Kimberly Wright selected for internship with Department of Energy

2017 Feb 17

Kimberly Wright of Hartwell, Georgia, is one of three recent graduates of the University of North Georgia awarded internships with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to study at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington.

Wright is working as an intern at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Wright graduated in December 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. During the internship, she is working to engineer microorganisms, particularly algae, to improve their feasibility as feedstock for the production of biofuels.

"I've done mostly microbiology in the past, so I chose Los Alamos National Laboratory as my top choice — I wasn't expecting to get picked for the program, let alone receive my first choice. So far, the experience has been great, and has helped me solidify my decision to go to graduate school. I've learned and done a lot of different things in just the one month that I've been here, and I’m looking forward to the rest of my time here," Wright said.

As part of the DOE, a cabinet-level department of the national government that oversees policies regarding energy and safety on nuclear material, the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) provides research experience at DOE laboratories to college students on current programs or ones chosen by the intern.

SULI interns are provided a salary for their work in the laboratories as well as expenses during their stay. Each intern receives $500 per 40-hour workweek for the duration of the 16-week program.

"The DOE SULI program is very competitive and highly respected. I am exceedingly proud of the hard work these students have put into their undergraduate research over the years. They have clearly received impeccable mentorship from many in the biology department," said Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant dean of research and scholarship at UNG.