Amazing resources! People you work with are extremely talented. Whole experience is centered around learning, which is important as a freshman intern going in.
What I wish was different
I wish it wasn’t mostly virtual. Many of the Argonne interns had in-person experiences but my job didn’t require it, Covid regulations were very strict.
Advice
Use this opportunity to learn all you can! Looks great on resume, but also get a feel of if that job is what you want to do with your degree.
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NAISE Intern
June - August 2021 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
Really engaging supervisor and provided with a lot of autonomy at the start of the internship. Allowed me to explore different work in the subgroup and finally decide on a personalized project.
What I wish was different
Less Zoom Fatigue and more out of workgroup bonding
Advice
This was an experience that you get what you put into it. Try to analyse your personal skillsets and apply them to the point you are able to within the timeframe. People come in with different levels of experience and I think this will be great for anyone of all ability levels!
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Intern
May 2019 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
This internship has pushed me to learn skills I never thought I could learn. I learned to code using Python libraries with no coding background.
What I wish was different
Unfortunately, the division I worked in there was not many undergraduate interns. I wish there were more undergraduate interns to connect with.
Advice
Be open to learn any knowledge!
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Intern
September - December 2019 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
Free housing, good community, shuttles into Chicago, lot's of available clubs on campus
What I wish was different
I was expecting work in an actual lab going in but mostly did desk work which was a little bit of a bummer.
Advice
Having a car at this location is very helpful, the campus is large and there is so much to do within driving distance.
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SULI intern
September 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
I have had incredible exposure to a variety of topics that I am interested in. In addition, Argonne offers career and personal development events such as resume building seminars and Information about applying to graduate school.
What I wish was different
Nothing so far. I have been very pleased with my experience.
Advice
If you are interested in something or want to learn about something, there is probably someone at Argonne who can help guide and mentor you.
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Research Aide
June - September 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
Overall, I was able to progress in my scientific literacy and connect many theoretical pieces of knowledge with practical applications, which is a refreshing divergence from the typical university learning process.
What I wish was different
I wish I had lived closer to Argonne. The commute from the Evanston area was quite long, especially during rush hour.
Advice
Be prepared to spend your first week or so going to orientations and doing training online.
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Data Science Intern
July - August 2018 • Chicago, IL
What I liked
Learned a lot while getting great real world experience.
What I wish was different
I had been able to work there longer.
Advice
Apply as early as possible before positions fill up!
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Nuclear and Waste Managament Intern
May - August 2018 • Darien, IL
What I liked
I saw a lot of the lab and got exposure to many different waste streams and a professional setting
What I wish was different
I wish it had been more applicable to my major
Advice
Be open to all the things you might encounter and learn
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
January - July 2018 • Chicago, IL
What I liked
Flexible work from home
What I wish was different
More structured internship
Advice
Follow up with your bossa couple times
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
June - August 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
Lab atmosphere was very academic. There were exciting facilities and talks every week or so.
What I wish was different
The lab is very distant from downtown Chicago and living conditions on site aren't the best. Also there is extreme variation in the size and rigor of research groups there.
Advice
Always just apply for internships. This internship wasn't even focused on students from well known institutions which made it a much more interesting student body.
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DOE SULI Intern
May - August 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
Great exposure to science and research at a government facility.
What I wish was different
Easier transportation choices as the lab is a bit spread out.
Advice
Ask many questions.
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Research Aide
June - September 2018 • Darien, IL
What I liked
I liked the freedom of being able to be creative with how I designed the project. While there were guidelines, it was mostly up to me how I wanted to display the provided information. I could make the design as visually appealing as possibly while keeping it simple and clean for most viewers.
What I wish was different
My only wish is that I could have done this internship a little bit longer. I could have possibly added more features, wrote down more for the documentation, thought of more ways to make it visually appealing, etc. I
Advice
Prepare to learn while on the job . While you should definitely recall the topics you learn in your classes, alot of the learning also comes while you are working. Also, communicate with your supervisors and managers frequently. Clarify their expectations, provide some feedback, and give them updates. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
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Intern
May - August 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
The student intern environment and the opportunity to do US Department of Energy research at a national laboratory. I made friends from all over the country, gained experience in research and enjoyed the weekends in Chicago since the internship is so close to the city.
What I wish was different
This was a SULI internship and I wish I had more say on what department I was selected for.
Advice
Reach out to other departments and learn about the different research going on in wherever you are.
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Research Aide
June 2017 - August 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
Meeting impressive scientists, seeing world-class research, and improving my network
What I wish was different
I wish I had gotten a more research oriented position
Advice
Be a proactive problem solver, especially when you chance upon things you don't know how to do
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Research Aide
June - September 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
I liked how I was able to work directly with a group that was pioneering research in computational cosmology. I worked directly with people behind some of the most sophisticated simulated galaxy catalogs ever created, so it was nice being able to learn from them and be able to contribute to projects on the cutting edge of this area of research.
What I wish was different
I wish I had been more outspoken/willing to speak up at the beginning because at times, I felt like I didn't have enough to work on. This might just be a first-time undergraduate internship thing, however. Once the internship really got started I felt comfortable.
Advice
See above
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Research Intern
May - August 2017 • Argonne, IL
What I liked
There were many people in the laboratory dedicated to the education (career development skills) of interns.
What I wish was different
That I were able to have spent more time with my mentor, who had a lot of wisdom to share.
Advice
Don't be afraid to ask questions, to ask for help, and to ask if you can try something new/challenge yourself
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Research Aide
June 2016 - May 2017 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
Mentorship, intern social activities, ability to work remotely.
What I wish was different
Wish there had been more notice about loss of funding for my project, and the end of the internship.
Advice
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
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Chemistry Research Intern
June - August 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
It was an increadibly valuable experience to be able to work closely with my lab director on cutting edge work.
What I wish was different
The pay structure for other funding programs was better and I wish I had gone through them
Advice
The best learning is done on your feet. Don’t be afraid to be thrown in the deep end.
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SULI Intern
June - August 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
What I wish was different
Advice
The SULI program is an excellent opportunity for STEM students to learn more about professional research. If you are interested in a career in research or in applying to grad school, I would highly recommend applying.
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Research Aide
June - December 2018 • Lemont, IL
What I liked
One of the most rewarding experiences working at Argonne was growing my professional network, learning on the job and the diversity of work tasks.
What I wish was different
There is a good amount of paperwork involved for foreign students and short-notice deadlines which can be problematic.
Advice
Attend lectures, get to know the people you work with and definitely build connections.
