Natalia Skrodzki (’28)

This summer I interned at the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, nonpartisan federal agency that provides Congress with fact-based analysis and oversight. GAO's work spans a wide range of issues, from healthcare to national security, and is guided by its core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability. Through its reports and recommendations GAO helps Congress make informed decisions on legislation and federal programs. My time at GAO gave me a deeper understanding of how federal agencies operate and interact, particularly from the perspective of an agency responsible for evaluating government programs and policies.

I worked primarily with GAO's Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics (STAA) team, researching the potential health impacts of microplastics. I conducted an interview with an environmental advocacy organization and helped facilitate interviews with industry representatives, leading international researchers, and federal agencies. My work also involved reviewing scientific literature, attending expert webinars, contributing to report drafts, and presenting findings to STAA leadership. This experience showed me how scientific evidence is evaluated, synthesized, and communicated to inform federal decision-making.

In addition to my primary project I contributed to two other teams focused on veterans' benefits and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers modernization. One particularly memorable experience was helping prepare materials for GAO's Chief Scientist to testify before a House subcommittee. Seeing how our work contributed directly to congressional oversight gave me a new appreciation for GAO's role in government. 

My internship at GAO strengthened my understanding of the intersection between science and public policy, while allowing me to develop skills in scientific communication, evidence evaluation, and data analysis. More importantly, it showed me how scientific research can extend beyond the laboratory to inform decisions that affect communities across the country. I am incredibly grateful to the MIT Summer in Washington program and GAO for this opportunity!