would otherwise be unpaid.

How do you see this internship leading to a career in your chosen field and aiding in your overall career development?

Before this summer, I thought I wanted to go into research. Now I know that I do. It’s been tremendously helpful to talk to graduate students and pick their brains about what a graduate program is like, and being in such a rigorous lab environment will definitely help me out in the future. 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your experience thus far?

Since I get asked often, here’s how to dissect a fly—tiny tweezers and a big microscope. 

The purpose of the Miller Summer Internship Award is to underwrite or supplement expenses of students at Lewis & Clark College who are engaged in scientific research internships in the mathematical and natural sciences. This opportunity is made possible by a generous grant from the Miller Foundation. 

Career Development Biology Department