SURF intern finds career path during summer underground

The first time Piper Kinder connected two fiber optic cables, she was hooked. The process of perfectly splicing hundreds of hairlike fiber optic strands together may seem daunting, but it’s a job Kinder picked up quickly during her summer internship at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF).

“It was absolutely fun, it was a really cool experience,” Kinder said. “In fact, it was so much fun I decided I wanted to make this my career.”

Kinder graduated from the Boxelder Job Corps  this summer and has accepted a position in fiber optic network cabling with Muth Electric in the Black Hills. The Boxelder Job Corps is one of 24 civilian conservation centers around the nation with a goal of helping students learn critical skills needed for success in industry, military, and government employment.

Kinder’s summer internship included learning how to carefully prepare the ends of fiber optic strands before using a specialized machine, a fusion splicer, to connect bundles of fiber optic strands together. One of her summer projects at SURF included splicing on more than 6600 feet of new fiber optic networking cable on the 4850 Level. This network cable is part of the data pipeline that will carry terabytes of information gathered in research happening in the depths of the facility back up to the surface.

Kinder gives credit to Jamey Tollefson and Larry Gould, two industrial electricians at SURF, who served as mentors during her summer internship. 

For his part, Gould was impressed with Kinder’s hard work and perseverance at completing challenging tasks in challenging environments.

“Piper didn't shy away from the challenges we presented to her. She learned quickly how tiny and delicate each piece of fiber can be as it is meticulously prepared,” Gould said. “Her first field splices were in one of the hotter and more humid areas on the 4850 level. Despite the underground terrain and the sweat in her eyes, she managed too diligently splice fibers that created a continuous unbroken path over 6600 feet to the surface."

“Both Jamey and Larry taught me a lot about fiber. They both had different techniques they used, and this helped me understand and develop my own skill based on both of their input,” Kinder said.

Gould also appreciated Kinder’s willingness to help others.

“Piper had a certain grit and determination to learn as much as she could each day so she could return to her counterparts at Job Corps and tell them all about it. Her internship wasn't just for her in her eyes but what she could do to help others like herself succeed as well,” Gould said.

Part of the mission at SURF is to inspire learning across generations, this mission helps support the long-term future of the facility. Skilled workers, including scientists, engineers and technicians, like Kinder, will be needed in the decades to come. Chad Ronish is a science education specialist at SURF who coordinates the internship program.

“SURF has expanded our internship and apprenticeship programs to include skilled trades,” Ronish said. “This provides work experiences for students entering the professional trades. Our partnerships with Box Elder Job Corps, the South Dakota Department of Labor and technical colleges like Western Dakota Tech allow SURF to provide world-class opportunities for the technicians who will keep South Dakota running well into the future.  Experiments like LBNF/DUNE have created a demand for the highest quality skilled technicians with the latest and most up-to-date training in the world, which our students are receiving here in South Dakota.”

Kinder is now employed in South Dakota, but she grew up in a coal mining town in Wyoming. Like many young people, she struggled in her teenage years. “I was failing out of high school. I needed to get in gear,” she said. Two years ago, a family friend mentioned Job Corps. “It was tough learning how to be away from home and building the skillset required to deal with the challenges of this program, but definitely worth it,” said Kinder.

“Piper is a very strong young lady. She did such a fabulous job,” said Bonnie Fuller a Liaison Specialist at Boxelder Job Corps. “The Job Corps program isn’t easy. It was a huge change for her, but she stuck with it. And that means everything. Being able to stick with things, even when it's really, really hard. It's overwhelming, how much she's grown since she's been here. I know she's going to do fabulous things.”

For her part, Kinder also credits the summer internship opportunity at SURF for helping her find her niche. 

“It's basically a once in a lifetime experience. Not many people get this kind of chance, and I'm grateful I was able to go to it,” Kinder said.  “I learned a lot. It quite literally shaped my career path.  Not only did it help me find work I love, but it was also just a very pleasant work environment.”

“Piper is exactly why we're here. Just she came in and she was determined. We matched her determination and worked together. And now we are so proud to see she is going on to the next stage in her career,” Fuller said. 

Internship applications at SURF open each fall, and higher-ed students interested in a summer internship at SURF can find more information here.