Juniors Sherman, Regan plan to intern at USC

By Amanda Tsao
and Shannon Perez
Staff Writers

As seniors count down the days until they begin their college experience, Costa juniors Armance Sherman and Greg Regan are taking the intiative and getting an early glimpse of collegiate life.

Sherman and Regan are taking their interests in science to the next level by partcipating in internship opportunities at the University of Southern California.

Regan has already begun an internship at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute (ZNI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, while Sherman will start as an intern at USC-HEAL, the Health, Emotion, & Addiction Laboratory this summer.

“Receiving this internship is one of my proudest accomplishments,” Sherman said. “I did it without the help of my parents,which makes me feel more independent.”

Sherman will be working with USC researchers, staff and students to conduct research on why some people are hereditarily prone to addiction. The overall goal of the USC-HEAL is to find more effective and innovative intervention techniques to treat addiction. Sherman will also be in charge of interviewing possible participants for the study to determine their eligibility for the study.

“I feel like discovering why certain people may be more prone to addiction is the first step in finding the solution to addiction,” Sherman said. “Addiction is a scary and serious issue that has always been prevalent in society, but it is also a fascinating and mysterious topic to study.”

As for Regan, he assists researchers and technicians as they research neurology and related disorders. In the lab, Regan helps with standard tasks such as collecting data to further understanding of the nervous system and disorders associated with it.

“This opportunity gives me the chance to expand my knowledge on something that I am interested in and passionate about,” Regan said.

Regan will work in the lab at USC five times a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. until late July. During the 2014-15 school year, Sherman will have shifts which will be determined depending on her academic schedule.

“I know that I’ll have more experience when it comes time for me to enter college,” Regan said. “I’m proud and grateful for this amazing opportunity.”