Clear Skies Ahead: Melissa Burt

“I absolutely loved weather, but when I was in undergrad, I was starting to struggle in different ways. I think a lot of it was I wasn't in the right kind of headspace to truly do the work that I was doing. One of my advisors suggested that I try out an internship opportunity where I could fully dive into learning more about the research enterprise. Participating in this internship program in Boulder, Colorado, really changed my viewpoint. I was fully enthralled in doing research and what the research process was like and also seeing other undergrad students who were just as fascinated by the weather as I was. And I was also seeing people who also looked like me. So just seeing a diversity of people who were truly interested in the field provided me with community. I think by seeking out other opportunities like this research program, I was able to develop in that way and get this community of people around me to help push me forward.”

- Melissa Burt, associate professor and associate dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Colorado State University, on how an internship led her in the direction of a research career. For more, listen to the Clear Skies Ahead podcast, with new episodes released every month.
 

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