Research or Internship? How Aiden Christian Gained Experience Through Both

High school students who are looking to gain experience beyond the classroom often face a common question: Should I pursue a research project or an internship?

Research and internships offer different benefits.

Mentored research gives students the opportunity to investigate a topic they are interested in, develop a project of their own, go deeper into the subject, and gain insights and skills throughout the process.

An internship allows students to apply their skills in a real-world setting while learning how professionals communicate, work as a team, and solve problems. For many students, it is also their first experience in the workplace.

For many students, the best answer may not be choosing one over the other. It may be doing both.

Aiden Christian experienced both through Polygence. In the Mentored Research Program, he conducted a research project about artificial intelligence with guidance from an expert mentor. He then joined Work Lab, where he applied his programming skills to software engineering projects for SuperSafe LLC.

“The Core Program taught me how to think like a researcher, while the internship taught me how to think like an engineer,” Aiden said.

Aiden’s experience shows how mentored research and an industrial experience differ, what students can learn from each and why completing both can create a more complete learning experience.

Turning a Classroom Problem Into a Research Project

Aiden’s research project began with a problem he noticed while teaching Python to middle and high school students. Many students understood the programming challenges they were facing but did not know the technical vocabulary needed to search for helpful explanations.

“If you don’t know the right technical terms, even finding a helpful video or tutorial can be frustrating,” Aiden mentioned.

That observation led him to compare two ways students search for educational videos. Traditional keyword search looks for the exact words someone types. Semantic search tries to understand what the person means, even when they do not know the correct technical term.

Aiden built and tested both search systems using educational content in computer science, mathematics, algorithms, and engineering. He found that keyword search worked well when students already knew the exact terms. Semantic search worked better when students explained a problem in their own words.

“The Core Program completely changed the way I think about research,” he said. “It showed me that research isn’t about finding quick answers. It’s about asking better questions.”

His mentor, Jay Ryan, supported him throughout the project while still allowing Aiden to take ownership of his work.

“Instead of simply telling me what to do, he asked questions that challenged me to think more deeply about my research and defend my ideas,” Aiden said.

Through Polygence Mentored Research Program, Aiden learned how to turn an observation into a focused research question, review academic literature, develop a method, analyze his results and share his findings through a research paper and multimedia presentation.

That balance between guidance and independence helped Aiden become more confident and grow as a researcher.

Taking His Skills Into a Real Company

After completing his research project, Aiden took the next step through Polygence Work Lab, an internship program that gives students the opportunity to work with real companies on real-world projects. Through the program, he began working with SuperSafe LLC.

Under the guidance of founder and CEO Dr. Ryan Jeffrey Farber, Aiden contributed to software engineering projects involving secure file transfers and cybersecurity, working alongside professionals and experiencing firsthand what it is like to be an engineer.

This experience placed him in a very different environment. For the first time, Aiden had the opportunity to contribute to a company project and apply the knowledge and skills he had developed throughout his research experience.

“I gained experience working with Python in a professional environment, solving real engineering problems, and understanding how software is developed collaboratively,” Aiden said.

The experience required more than technical knowledge. Aiden also needed to understand the project’s goals, communicate with his host, ask questions, respond to feedback, and keep his work moving forward. It challenged him to navigate situations and solve problems that many high school students may not encounter until they enter the workplace.

These skills are an important part of any professional environment. Through Polygence Work Lab, Aiden learned that engineering is not only about writing code or finding the right technical solution. It also requires understanding the larger problem, communicating ideas effectively, working with others, adapting to feedback and building something that can make a meaningful impact.

Growing as Both a Researcher and an Engineer

Aiden’s Mentored Research and Work Lab projects focused on different areas, but the two experiences built on each other.

Through research, he learned how to ask strong questions, study different ideas, test his approach, and understand what his results meant. The knowledge and critical-thinking skills he developed gave him a strong foundation for entering a professional environment.

Through Work Lab, he brought those same problem-solving skills into a professional setting. He had to consider different solutions, work through challenges, explain his thinking, and contribute to a project with clear goals and expectations. More importantly, he had the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and see how they approach problems, make decisions, and work together as a team.

Together, the experiences helped Aiden grow as both a researcher and an engineer, all while he was still in high school.

“The experiences complemented each other perfectly,” he said. “They gave me a much deeper appreciation for how research and real-world innovation go hand in hand.”

Why Should Students Consider Doing Both Research and Work Lab?

Completing both mentored research and an industry project gives students more than two separate activities. It creates a longer learning journey, from exploring an idea and developing new knowledge and skills to applying them in a real-world setting, a valuable opportunity for students to experience while still in high school.

Research helps students understand why

During a research project, students explore how and why something works. They examine evidence, test ideas, question information, and learn that there may not always be one clear answer. This process teaches them to think more deeply, approach problems from different perspectives, and support their conclusions with evidence.

Industry experience helps students understand how

During Work Lab, students step into the day-to-day work of a company, nonprofit, NGO, or university innovation hub. They see how ideas become projects, how teams work together, and how each person’s contribution supports a larger goal. 

The experience also gives students an early look at a potential career. By experiencing the work, environment, and responsibilities firsthand, they can better understand what the field involves and whether it feels like the right path for their future.

Research develops intellectual independence

Students learn to make their own decisions without relying on a clear or readily available answer. Their mentor provides support and helps them navigate challenges, but students take ownership of the research and decide which direction it should take. They must determine which sources are credible, which methods make the most sense, and what their findings actually mean. Over time, they become more confident in forming their own conclusions, explaining their reasoning, and moving forward even when the answer is uncertain.

Work Lab develops professional independence

Students bring that growing independence into a professional setting, where they are expected to take ownership of their role and contribute to a larger team. Their host provides direction and feedback, but students must learn to manage their responsibilities, ask thoughtful questions, share updates, and keep their work moving forward. 

Together, they help students understand a field more fully

Research and Work Lab allow students to experience two different sides of the same field. Research reveals the questions, ideas, and discoveries that move a field forward, while Work Lab introduces students to the people, roles, and decisions involved in turning knowledge into practical outcomes. Together, they help students recognize connections and career possibilities they might not discover through either experience alone.

For Aiden, the combination showed him that he enjoyed both discovering new ideas and using them to solve meaningful problems.