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Akosua Bandoh, a Master of Environmental Management and Master of Business Administration at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School concurrent degree student, spent her summer as an operations intern with Amgen. 

Bandoh is pursuing concentrations in Energy and Environment and in Environmental Analytics and Modeling.

Each year, Nicholas School of the Environment students complete internships with organizations around the world. These summer experiences provide valuable opportunities to gain career-related experience and build a professional network. 

Duke Environment recently caught up with Bandoh to learn more about her experience. 

What aspects of the experience did you find most rewarding or memorable and why?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship was the opportunity to apply my business, technical and analytical background to real-world challenges in the healthcare industry. Working in a biotech environment gave me the opportunity to see how engineering, data and technology can come together to support operations and ultimately contribute to serving patients every time.

I particularly enjoyed working on a project that leveraged data and AI to support commissioning and construction activities. It was exciting to work on a problem where the solution had practical applications and could improve how projects are delivered. Beyond the technical experience, I valued learning from experienced professionals, collaborating across teams and gaining a deeper understanding of how a large organization operates.

The experience was also memorable beyond the work itself. Spending a week in Thousand Oaks, California, during intern week and getting to explore Los Angeles was a lot of fun and a highlight of the summer.

Moving to a new city, Columbus, Ohio, for my internship was also a great experience. It gave me the opportunity to meet new people and experience a new environment while growing both personally and professionally.

How did the coursework and resources at the Nicholas School prepare you for success in this role as well as your internship search?

My coursework at the Nicholas School provided me with a strong foundation that I was able to directly apply during my internship. My project involved using a lot of data analysis, code and AI to develop a solution.

Courses in Environmental Analytics and Modeling and Energy exposed me to data analytics, quantitative problem-solving, building models and coding, which became valuable during my internship. And definitely, the coding and modeling skills I got from my Energy Modeling class are lifelong skills that I will apply everywhere, no matter the field. I was able to understand the concepts behind the tools, ask the right questions, interpret results and contribute meaningfully to the project.

Did you collaborate with any Nicholas School alumni? If so, how did those connections add to your summer experience?

I did not directly collaborate with a Nicholas School alumnus during my internship. However, my Nicholas School colleagues have been incredibly helpful throughout this journey. Their support and willingness to share their experiences and check in have made the internship search and overall experience much more valuable.
 
Being part of a community where colleagues are in different industries but share a common commitment to using their skills to address real-world challenges has been one of the most valuable aspects of my Nicholas School experience.

How has this internship influenced your career aspirations? Did it confirm or change your professional goals in any way?

My internship at Amgen has had a significant influence on my career aspirations. I really enjoyed my experience, and more importantly, I enjoyed seeing how healthcare operations brings together data, technology and problem-solving to support the work of serving patients.
 
Before this experience, I primarily viewed my background in energy, engineering and data analytics through the lens of just energy industries. My time at Amgen helped me realize that these skills are also highly relevant in healthcare operations and biotech. I had not fully appreciated how much these skills can contribute to improving healthcare operations and ultimately serving patients.
 
I would love to continue building on what I learned at Amgen and explore opportunities where I can combine my analytical skills, sustainability perspective, and passion for problem-solving to serve people and make a meaningful impact.