SULI Argonne Internship - Things It Can Lead To

[ModestyKing]

Hi there PF,

Say I get into SULI at Argonne (a current researcher there wants me to be in their group next summer and says it'll be pretty likely I'll get in). The work I do will of course be important, but does the brand name mean anything (to grad schools, employers like Intel/IBM, etc)? It'll be the summer before my senior year.

I'm planning on going to grad school for computational solid state physics (emphasis on semiconductor and/or superconductor research), if that helps at all. One of my potential career paths is end up as a researcher at Argonne and I also would like to know if that affects hiring decisions more than usual.

Finally, general advice on how to handle it is welcome!

 

[BvU]

Dear Modesty,

Go for it ! Argonne is high on any list.

 

[ZapperZ]

My one SULI student at Argonne went on to do his PhD at MIT. He's still there.

Zz.

 

[BvU]

Did (s)he go many years ago ?

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Internships at the national labs are a big deal. I did a couple at BNL and turned down one at Argonne. This (and the resulting publications and letter of recommendation) was essential to being admitted to MIT for grad school. I also met my wife there. (A fringe benefit of the best internship programs is they tend to put some of the highest quality geeks in the same place - love happens.)

 

[Dishsoap]

I would absolutely go for it. I did a SULI at Fermilab and not only loved it, but I made some great connections there and got some great LoRs.

 

[Vanadium 50]

As a practical matter, are you saying if you got a vSULI, you would turn it down if the "brand name" were not ritzy enough? And what would you do instead? (If you turn down a SULI, you don't get another offer)

 

[ModestyKing]

As a practical matter, are you saying if you got a vSULI, you would turn it down if the "brand name" were not ritzy enough? And what would you do instead? (If you turn down a SULI, you don't get another offer)

No, of course I wouldn't turn it down! I am fully planning on doing this, I know I would make connections there and learn a whole lot. Brand name doesn't matter to me personally, it was just one example of something I thought could be an impact factor for my future based on my SULI experience.

I want to make the most of my time there when I do it, so I'm also using this thread to ask about that. Should I focus on my research project? Make time for socializing with my peers, other Argonne faculty? Does doing SULI increase my chances of being accepted into it next year (at another lab maybe?) provided I do well? (perhaps that's something I can ask when I get there).

Thanks to the feedback from others. To clarify, I AM going to do this if I get the chance, but if there are things I can work on now to optimize my time there, what are they?

Note: if I speak in terms of confidently being able to get in, that's because my current prof. works at Argonne and would happily have me on their team