Throughout the internship with Praescient Analytics, we have learned how to use many different technology platforms to assist us with our projects and directives. With four different intern groups, we were intrigued how our experiences as interns at Praescient differed. Learning from each other about our various tasks led us to consider how each group of interns enjoyed their summer and what software/sites were their favorites, and why. We are thrilled to demonstrate an inside look at the 2020 class of summer interns and their unique perspectives this summer! Listed below are a few of the interns sharing their insight.
Alex Lowman Intelligence Cell Team:
“Over the course of my internship, my favorite program that I used quite consistently for IPBs and PAIs was Esri ArcGis Pro. The various mapping displays and layers that I was able to plug into the maps that I created of Yemen were incredibly useful when it came to briefing on oil pipelines, ports, protest locations, areas of conflict, topography, etc. While using ArcGis Pro, being able to apply my own layers on the state of Yemen to my liking was probably my favorite feature and helped greatly when I sought to brief the Praescient staff on various Yemen topics.”
Abby Piper Social Media and Public Relations Team:
“I haven’t really used any of the same programs as my fellow interns. Along with the basics like the Google programs and Hootsuite, I relied a lot on programs like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Canva to create a lot of content. I really like these three because they each have very different tools to help give a pretty great look and when you combine the three, you can get some amazing results.”
Riley Coder Intelligence Cell Team:
“From my perspective, leveraging IBM i2 has been the most interesting and beneficial experience for me. I have worked with Analyst’s Notebook within my coursework; however, we used it to simply build out graphics post-analysis to show what we had already learned. Through our training with Bryce and Mo, we learned more about how to input and analyze the data directly through i2. This is great because the resulting analysis is more rigorous and the resulting products are easy to make from the same platform. Amazing! As for specific features, the histograms are great for both analysis and dissemination of intelligence.”
Nicholas Pacheco Intelligence Cell Team:
“My favorite program I used was easily ArcGIS Pro. I had some experience in the past with ArcGIS and the program allowed me to expand and learn much more about it. It is also something that is helpful to understanding how to use geospatial software and a generally great platform for intelligence analysis.”
Katherine Intelligence Cell Team:
“The program I liked using the most was ArcGIS Pro because it made it really easy to quickly visualize data on a map. Next semester I am taking a college class on it, so it’s nice I will already be a step ahead. Learning how to use IMB i2 was also very interesting, and I enjoyed watching the presentations showing how the software could be used to solve real-world problems.”
Aubrie Business Development and Human Resources:
“I had the privilege of working with both Business Development and Human Resources this summer. I spent most of my time with BD and focused on learning about government contracting, which is very helpful to have as general knowledge. My favorite contracting website was definitely GovWin, due to the ease at which I could search our NAICS codes, review attached documents, and see the most complete overview of the contracts. I also used BetaSam and GSA eBuy, which were helpful in looking for opportunities, but the format of their websites was not as concise and clear as GovWin’s. In HR, the only site I used was Indeed, which was interesting as I have only ever been on Indeed searching for jobs. It was enlightening being on the other side of that coin and searching for viable employees for Praescient. In general, Indeed makes it easy to find qualified candidates from a variety of locations around the country.”
The programs we harnessed this summer make us more competitive, prepared, and well-rounded as we go forward in our academic and professional careers. Not only have we learned how to use these programs and sites, but we learned them during COVID-19, having no physical interaction or explanation on how to use these vehicles. For that, we commemorate our fellow interns on a job well-done, as we are the first class of summer interns to adjust our internships to completely virtual. We have gathered so much information and insight from an internship with Praescient, but more importantly we gained professional experience working in unprecedented times with unforeseen circumstances. Praescient is a wonderful company with a bright future which did brilliantly in the virtual realm. We feel as though we received all the support we needed this summer, and we are excited to see how Praescient continues to innovate and transform the market for data analytics. All of us would like to thank Praescient Analytics for the opportunity to learn these skills this summer and be a part of the Praescient team.