SULI Argonne Internship - Things It Can Lead To

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential benefits and implications of participating in the SULI internship at Argonne National Laboratory. Participants explore how this experience might influence graduate school admissions, employment opportunities, and personal development within the fields of computational solid state physics, semiconductor, and superconductor research.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the Argonne name carries weight in applications to graduate schools and employers, particularly in STEM fields.
  • Another participant shares a personal anecdote about a former SULI student who successfully pursued a PhD at MIT, implying a positive outcome from the internship.
  • There is a mention of the importance of internships at national labs, with one participant noting that their own experiences led to significant opportunities, including publications and strong letters of recommendation.
  • A participant emphasizes the value of networking and connections made during the internship, citing personal benefits from their own SULI experience.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of turning down a SULI offer based on perceived brand value, with one participant clarifying their commitment to accepting the internship regardless of brand name.
  • The original poster seeks advice on how to maximize their experience during the internship, questioning whether to prioritize research or social interactions.
  • There is curiosity about whether completing the SULI internship could enhance future applications to other labs or internships.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the value of the SULI internship at Argonne, but there are differing opinions on the significance of the brand name and its impact on future opportunities. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best strategies for maximizing the internship experience.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of certainty about the internship's impact on future academic and career paths, with some relying on personal experiences while others raise questions about broader implications.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering internships in STEM fields, particularly those interested in national laboratories and graduate school applications.

ModestyKing
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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!
 
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Dear Modesty,

Go for it ! Argonne is high on any list.
 
My one SULI student at Argonne went on to do his PhD at MIT. He's still there.

Zz.
 
Did (s)he go many years ago ? :smile:
 
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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.)
 
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.
 
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)
 
Vanadium 50 said:
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
 

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