Events this Week:

Featured Content:

APL College Summer Intern Program

APL Mission Areas

DART Project

Events this Week:

11:00-11:30 AM – Overview: Internships and Early Careers
Overview of the Internship and Entry Level Opportunities available at APL and a review of the application process and timeline.

11:45 AM-12:30 PM – UMBC Alum Panel Discussion
Hear from UMBC Alumni what a day in the life is like at APL.

12:45-1:45 PM – Where to Go From Here
Opportunity for students to ask questions to Recruiters and UMBC Alumni.

About APL:

Featured Content:

APL College Summer Intern Program

APL Mission Areas

Events this Week:

11:00-11:30 AM – Overview: Internships and Early Careers
Overview of the Internship and Entry Level Opportunities available at APL and a review of the application process and timeline.

11:45 AM-12:45 PM – UMBC Alum Panel Discussion
Hear from UMBC Alumni what a day in the life is like at APL.

1:00-1:45 PM – Where to Go From Here
Opportunity for students to ask questions to Recruiters and UMBC Alumni.

About APL:

Featured Content:

APL College Summer Intern Program

Discovery Program

APL Mission Areas

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) Robotics Internship Program sponsors a 10-week summer internship program for students majoring in computer science, engineering, mathematics and statistics, physics and other physical sciences disciplines.  The program provides opportunities for recent high school graduates, undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates, to intern at federal national laboratories and private sector organizations throughout the United States.  This program is a partnership between the public and private sectors to continue the development of the future robotics technical, engineering, and advanced manufacturing workforce.

Undergraduate students receive a $600 per week stipend

Graduate students receive $750 per week stipend

10-week research experiences are offered in: Private sector industries and U.S. National Laboratories

Areas of research:  Robotics technical, engineering, and advanced manufacturing workforce research and development

Interns will be reimbursed for inbound-outbound travel expenses to their appointment site up to a combined maximum of $1,000.

Interns whose home location is more than 50 miles from the hosting facility will receive a $150 per week housing allowance.

U.S. citizenship required

Must be at least 18 years old by May 1, 2017

Application deadline:  February 13, 2017, 8:00 AM EST

How to Apply:  Applications and supporting materials must be submitted at

https://www.zintellect.com/Posting/Details/2878

Program Information:  Detailed information about the internships can be found at

Name: Michael Wolfe

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Position Title: Attitude Control Systems Engineer

Major(s)/Minor(s): Physics, Math  

Expected Graduation Year: 2017

Briefly describe your internship, co-op,  or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

I worked on the mission called NICER (Nuetron Star Interior Composition ExploreR). NICER is an x-ray timing and spectroscopy instrument that will launch to the International Space Station in 2016. NICER will resolve the nature of ultra-dense matter as well as demonstrate pulsar navigation by studying the dynamics of neutron stars. I'm on a team of attitude control engineers that develop and characterize the pointing system. Pointing the instrument within arcsecond accuracy is a challenge due to the vibrations of the ISS, stepper motor reaction torque, and thermal fluctuations in space. We run tests on the instrument that simulate a space like environment so we can tune its mechanical properties and software so it can perform properly despite the noisy environment. 

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I applied at NASA because of it’s groundbreaking developments in science and engineering. My faculty adviser told me that UMBC has a good reputation with the local Greenbelt campus. I also talked with people I knew in the field and they suggested this as one of the internships I should apply for. 

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I enjoyed the opportunity to grow outside of my academic comfort zone. As a physics/math major, much of my time is spent on theory and calculating with ideal conditions. When working in an engineering field such as attitude control systems, you really have to learn how to work around the electro-mechanical limitations and imperfections of your spacecraft in order to optimize its performance. 

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

Calibrating and optimizing the optics and pointing system of the NICER instrument will allow it to properly collect x-rays emitted from neutron stars. This scientific data will help us understand and resolve ultra dense gravitation and lead to future pulsar navigation. 

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience? 

Challenge yourself. Be determined. Get outside your comfort zone.

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!

Name: Jonathan Luckin

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Asymmetrik | Title of Your Position: Software Engineer Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Mathematics, Physics

Expected Graduation Year: May 2017

Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service-learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

I work with software developers in order to create, update, and test new applications. This requires me to use several programming languages as and a wide variety of existing libraries as well as good engineering principles. Since most of the projects I have worked on have been long term, day to day operations are mostly identifying small sections which need to be developed and then creating and testing those sections. I also assisted in writing a white paper, a paper used to describe a possible application which was then sent to possible clients.

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I found out about the internship opportunity at one of the career fairs sponsored by UMBC during the school year. I talked with company representatives and submitted a resume with them. Several weeks later, I received an e-mail from the company, expressing interest in my application. After conducting a phone interview, I was asked to complete a programming challenge, demonstrating my coding knowledge. I was then brought in to have several in-person interviews. The day after my interview, I was offered a position as an intern. Careers Center helped a lot. I had my resume looked over and edited before I submitted it. Career Center also told me about the career fair where I found out about the company.

Which of the following resources did you use to find your current experience?

Career Fairs

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I have really enjoyed learning new technologies and methods of development. I have been working with tools and technologies which I was not too familiar with before I started the internship, and it has been very rewarding to learn and apply new knowledge. I also have enjoyed working with such a talented company. My co-workers are very skilled and talented and I am glad for the opportunity to learn from and help them to accomplish tasks.

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?

I have learned how to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical and professional environment. The lifecycle and development of applications cannot easily be taught in the classroom or in a book. I have learned more about application development and engineering principles by working with experienced professionals in the last few months then I have from classes or my own research. I have also had access to programming tools and environments that I was not aware of and would be difficult to access or discover by myself. My mentor helped me set up several of these systems and I have gained a lot of valuable experience. Without this internship, I would not have discovered these programming tools, environments, or methods.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

I would advise students to start looking for internships very early. Internships can be very competitive and positions fill up very quickly. Since the hiring process can take a while, looking for a summer internship is not something to put off into the end of the school year, but something that takes place throughout the entire year. I would also recommend that students take an active role in the hiring process. Students should make sure to keep in regular contact with companies to make sure that their applications are being considered. Without regular contact, the company might assume you are no longer interested and just put your application at the bottom of the pile. I recommend that students make sure to research the companies which they apply. Applying for a position which you are not really interested in or qualify for just wastes everyone's time and effort. Make sure that you know your skill set and have a resume and application which reflects your abilities. Finally, it is important to present one's self in a professional manner. Dressing properly and speaking clearly and politely can go a long way in leaving a positive impression on potential employers.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process.

My internship with Asymmetrik has given me valuable hands-on experience from working alongside talented and experienced professionals with cutting-edge technologies.

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!