Catching up with ASPIRES Interns from 2022 and 2023

The ASPIRES (Advancing STEM Pioneers In Research in Energy Sciences) summer internship program is a partnership between Berkeley Lab’s Energy Sciences Area (ESA) and California State University, East Bay (CSUEB), home to one of the most diverse student populations on the US mainland. This internship program matches undergraduate STEM students from CSUEB’s College of Science with staff across ESA for a 10-week paid internship.

We caught up with some of the ASPIRES interns from 2022 and 2023 to hear about their internship experience and what they’re working on!

	Samantha Bustamante Develop Web Apps for X-Ray Experiments on Electronic Materials Mentors: Padraic Shafer and Dylan McReynolds [su_spoiler title=”Read More” icon=”chevron” class=”header6″] How did you hear about ASPIRES? I heard about the ASPIRES program through an email from the department of computer science at East Bay, where I further learned about the university’s Career Awareness and Preparation (CAP) program and the program’s internship opportunity, ASPIRES. What did you hope to gain from your experience in ASPIRES? With the experience that you have now, what would you like people to know about ASPIRES? Before participating in the ASPIRES program, I hoped to see how programming could be applied to real life applications and have the opportunity to learn something from the project I was assigned to. After having the opportunity of being an ASPIRES intern, I experienced what I hoped and more by not only being able to work alongside my mentor but also in a team composed of members across divisions. What are you doing now? Currently, I’m working towards obtaining a professional certification and finishing up my bachelor’s degree. [/su_spoiler]
	Maxima Paredes Micro-Scale Analysis of Hypersonic Materials Mentors: Dula Parkinson and Collin Foster [su_spoiler title=”Read More” icon=”chevron” class=”header6″] How did you hear about ASPIRES? I heard about ASPIRES through CSUEB’s CAP program! What did you hope to gain from your experience in ASPIRES? I was looking to immerse myself with real life challenges that required statistical and data science methodologies. I had theoretical and practical knowledge in both matters through my education, and I saw the ASPIRES internship as a unique opportunity to bridge the two. What did you know about the ALS before your internship? Nothing! With the experience that you have now, what would you like people to know about ASPIRES and the ALS? It is filled with the most amazing, passionate, and eager professionals. I was intimidated and felt unsure of my position as I knew very little of physics and materials science, but my mentors and the collective staff at ALS were more than happy to share their projects and explain to me any concepts I had no familiarity with before. The program challenged me, and in the end I came out with more confidence, equipped with new skills in research and presentation, and an appreciation of photon and materials science. What are you doing now? I am currently assisting in operational research with the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy’s headquarters at Washington, D.C. Is there anything else you’d like to share? Tea time was a lot of fun and I oddly miss the turkeys. [/su_spoiler]
	Vinh Pham 30 Years of the Advanced Light Source: Using Data Visualization to Explore the ALS’s Scientific Evolution and Impact Mentors: Wiebke Koepp, Ashley White, and Eli Rotenberg [su_spoiler title=”Read More” icon=”chevron” class=”header6″] How did you hear about ASPIRES? I noticed an email about it in my inbox. What did you hope to gain from your experience in ASPIRES? Having work experience in a research and development setting and preparing me for what to expect in graduate school. What did you know about the ALS before your internship? When I chose my current project as my top preference, I delved into the history of ALS and found it fascinating to learn that its origins trace back to the cyclotron built by Ernest Lawrence at Berkeley Lab. With the experience that you have now, what would you like people to know about ASPIRES? ASPIRES is more than just an internship program. It provides numerous opportunities for learning and personal development through seminars, lab tours, and engaging conversations with people. Personally, my academic growth has been significant during my time here. What are you doing now? In my current project, I am analyzing the 30-year history of ALS to visualize its scientific progression and impact. [/su_spoiler]
	Muhammad Saeed Upgrade of an Interferometric Microscope for Measurements with Large X-Ray Optics and Optical Assemblies Mentor: Valeriy Yashchuk [su_spoiler title=”Read More” icon=”chevron” class=”header6″] How did you hear about ASPIRES? I heard about ASPIRES through my school email as well as seeing posters on the wall in the science building. What did you hope to gain from your experience in ASPIRES? I hoped to gain some industry experience outside of school and hope to maybe find something that guides my path post graduation. With the experience that you have now, what would you like people to know about ASPIRES and the ALS? I would say that ASPIRES was an invaluable resource for me, and I am grateful that I got the opportunity to work in ALS for some time. It was through ALS that I am now interested in pursuing a career in atomic physics. There were so many positives that came out of participating in the ASPIRES internship, but the most important one was getting the opportunity to sit under the learning tree of prolific scientists and engineers. I got so much out of it and I advise any student to do an internship at the Advanced Light Source. You won’t regret it. What are you doing now? I am currently working as a metrology technician at an optics manufacturing company. My summer internship at the Advanced Light Source was actually a reason I was able to land the job. On the side, I am pursuing improv comedy as a hobby. I actually started this hobby last year, the same time I did the Advanced Light Source internship. Is there anything else you’d like to share? I loved my time at the Advanced Light Source and hopefully in the future, I would love to come back and work at the Advanced Light Source again. [/su_spoiler]
	Miles Vizinau Advanced Light Source Video Project Mentors: Lori Tamura and Cindy Lee [su_spoiler title=”Read More” icon=”chevron” class=”header6″] How did you hear about ASPIRES? Through my college email while I was attending CSU East Bay; glad I regularly checked it. What did you know about the ALS before your internship? I knew that the ALS was being funded by the Department of Energy and dealt with using light to study things…that’s about it! With the experience that you have now, what would you like people to know about ASPIRES? As an ASPIRES intern, you’ll get out of it what you put into it. What are you doing now? Currently taking a break from work this summer after graduating while continuing to build my portfolio in order to secure a game designer job. Is there anything else you’d like to share? I made some meaningful connections there with the other interns and my mentors. I still talk to them and share my experiences with them. Communication is important both in the workplace and out of it. [/su_spoiler]