Track: Molecular Probes and Sensors
Undergrad: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR - Chemistry
Internship: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
Current Job Title: Research Associate, Los Alamos National Laboratory

What about the program intrigued you and why did you choose this path?
Prior to this program, I was struggling to move up the ladder in industry and my job applications were going nowhere - even with 7-8 years of analytical experience. Naturally, my initial attraction toward this program was the potential pay rate, even as an intern, and how fast I could return to industry. I thought this was the perfect ticket to access higher positions with a competitive salary. However, the value offered by this program goes far beyond such superficial qualities. This value comes down to two important elements: 1) professional development and 2) opportunities to explore interests. First, the professional development not only elevated the qualities of my resume and interview skills; it brought my strengths and weaknesses to the surface and enabled me to self-reflect and make improvements - key factors in boosting my confidence. Second, my interest in other fields of advancements and analytical techniques was expanded through the broad range of topics introduced in classes, and the internship served a vital role in allowing me to explore further.

What was the intensive summer like for you?  
It was much like working for a regular job, but the values and the satisfaction in return were much greater. Imagine working toward the same goal with a group of like-minded people; it's rare to find in most work settings. By spending weeks working closely together to solve actual industrial problems, valuable relationships were built. I have learned what effective teamwork looks like, including communication, leadership, humbleness, mutual support, and structure.

Where did you do your internship? How does your work or the work of your lab serve the common good for society?
Selecting Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico as my internship took a big leap of faith because my background was not on material science and I was not sure if I will be comfortable with defense-related R&D. However, the capabilities of LANL are beyond the scope of weapon stockpiles, and I believe this is a common misconception. LANL is a multidisciplinary innovative hub comprised of many divisions, teams, groups, and projects. Whether you are interested in engineering, computation, biotechnology, medical, nuclear, green, earth, or polymer sciences, you name it, there is high possibility that at least one group/project at LANL are dedicated to that field of expertise. Additionally, funding is rarely a problem. LANL is a perfect marriage of academia and industry, contributing important developments in many fields. In the Material Science and Technology group, I work closely with LC-MS instrumentation to study the aging of energetic materials, but my role also constantly evolves to suit the needs of the project. In addition to my primary project, I also collaborate on another interesting project unrelated to material degradation.

What was your internship like?  
The focus of my work changes on an almost weekly basis except for my first three months of my internship. The tasks in a ‘typical day’ are determined by the stage of the research. Because I mostly work independently with minimal supervision and my progress is highly dependent on the quality of my work, there are many decisions to make. From optimizing approaches in data acquisition to publishing our works, I have made impactful decisions in sample preparation, analytical methods, data interpretation, presentation of data, defense of discoveries, future objectives, and more. Taking on the responsibilities as the primary analyst and first author, I constantly faced challenges and dealt with stress. However, the support provided by my mentors at LANL are enormous; they are always there to guide me in the right direction and motivate me to come up with creative solutions.

Additionally, internal lectures and external conferences are encouraged and compensated by LANL. Through these incentives, I have presented my work to the science community and have the opportunity to learn from great minds in other fields.

Did you feel the program prepared you for the internship?  In what ways?
The staff are compassionate and exceptional at helping students become effective problem solvers. Exposure to a wide variety of topics and tools in the molecular sensor track provided a crucial foundation that allowed me to find alternative approaches to solve problems in my internship. Also, the experience of balancing multiple classes and preparing for interviews, helped me learn to deal with stress by being more organized and managing my time more effectively.  As my track lead would put it: “The act of balance.”

What do you enjoy about what you do and what makes it a good fit for you?  If you think it took you in a different direction, what did you discover about yourself and your skills/interests that took you in that direction?  
Before the program when I was working in industry, I felt that my achievements were not being acknowledged and they were merely contributions to the financial gain for the company. Through this program and the internship at LANL, I have found my passion in research and have come to understand what it takes to become a scientist. This revelation has certainly changed the course of my career path. By working in a research-based environment, my curiosity toward science has grown and my accomplishments are validated by my mentors, colleagues, and publications.

What else would you like to share with students?
First, the stress that we experienced in the program is only temporary and we have a much bigger goal ahead of us where greater mental capacity is needed. Therefore, be open to your colleagues and don’t fear failure. The best lessons come from failure and this program provides a great network and a secure platform you can count on. Second, be critical of your own work and others’ work, but be diplomatic when criticizing the work of others. As the quality of your work may depend on others, your own work should also be held by the same standards so we can help each other grow as a community.