Sanford Lab interns represent science, engineering, creative fields

Welcome to Sanford Lab 2019 summer interns from Sanford Lab on Vimeo.

Seven undergraduate students turned in their end-of-semester lab reports, photography portfolios and engineering designs to begin their ten-week internships at Sanford Underground Research Facility (Sanford Lab). These students represent a cross-section of the professions that converge at Sanford Lab each day, from the mining engineers tasked with designing sound subterranean workspaces and scientists who lay intricate snares for elusive particles, to the creative minds that convey the unfolding story of underground science at Sanford Lab.

“This year, the number of departments interested in mentoring the next generation has increased, enabling us to hire a greater number of  interns who are interested in many fields," said Peggy Norris, deputy director of Education and Outreach at Sanford Lab. "Our seven interns are majoring in mining and mechanical engineering, industrial hygiene and safety, environmental and physical science, mass communication, physics and biochemistry.”

During their introductory tours, the 2019 interns received a broad introduction to the facility, viewing hydrology systems, experimental detector design and the hoistrooms that power shaft conveyance. This tour introduced students to the diverse fields that each one will be focusing on this summer, while demonstrating impacts each area has on the entire facility.

Here, our interns voice their interest in their perspective areas of study.

“This facility is so varied. I can dabble in a lot of different areas of environmental and physical science to learn what I like. I’m interested in hydrology, so I’m really excited to go down to the water treatment plant. While it’s fun to hear about the physics experiments, I’ll leave that to the others, while I dive into the water-focused research.”

— Daniel Crossman, environmental and physical science major at Black Hills State University, from Hot Springs, S.D.

“Five generations of my family worked in this facility when it was Homestake Gold Mine, so it’s exciting to be the sixth! Two semesters ago, I switched from mechanical engineering to mining engineering, and Sanford Lab was a big part of that decision. I was part of an Unmanned Ariel Systems team, looking into hosting an underground drone competition. Being underground at Sanford Lab got me excited about mining, and I’ve loved it ever since. This summer, I’m looking forward to learning about novel mining methods, and modern ventilation and infrastructure.”

— Trevor Mutchler, mining engineering and engineering management at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, from Keystone, S.D.

“I’ll be working in the engineering department, specifically with the LUX-ZEPLIN dark matter detector. I’m looking forward to learning more about the design process and the theoretical background of why the things we are designing actually work. I applied for this internship two years in a row, and I’m excited to be here this year.”

— Jenna Harrison, mechanical engineering major at South Dakota State University, from Rapid City, S.D.

“Last year, I toured the facility as a photographer during the 2018 Interactions Collaboration Photowalk. It was one of the coolest experiences I’d had. It only makes sense to come back and capture more of it.”

— Nick Hubbard, pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts at Black Hills State University, from Rapid City, S.D.

“I’ve considered using my degree to go to medical school, but I’m not sure if that’s the path for me, yet. This is a great opportunity for me to get some varied experience and do some research—all while spending my summer a mile underground!”

— Ashlee Beacom, biology/chemistry double major at Black Hills State University, from Sioux Falls, S.D.

“I was originally pre-med, but I ended up liking particle and nuclear physics a lot more. Last semester, we were learning about neutrino detection, so it’s cool that my studies are lining up with my internship this summer.”

— Carolyn Eckrich, physical science major from College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, M.A.), from Rapid City, S.D.

“I like to picture industrial engineering as a broad stroke field, with a lot of different pathways. One of them is safety engineering, and I’d like to take my career into healthcare systems. That’s exactly what I’ll be seeing in motion with the Environment, Safety, and Health Department this summer.”

— Thomas Engelmann, industrial engineering and engineering management at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, from Sainte Genevieve, M.O.