US Department of Energy

Industrial Energy Engineer

March 2022 • Coral Gables, FL

What I liked

I like working as an energy consultant and visiting companies, as consulting is a career that I am interested in.

What I wish was different

I wish we could be more directly involved with the DoE, like have them visit our assessment center.

Advice

It is a great way to learn more about the energy sector and gain experience as an industrial engineer.

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Student Intern

July - August 2021 • Washington, DC

What I liked

It was remote.

What I wish was different

There was terrible communication with my supervisor. She never responded and I often sat at the computer for hours waiting for a response. I wish I had not taken this internship because it was a terrible experience and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Advice

I do not recommend this internship.

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Mathematical Statistician

July - August 2019 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I really enjoyed networking with various professionals and being able to build my experiences and further narrow down my career path

What I wish was different

Advice

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Information Systems Management Intern

June - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I was able to gain experience working in such a professional workspace as well as getting advice from career I.T Proffesionals in the wide range of Positions. From systems Analysts to cyberSecurity speacialists, Data managers and Architects, web Developers and infrastructure managers.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

In this position you are surrounded by people with expertise in so many different fields, you shouldn’t be shy in voicing your goals because people are willing to go out of their way to support you or connect you with someone who can.

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Chemistry Research Intern

May - August 2018 • Upton, NY

What I liked

They were very accommodating during the onboarding process.

What I wish was different

Longer timeframe.

Advice

Do your research early.

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Research Assistant

June - August 2019 • Golden, CO

What I liked

I enjoyed applying my major to a field of research and I am using this experience to help guide my decisions for life after graduation. I also really enjoyed living in a new place for the summer.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Intern

May - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

Relaxed hours, easygoing coworkers, good options for projects

What I wish was different

Pay was a little low

Advice

Make sure you request projects that you want. They’ll try to give them to you but you need to make it known that it’s what you want.

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Undergraduate Research Intern

June - August 2018 • Upton, NY

What I liked

I was surrounded by top scientists in the world, and they fostered creativity and ideas. There is no end to science and you can always keep learning more. They had weekly seminars on topics unrelated to your field, as well as seminars on research closer to your interest. I also liked that I was given the opportunity to learn how to use expensive equipment and certain techniques, an experience I would not have gotten anywhere else.

What I wish was different

I wish it was longer, because I learned so much and I would have loved to continue performing my research.

Advice

Your mentor will make or break the experience. I was lucky enough to have an incredible mentor, who gave me advice not only in the laboratory setting but also how to be a female scientist in the STEM field.

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Computational Sciences and Engineering Intern

May - August 2019 • Oak Ridge, TN

What I liked

I had the opportunity to work with world leaders in the engineering and computer science fields while pursuing a personal project of my own. Each week we sat in on lectures from experts in nanotechnology, biomedical sciences, and chemistry.

What I wish was different

I wish I had gotten to speak with more experts in renewable energy and the scientists at Oak Ridge who are developing more efficient solar cells. There is so much knowledge floating around the laboratory that it's impossible to soak it all up in just a summer.

Advice

I had never heard of the SULI (Student Undergraduate Laboratory Internship) program before last year but the application process was straight forward and I heard back within a month of my application. Experiencing ground breaking research and getting to know a new city of the US was also mind opening.

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Technical Policy Intern

May - August 2017 • Washington, DC

What I liked

Stayed in DC, so there was so much to do during free time. Chance to network and learn from industry and academia leaders in energy-related fields. Proximity to events and places in D.C.- Congressional hearings, museums, sports games, and the ability to meet and talk with organizations around the DOE, including ARPA-E, Wind Technologies Office, and Building Technologies Office, Flexible work.

What I wish was different

I was an unpaid intern, which sucked. Also, work tasks were not very hands-on, and required reading and writing technical documents.

Advice

Do the Policy Internship Program in the engineering school at UVA! If you have any questions, email professor Gorman.

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Member of Scanning and Quality Control Task Force

June - August 2017 • Richland, WA

What I liked

The money. Payed very well.

What I wish was different

I wish it had more purpose and meaning. Very soul sucking and mundane job.

Advice

Only do it if you are in need of a short term job and happen to live in Tri-Cities, WA.

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Mickey Leland Energy Fellow (worked in Electrical Power Systems Engineering)

June - August 2017 • New Orleans, LA

What I liked

It was a really great opportunity to see what working for the federal government entailed and to perform hands on energy based research with experts in the field.

What I wish was different

I loved being in New Orleans and all of the people I worked alongside, but I wish I had worked on a more research intensive project at one of the National Labs, like some of my counterparts.

Advice

The opportunity is incredible - it includes an all-expense paid trip to a training in Washington, D.C. and a week-long technical forum in another location - and it contributed to my understanding of so many topics I learned in school. It is most definitely worth the lengthy application.

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