This September, we’re starting a series called ‘Berkeley Lab Beginnings,’ which shines a spotlight on the hard work of Workforce Development & Education’s interns and lets them reflect on the ways that their internship has shaped their professional journey.
Dr. Michelle Kuchera is a computational physicist with research interests in machine learning, nuclear physics, and algorithm development for data analysis. Her research focuses on developing ways to intertwine the intricate worlds of data analysis and particle physics research. “From online shopping to solving the biggest questions in physics,” Dr. Kuchera says, “advanced computational methods are present in every aspect of life.” Today, she’s an associate professor of physics at Davidson College, a small liberal arts school in North Carolina. But Dr. Kuchera started out as an intern in the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program at Berkeley Lab. She worked alongside her mentor, Dr. Alan Poon. WD&E recently caught up with Dr. Kuchera to learn about her time at Berkeley Lab.
What motivated you to pursue an internship at the Lab? Which internship program did you belong to?
I was at LBNL through the SULI program in 2005. I had done research at my home institution (Florida State University) and was interested in experiencing the environment of a larger lab. I was also interested in working on a “hot” area of physics, and neutrinos were very, very interesting at the time (and still are!).
What did you learn through collaborating with your mentor?
So much! Most importantly, my mentor (Alan Poon) believed in my skills and abilities even when I didn’t. I was placed on a coding-heavy project and didn’t have much confidence in my abilities there (I had done a lot of hands-on research prior to this opportunity). I learned that I am capable of doing anything I am interested in, which helped immensely with my impostor syndrome at the time! Interestingly, I am now a computational physicist, which would have not happened without this experience.
How did your internship impact your ideas about future careers?
This experience exposed me to the faster-paced lab environment, and to the efforts of large collaborations. It was incredibly fun, and this experience solidified my desire to become a physicist. This absolutely affected my career path, which led me to my position now as a professor who collaborates with multiple national laboratories.
Lastly, I want to say that my summer as a SULI student at LBNL is still one of my favorite summers in my life, even 17 years later! I did not get to travel much growing up, so the opportunity to travel across the country and experience science at a larger scale impacted me beyond what I described here. I had a lot of first experiences that summer—kayaking, new foods, all sorts of things. I am forever grateful for that summer and will always look back fondly.
Are you a student interested in the SULI program? Learn more about the SULI program at Workforce Development & Education on our website.
–Ingrid Ockert, PhD, Marketing Communications Coordinator
