Action	Summer
Program dates	June  – August (10 weeks)
Application deadline	January
Applications accepted	Fall to January

 

Submitting Your Application

All applications to the MLEF program must be completed through Zintellect.  The application requirements include:

1. Completion of all required fields in the application.

• Contact and education information
• Citizenship status
• Technical interests
• Essays

2. Transcripts, submitted online.

Note: The minimum GPA required to gain acceptance into the program is 3.0. When providing a list of all college courses (title and number) you have completed and their respective grades, include a descriptive title for each course, e.g., CHEM 140A Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (not just CHEM 140A).

3. Contact information for two people to act as references.

The online application system will guide you through the application requirements.

Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be considered for evaluation and placement.

Materials uploaded into the online application system will provide the sole basis for evaluation.

Project Interests and Special Skills

We encourage you to look at Berkeley Lab’s website to learn more about the Lab and any projects that you would find interesting to work on during an internship. You may view the Lab’s various Scientific Divisions (e.g., Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics, Building Technology & Urban Systems, Energy Geosciences, Materials Sciences) and Operations Divisions (e.g., Environment, Health & Safety, Facilities, and Information Technology). It may be useful to use keywords (project topics, project titles, or Berkeley Lab staff names) in the search field on Elements and Berkeley Lab News Center, in order to locate additional information. Learn more about some WD&E mentors’ current projects on our News and Events page.

In your application essays, please make sure to include information about the technical or research projects at Berkeley Lab (or other national laboratories) that interest you, your passion for these subjects, and any connections between your interests and the Berkeley Lab mission. This will be helpful to Berkeley Lab project leads when they are reviewing applications to identify potential interns.

Note: Having previous experience working on a technical or research project is not required (nor expected) for acceptance into the program. Instead, write about the life experiences you have that may contribute to your success as an intern.

We encourage you to look at Berkeley Lab’s website to learn more about the Lab and any research projects that you would find interesting. You may view the Lab’s various scientific divisions at the Scientific Divisions web page. It may also be useful to use keywords (research areas, project titles, or Berkeley Lab staff names) in the search field on Elements and Berkeley Lab News Center. Learn more about WD&E mentors’ current research on our News and Events page.

Reaching Out to a Project Team

If you find a project lead (or their colleagues) whose project sounds like a good match, please contact them by sending an email to see if they are interested in hosting an intern. We recommend that you keep your initial email short and “to the point.” Use a descriptive email subject, introduce yourself (e.g., what school you attend, your academic interests), state that you are interested in applying for an internship, and that you would like to learn more about the projects available for the internship term you’re applying to. This direct and personal connection can be effective in “matching” interns and mentors, and can make your application stand out. You can look up the contact email address of anyone currently working at Berkeley Lab in the Directory. 

Once you have established a connection with a project lead, have them contact WD&E Internship Program Manager Nakeiah Harrell, at nharrell@lbl.gov. She will be able to guide them through the next steps. If you are having trouble identifying and/or making contact with project leads, please email Nakeiah with information about certain projects that interest you and your own research or technical areas of interest. This will allow WD&E to contact them on your behalf, as needed.

Project Leads are often busy, and it may take a few tries to connect with them via email. Additionally, we encourage you to reach out to others in the department (e.g., their colleagues, department administrators) who may be helpful in redirecting you to other project leads with projects that would be a good fit for you.

Initiative is a great quality in candidates for our internship programs. If you can show interest in specific research or technical projects and/or topics when you reach out via email, that will increase the likelihood that you will receive a positive response. Connecting with a project lead, discussing the project, and conveying your passion is the best way to achieve a successful “match,” between interests, personality, and timing.

Application Essay

For the application essay, please keep in mind that scientist mentors will be looking specifically for your science background and interests in research. Be sure that your essay also references the areas of research that you have identified from searching on the LBNL website. Don’t list a specific person’s name, but do use as much detail about your interests as possible (e.g., “I am interested in energy research,” is not as strong or helpful as “I am interested in researching advanced vehicles and fuels,” or “I am interested in building more energy-efficient infrastructures, semi-conductors, and metals”).

 

References

We suggest that you provide contact information for:

• A faculty member who can discuss the academic skills you have developed in your major that may be applicable to laboratory research.
• Someone who can comment on your general professionalism and work ethic (e.g., a past employer).
• Someone who can speak about your role as a student or leader (e.g., organization advisor, counselor).

These recommendations will be used by WD&E and your potential scientist mentor to consider you for placement. Remember that potential mentors will be looking for your background and experience in science, technology, engineering, math, or research.

• Communicate with recommenders well before the application deadline to let them know that you will need a letter by the deadline. They will most likely be difficult to contact over the semester/quarter break.
• Provide recommenders with a personal statement about your research interests and why you want to participate in the program.
• Include a WD&E undergraduate flier or a link to the MLEF page on the WD&E website.
• Confirm recommenders’ email addresses prior to submitting an application.
• Follow up with recommenders frequently to ensure all recommendations are submitted by the deadline.

Redact Personally Identifiable Information

Any applications found to contain Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in the form of Social Security numbers and/or dates of birth will be deemed non-compliant and will not be released to host laboratories or facilities for review or consideration.