Zoë Wiederhold, Research IT Assistant/Intern
What I Do
Research IT
Origins
I grew up in the Bay Area on Kings Mountain (up on Skyline Boulevard in Woodside near Half Moon Bay). In 4th grade, I moved to Palo Alto and have lived there since. Last year, 2023-24, was my first year as a college student at Foothill Community College. Because my major is Computer Science and I am in the STEM community, I happened to see a small blurb in the school newsletter for nano@stanford, providing internship opportunities for any kind of STEM student. Applying for an internship at Stanford seemed intimidating, but I decided to go to the informational meeting and see what it was all about. That's where Joe popped in and said he was looking for first-year CS students. I felt so lucky then to find that opportunity, and fast forward to now, having been a part of the research IT team for almost a year, I still feel so lucky to be in this environment.
My EExperience
EE at Stanford has been one of the most positive, encouraging, and growing experiences I've had in my life. Being a community college student at such a prestigious university surrounded by brilliant people can be a bit daunting, but I've been met with nothing but kindness and generosity. I've been able to meet incredible people that expand my knowledge and opportunities. And, as someone who is still exploring and navigating paths for my future, my experience here has helped me reveal and understand aspects that would be important to me in a career.
Outside of Work
I can't really play any instruments, but I love love love music and I love to curate playlists. I love fashion, thrifting, watching sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, skiing, skateboarding), and being in nature. I enjoy skiing, rock climbing, and hiking, and I played soccer for most of my life. I love all things about film — acting, watching, creating — and have created a short film myself. Other than that, I love to spend time with my friends and family... and we spend a lot of that time eating!
Favorite Spot
Although I still haven't explored all of campus (plus I always get lost), my favorite place on campus is probably the Bowes Art & Architecture Library. As a student, it's a beautiful place to get work done. Off campus, there are too many spots to choose from, but you can probably find me someplace with really good food or on a mountain.
Above: Zoë thanking the universe for diacritics.