Sandia researcher recruits summer interns at AISES conference

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) held its national conference Sept. 23-25, 2021, in Phoenix, AZ. Sandia National Laboratories’ (Sandia) Sandra Begay, a photovoltaics researcher, attended to recruit interns at the event.

The day before the conference began, Begay attended the first in-person assembly of the DOE Office of Science and AISES Energy Workforce Mentoring Session. Approximately 40 tribal students in two-year community and tribal colleges and five mentors participated in the day-long session. All the students that attended were new to the AISES organization.

Begay presented on, “How to gain a skill from every job,” providing examples of job skills she gained through various positions and asking each student to share their own example. She officially named the group of students as an AISES energy cohort and provided expectations for the students to network and support each other throughout the year. She also made a strong pitch for the group to apply for the Summer 2022 internship program. The group will meet once more at the 2022 AISES Leadership Conference, April 2022, in Temecula, CA (Pechanga Resort).

The Annual AISES National Conference is a three-day event focusing on educational, professional, and workforce development for Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers, Begay said. Attendees include Indigenous high-school and college students, educators, and professionals, including representatives from Tribal Nations, Tribal enterprises, and Indigenous-owned businesses.

The conference also includes the largest college and career fair in the U.S. for Indigenous students and professionals. Exhibitors at the College and Career fair represent a diverse range of corporations, educational institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, Tribes, and Indigenous-owned businesses, she said.

To learn more, view the DOE Tribal Internship Program’s video.

Visit the Sandia Photovoltaics & Materials Technologies program.

Explore and connect with Sandia’s Tribal Energy Security Program.

Learn more about the different Sandia internships.