Future doctors, engineers, and astronauts: I HAVE A SECRET

Well, it’s not much of a secret, but I hope that more students who find interest in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity I’d like to share!

Over the course of 6 weeks, alongside other PMHS students, I’ve taken the opportunity to learn from Brookhaven National Laboratory scientists. I hope to encourage aspiring scientists to find programs that will support their dreams of becoming the next Albert Einsteins, Marie Curies, or Issac Newtons.

Particularly, the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) High School Research Program (HSRP) may support these dreams. Let me share the experience that both myself and peers encountered at the BNL HSRP!

But first, some background. The BNL campus was once a military training camp for recruits during WWI and WWII but was eventually reconstructed over the course of decades to purpose research and a center for scientists to conduct world-changing experiments. This laboratory is one of the 17 national laboratories recognized for its discoveries in various fields of STEM, from quantum physics to microbiology. Scientists from all over the world have won 7 Nobel Prizes while performing research at BNL facilities!

As interesting as the history goes of BNL, the work that many scientists perform throughout the year at this facility has opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities.

Currently, for many highschoolers, staying engaged throughout the summer can be one of the most difficult challenges a student may face. Whether it is the lack of opportunities to find summer programs or simply finding interest in doing work over the summer. Generally, the way that a student spends their summer, may or may not determine what future opportunities a student might have. Well, for those who want to pursue a career in STEM, I highly encourage the BNL High School Research Program!

A 6-week long program that revolves around a student’s particular interest in STEM, whether that highlight one’s passion for physics, merges chemistry and computer science, or even deepens our understanding our worlds microorganisms, BNL has a variety of opportunities for students to find their SPARK within STEM.

As for me, I applied to intern under the categories of interest in biology, chemistry, and non-proliferation, which landed me to work on biological sciences after I got accepted. Other students from PMHS, Issac Varghese (Senior), Jack Hillebrand (Senior), and Arianna Roland (Senior), worked in fields of Computer Science to Mechanical Engineering.

While many of the projects that the interns here have engaged are quite interesting, it’d take a lengthy while to explain what amazing endeavors many of the students here have created and researched. The most important part is to know that what students do, here at BNL, is work that will change our understanding of the world.

Not only were the projects themselves intriguing to learn and hear about, but so were the interns. This summer, I worked alongside two undergrad students, Astrid who attends the University of Puerto Rico and Marisa who attends Cornell University. In addition to this wonderful pair, was my peer, Julianna who attends Shoreham High School. Among all these wonderful scientists, they’ve accomplished so much from being involved in various BNL internships, including the SULI program, SPARKS Program, and Rising STEM Scholars Program.

I emersed with the students, but even with the employees and mentors at BNL made this internship experience even more exciting. Lisa Miller, a senior Biophysical Chemist, Communications, and leader of the Education & Outreach Office at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), mentored me throughout the 6-week long program.

The first week of the program began with training, orientations, and meetings to get us well versed and used to the environment that these interns were about to face for the following six weeks. As the program progressed, there continued to be a sense of community amongst the various departments on the BNL campus, as well as throughout all the students and faculty. By the end of the program, an understanding of science was fulfilled in us and a passion to learn more continued.

For what it’s worth, the program has opened opportunities for both me and for my peers to explore various fields of STEM while engaging many of us in what our future careers may hold. There are so many opportunities for students to reach out and make change in the world through science.

I encourage rising juniors to be vigilant for the HSRP application the coming application opening January 2025, you won’t regret it!