A total of 180 students hailing from 59 colleges and 15 states recently earned spots in an a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) contractor’s paid summer internship program at the Savannah River Site.
The interns will engage with a variety of disciplines within Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), including engineering, computer science, physical sciences, business services, communications, information technology and more.
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“With over 2,000 applicants, it was an extremely competitive process to be accepted into this program,” said Bryan Ortner, manager, SRNS Talent Acquisition and Analytics. “We are excited to see our local pipelines paying off as well as a 30% increase in the number of historically black colleges and universities represented in this class.”
The SRNS Internship Program creates the opportunity for students to gain hands-on learning experiences related to their field of study while earning a competitive hourly pay and the ability to network with SRNS professionals and industry leaders.
“This is a chance of a lifetime for any young professional,” said Sean Alford, SRNS executive vice president and chief administrative officer. “I expect our interns to engage and interact with senior executives, managers and other students to leverage this opportunity to advance in their careers.”
An out-of-state sophomore was impressed by the number of opportunities available at SRNS.
“My home state lacks professional experiences in the nuclear industry,” said Spencer Bailey, who attends Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. “I’ve spent the last three weeks exploring theories and concepts of nuclear engineering, integrating myself with the team and learning how SRNS makes the world safer.”
The goal of the internship program is to bridge the gap between academic study and its application in professional practice. Participating students get a glimpse into the SRNS work environment, which could translate into a full-time position at the site.
“SRNS has grown by 20% in the last three years, in part due to internship programs that allow personnel the chance to spark relationships with potential new hires,” said Ortner. “We will continue to grow this program and provide a valuable experience that brings students back to the site.”
Click here for more information about SRNS internship opportunities.
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