For fifty years SDL has employed graduate and undergraduate students throughout its research facilities. To comply with ITAR restrictions these student employees are US citizens, capable of obtaining security clearances and are working on a variety of programs to gain on-the-job experience in their fields of study. Representing over 20% of our staff, these students can be found in nearly every department and major program at SDL, working alongside experienced professionals with similar disciplinary interests and ambitions. Reflecting these interests, most of our students are enrolled in engineering fields, computer sciences, and physics.

disciplines

What do the Students Have to Say?

Doug Ahlstrom graduated from USU with a BS and an MS in Computer Engineering. His student career at SDL started in May of 2006 alongside four other student employees supporting various Internal Research and Development programs. Of the myriad of assignments, he preferred to spend his time supporting the Thermal Calibration Unit (TCU) where he had the opportunity to program computer applications and embedded hardware.

Well-groomed students like Doug often find themselves wooed by outside companies. Doug’s full time job hunt included companies throughout the Western states and resulted in several job offers: “Interviewers noted that SDL employment was a highly-sought and valuable experience.” Fortunately, Doug decided to stay with SDL “because there is room for professional growth, a variety of different opportunities to apply my trade, and because this experience will provide me with a competitive edge.”

Anthony Chavez is an office intern supporting the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in their Space Vehicles division in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His responsibilities have reflected his course work and his SDL supervisors and AFRL associates have relied on his ability to quickly adapt to their innovative concepts. His education and on-the-job training have prepared him for researching and preparing financial projections, developing sensor types/applications, and creating a graphical user interface for simulating sensor environments.

While working full time for this demanding group, he has also been a full time student at the University of New Mexico and is on track to graduate this May with his BS in Electrical Engineering.

Stephen Grigg worked at SDL as a student from 2000 to 2004. He started as a Computer Science Assistant for the Bear Lake Observatory where he designed web applications, managed networks and other IT systems supporting a variety of atmospheric science experiments. This experience directly influenced his choice in majors. He initially chose to pursue a degree in Computer Engineering. After working with SDL’s information systems, he redirected his focus and graduated in 2004 with a B.S. in Business Information Systems.

After graduation, Stephen started full time with SDL's IT department. While working full time, he completed a Master’s degree in Information Systems Management and obtained various industrially recognized certificates. He appreciates the direction he received during his student years and now enjoys the breadth of his responsibilities and his role as a “problem solver.”

“SDL continues to task me with a wide variety of responsibilities that keep the job interesting and fun.”

Nicholas has just begun his schooling and career paths. He is a freshman at USU majoring in computer science and is one of SDL's recently hired student employees. Nic works in SDL's IT department as a Network Assistant where he spends about 20 hours a week fixing computers and troubleshooting real-time problems.

SDL's IT department is well structured, requiring staff to submit trouble tickets for computer issues. These tickets are assigned immediately and many end up on the student’s desks. This system presents Nic with a variety of urgent problems to solve, including issues with hardware (e.g., monitor, printer, wiring) and software (e.g., program, network, setup). The system also dispatches him to offices throughout SDL's campus which exercises both his computer and personal skills.

Vicki Ragsdale is a junior in USU’s Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department with plans to graduate in 2010. She is a key student employee in SDL’s Thermal Management Technologies (TMT) division where she manufactures and tests TMT products including the thermal links that will be integrated into the James Webb Space Telescope (scheduled to launch in 2013).

She values the opportunity to perform classroom concepts on-the-job and feels the hands-on experience helps her understand her coursework. TMT, however, often relies on her for more than coursework-related tasks. Vicki has proficiently adapted to this highly integrated work environment that also employs her for business functions such as scheduling projects and training new personnel.