http://www.fnal.gov

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Cybersecurity Intern

June 2023 • Batavia, IL

What I liked

I really liked the learning that I did and still am doing. This opportunity allowed me to gain hands-on experience in a real-life SOC environment. I was able to get a lot of certifications from this experience as well.

What I wish was different

I wish this opportunity would allow for a pathway to a full-time experience after graduation.

Advice

It's about who you know, not what you know unless you're the best in the field. Network with professors and people in your field.
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Physics Intern

June - August 2019 • Batavia, IL

What I liked

I experienced what being an engineer and a physcicist was like being in a professional level and having to interact with new undergraduate interns.

What I wish was different

I started late due to NCC being on trimesters.

Advice

Real world work is much different than class work, in a positive way.
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Research Assistant

June - August 2019 • Batavia, IL

What I liked

I loved the culture at Fermilab. Even though Fermilab is filled with Physicists who are busy, there are tonnes of activities that people actively participate in which made it fun; these include fishing competition, Brazilian barbecue, Puerto Rican night, etc. Literally, there is always something going on to attend and get some food. Those activities suggest that Fermilab is a very diverse place. I met people from different countries in the world and it was wonderful speaking to them in one language of science regardless of our different roots. Also, the fact that you can email any top researcher and have lunch with them is thrilling and unbelievable. Humility and togetherness were the two characteristics that stood out for me.

What I wish was different

The internship was well organized. What might have been better is to allow students to interview the potential researchers then selecting one instead of assigning researchers to each of us.

Advice

Overall, it was a great experience. Fermilab is a great place to be if you are interested in understanding the universe and truly seeing (instead of watching on the TV) the experiments and other researches that are put into place to probe the mysteries of our universe.
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Data Science and Engineering Summer Analyst

May - August 2019 • Batavia, IL

What I liked

Getting exposure to different fields of science and engineering

What I wish was different

I wish there were more activities to do outside of work.

Advice

Be patient in life because you will encounter some people who will test your patience with whom you may not always see eye to eye.
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Intern

June - August 2018 • Batavia, IL

What I liked

My project was really interesting and all the people I worked with were great. Batavia is also a nice town and the campus is nice.

What I wish was different

N/A

Advice

Fermilab is a great place to work and I learned a lot. Be sure to attend the talks because I ended up also learning a lot about other physics from all the talks offered.
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Computing Intern

May - August 2018 • Batavia, IL

What I liked

The community, environment, being close to new developments and discoveries in physics, flexibility of work schedule

What I wish was different

Housing (lived in a hotel, would have preferred an apartment)

Advice

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Undergraduate Researcher

June - August 2018 • Batavia, IL

What I liked

It was easy to work with people there and they had a clearly thought out project for me to do. My mentor was always available and that made my work much more doable.

What I wish was different

I would have liked if it had been longer so I could have done more work relating to my project.

Advice

Learn to code!
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Research

May - August 2018 • Batavia, IL

What I liked

The company is on the forefront of high energy and accelerator physics research in the US. Fermilab is also a very nice place.

What I wish was different

N/A

Advice

Network and always make the best of your opportunities.
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