There are several internship opportunities available for students, including the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) and Community College Internship (CCI) programs. The programs are supported and managed by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) in collaboration with the DOE National Laboratories.
SULI is designed to inspire and guide undergraduates from two- and four-year colleges, post-baccalaureates, and graduate students toward rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering, and math; CCI aims to encourage community college students to enter technical careers by providing 10-week internships.
SULI interns who joined the Lab this summer included:
Name & affiliation: Erin Suh, Columbia University
Project title: Axicons for plasma channel generation for multi-GeV Laser Plasma Accelerators
Mentor: Alex Picksley
Student quote: “SULI is a great program to gain real experience in research with a team of incredibly kind and supportive scientists.”
CCI interns who joined the Lab this summer included:
Name & affiliation: Denton Silfvast, College of San Mateo
Project title: Towards a Consistent Radio Frequency Temperature Sensor for High Temperature Superconducting Magnets
Mentor: Maxim Martchevskii
Student quote: “I’ve had an incredible first research experience so far this summer. Everyone has been supportive and I’ve learned a ton!”
Other interns who joined the Lab this summer included:
Name & affiliation: Miya Takeuchi, University of California, Berkeley
Project titles: Development of a reel-to-reel system for the characterization of high temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes at room temperature and 77 K; Development of a high resolution in-line imaging system for Rutherford cable production
Mentors: (first project) Jean-Francois Croteau and Philip Mallon; (second project) Nandana Menon (after Jean-Francois takes paternity leave)
Student quote: “Working on my projects has given me the opportunity to combine mechanical design, sensor integration, motor control, and feedback systems to build precise, dynamic systems for studying superconductors. This experience allows me to apply core engineering principles while also exploring the fascinating physics behind superconducting materials.”
Name & affiliation: Crisostomo Gerardo, Cal State East Bay
Project title: Innovative Targetry for Laser-Plasma Interaction Experiments
Mentors: Lieselotte Obst-Huebl and Anthony Vasquez
Student quote: “I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to have worked on such a cutting-edge project here at the BELLA Center. This internship has really taught me a lot about both engineering and physics, and it’s given me a new appreciation for how both disciplines can work in tandem.”
Name & affiliation: Tafai Muck, Cal State East Bay
Project title: Efficient Guiding of Intense Ultrafast Laser Pulses in Hollow-Core Optical Fibers for MeV Class Laser Plasma Acceleration
Mentor: Hai-En Tsai
Student quote: “Working in a laser lab with so many others has taught me how to better communicate in the lab.”
For more information on ATAP News articles, contact caw@lbl.gov.



