By Ella Flynn

In January, I embarked on a new adventure: an internship at EJR-Quartz. From my first day, the environment was so welcoming that I immediately felt right at home.

As an intern, my role was anything and everything, and I was excited to take on extra work from anyone who could give it to me. Over the last 16 weeks I have learned a lot about writing, editing, design and social media. My science communication abilities have improved thanks to the feedback and support I have received here.

Ella on her last day as an intern at our Leiden HQ office

I even got the opportunity to take on my own project – organising the office bake off. Seeing the creativity and care everyone put into their science-themed bakes was incredibly gratifying.

The EJR-Quartz bake off hosted at our Leiden HQ office in April 2026

From my experiences and conversations with the team, I have learned that the most important thing about creating content for clients is to tell a good story. Because people will not remember all the facts and figures, but they will remember how your story made them feel.

I will miss everything about working here: from the morning coffee and tea sessions to the amazing colleagues who were delighted to help me develop my science communication skills. I am so glad that Linda and the whole team here at EJR-Quartz gave me this incredible opportunity.

Wherever my future career takes me after I graduate, I will always be grateful for my time at EJR-Quartz and the lessons I learned. This internship taught me so much, not just about communication, but about the value of a warm, supportive working environment. When you love the work you do, and feel supported by your team, you can’t help but thrive.