There were so many exciting innovating research projects happening all the time. Lots of of fun events happening also.
What I wish was different
Nothing it was an amazing experience and I learned so much being there.
Advice
Don’t be nervous about not knowing too much they expect you to not know anything and are willing and excited to teach you what you need to know.
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Aeronautical Engineering Intern
June - August 2019 • Wright Patterson AFB, OH
What I liked
I liked the location, the people I worked with and the research I did.
What I wish was different
I wish the research was more focused specifically on what I would like to pursue in graduate school.
Advice
Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and always overdeliver. Accept your mistakes and use them to better yourself.
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Research Student
June - August 2019 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
I really enjoyed the chance to explore life at a large lab and having the ability to explore topics interesting to me.
What I wish was different
Advice
Get out and do things. Explore the areas around you and make friends with your peers.
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Intern
June 2017 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
My mentor is very helpful. I work with very smart people that give long in depth explanations to any question I ask.
What I wish was different
Advice
Don't pass up an opportunity at this lab if you are pursuing a career in engineering.
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ORNL Electrical and Electronics Research Intern
June - August 2019 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
I liked learning more about the electrical side of my degree in mechanical engineering. I got to learn more about computer languages and a deeper understanding of my degree and real life applications.
What I wish was different
I wish the interns would've had more help finding a place to live over the summer.
Advice
I would suggest that you take advantage of how professional engineers take notes and learn to network while you are there. Networking at ONRL can open a lot of doors that wouldn't otherwise be open.
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Mechanical Engineer Intern
June - August 2019 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
Allowed me to learn a lot as I did research on pool boiling heat transfer enhancements. I was able to experience how it is to work at a national lab. Met a lot of great people and made plenty of friends, all round a good experience.
What I wish was different
Advice
I wish I had put myself out a bit more, it wasn't until closer to the end of my internship that I realized I could have done more. There are always problems to solve, you just need to talk to people and figure out how you can help.
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Research Intern
May - August 2019 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
Hands on lab work, got to go through every step of testing and characterisation.
What I wish was different
Being able to go in with a stronger background in high temperature corrosion and research paper reading.
Advice
Be prepared to learn
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ORISE Undergraduate Intern
June - August 2019 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
I liked being able to participate in hands on tasks pertaining to the research that was being done. I liked that there were opportunities to tour facilities that I would otherwise never get to see (like the Summit super computer). It was also amazing to have the opportunity to interact with so many other people passionate about their fields.
What I wish was different
I wish there had been more organization and help in finding housing.
Advice
Find housing as soon as possible. Get out and get to know the other interns as well as people who work in the lab.
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Summer Intern
June - August 2019 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
I enjoyed having my own tasks and responsibilities. My mentor often allowed me to take over and do what I thought was best. Sometimes he would help me start a project, but for the most part I was given a lot of freedom.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have stayed longer and finished what I was working on, but I had to return to my schoolwork.
Advice
Never be afraid to ask questions. Chances are, if you're confused about something, you're not the only one. If it's a one on one conversation, asking questions shows that you are paying attention and you care.
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Computer science intern
June - August 2018 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
I loved almost everything about my experience. The people I worked with were amazing, and supportive. The work was interesting, and I loved being in Tennessee.
What I wish was different
The lack of transportation was a bit of a bummer. That made it hard to get around since I didn't have a car.
Advice
Internships are an amazing opportunity to get experience. Get out there and be ready to learn. This is your chance to learn what to expect in the job market, and find out if you're in a career that you're going to enjoy.
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Biology Research Intern
May - August 2018 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
I liked working in the lab, doing hands-on experiments with practical applications. I also liked how welcoming and friendly my coworkers were, and I appreciated having a flexible schedule.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have continued working at the lab during the school year.
Advice
It's important to keep up communication with your mentor so that you can get the most rewarding experience possible.
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Summer Intern
May - August 2018 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
I learned an analysis technique I hadn't previously heard of and got hands on research experience.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Electrical Engineering Intern
June - August 2018 • Oak Ridge, TN
What I liked
Overall, great internship in the SULI program. There were about 1000 interns at ORNL during the summer, so there were always trips during the weekends. Speaking of which, TN is an amazing state to explore if you like hiking, camping, running, or doing anything outdoorsy and active. My work was pretty stimulating, but it largely depends on the research group you've been accepted into and what tasks they have for you.
What I wish was different
I expected the SULI program to have weekly research seminars, but instead they had required weekly sessions to go over requirements for the papers and posters due at the end of the semester. They did have 3 research talks, but I wish they had more. Also, the grad student I did work for made me code software in LabVIEW and then entirely recode it in Python, which was annoying. So if your lab group does not define your work well, it can be very annoying.
Advice
Definitely take advantage of the outdoors while you have time! Would recommend living at West Gate apartments in Oak Ridge, where there were about ~20 other interns.
