September 14, 2023

i³ workshop ( inclusive internship informational )

Start dreaming big for summer 2024. If you want to explore careers at one of the many national labs around the country, this is the program for you! Undergraduate and graduate students in STEM are invited to join the inclusive internship informational (i³) workshop happening Thursday, September 14th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served. 

Seriously, these internship opportunities are amazing: 

* Flexible remote / in-person / hybrid options 

* Mentors from New York, California, and all in-between 

* Competitive compensation (12k-16k for 10 weeks) 

* Open for domestic and international students 

* Projects yield posters, presentations, and papers  

The i³ workshop will highlight the Sustainable Research Pathways program, including the application process, the subsequent matching session, and what to expect after matching with a mentor, from the perspective of a previous program participant, Ms. Kristen Hallas. The remainder of the time of the workshop will be dedicated to answering questions and starting program applications in real-time.   

Hosted by SPIE @ UTRGV in conjunction with the Graduate Research Development Seminar hosted by the School of Math & Statistical Sciences. This counts as a professional development session for the month of September. 

About the speaker

Ms. Kristen Hallas is a second-year graduate student and first-generation scholar pursuing a PhD in Mathematics and Statistics with Interdisciplinary Applications at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). She earned her B.S. in Applied Mathematics with a Computer Science minor at UTRGV in Spring 2022, graduating Summa Cum Laude.   

Kristen interned with the High-Performance Computing (HPC) Security Analytics & Monitoring Group at Oak Ridge National Lab in 2022, designing an interactive Python visualization that explores the power and cooling trends of HPC system nodes, in relation to their physical location in the data center. In 2023, she worked as a Technical Research Aide for the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Lab, improving a Node.js app that renders visual analytics about the performance of simulated HPC networks.  

Kristen's current research interests vary from optimizing mathematical and statistical models, developing smart manufacturing technology, enabling more reliable HPC systems, and advancing inclusive and accessible STEM education. At UTRGV, she is solving energy system optimization problems and creating mixed reality software. After graduating, Kristen envisions herself building systems towards positive aims (like reaching a net-zero emission economy or safeguarding cyber assets) on a team dedicated to advancing scientific progress.