Meet Sanford Lab’s 2020 interns

Each year, Sanford Underground Research Facility (Sanford Lab) summer internships provide a unique learning environment for undergraduate students. In 2020, Sanford Lab is proud to continue this program despite unprecedented times.

“During this very challenging time, Sanford Lab remains committed to carrying out our mission to advance science through education and public outreach,” said Mike Headley, executive director of Sanford Lab. “We are very excited to welcome eight summer interns to our team this year, giving them the opportunity to grow in their fields of engineering, science and mathematics, education and communications.”

This year, internship experiences will certainly be unique, as undergraduate students learn to work responsibly in a professional environment with social distancing and heightened health and safety precautions. The students, however, have risen to the challenge, proving flexible and willing to adapt as alongside the Sanford Lab team.

"Remote internships can be difficult in the age of Covid-19," said Peggy Norris, deputy director of Education and Outreach, "but thanks to our dedicated Sanford Lab staff, the 2020 interns are beginning to feel like part of the team. I'm looking forward to their end of summer presentations—in whatever form they take—to see what they were able to achieve this summer."

Chris Bauer Internships

Each year, two internships are given to undergraduate engineering students in memory of Chris Bauer, a former electrical engineer for Sanford Lab. Our 2020 Chris Bauer interns are Gabriel Peters and Larissa Pawlowski.  

Gabriel Peters, a graduate of Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, SD, is currently studying mechanical engineering at South Dakota State University. “I’m excited to work at Sanford Lab because it’s one of the more unique places on the planet,” Peters said. “The challenges of operating roughly a mile below the surface in a former gold mine is pretty awesome by itself—let alone the amazing research they do every day.”

Larissa Pawlowski graduated West Springfield High School in Springfield, VA, near Washington, D.C. Pawlowski studies mining engineering and management at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SD Mines). “I am excited to work at Sanford Lab, because it isn't the typical mining company, and I believe the work behind the scenes at this facility is amazing,” Pawlowski said.

Dave Bozied Internships

Internships are also available through the Dave Bozied program, created in memory of a long-time member of the South Dakota Science and Technology Board of Directors. Dave Bozied internships are open to South Dakota residents and students attending South Dakota universities who major in physics, chemistry, geology, engineering, science education or communication or related disciplines.

Austin Olson, a graduate of Vermillion High School in Vermillion, SD, studies physics and mathematics at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. “I am excited to learn applicable skills and have unique experiences that I could only get at Sanford Lab! The experiments, collaboration and engineering done at Sanford Lab amaze me. They are the reason I am excited to work here,” Olson said.

Adrienne Roller, a graduate of New England High School in New England, ND, majors in chemistry and biology at Black Hills State University (BHSU). Roller said that the variety of experiments taking place at Sanford Lab will empower her to explore a broad range of subjects. “I am excited to gain some real-world experience and hopefully narrow my ideas for career options,” Roller said.

Cody Cline, a graduate of Sturgis Brown High School in Sturgis, SD, is a senior at BHSU. “I plan to pursue a career in the vast field of communications after graduating with a major in mass communication with an emphasis in graphic communication, a double minor in sociology and art and certificates in social media and social and cultural awareness,” Cline said.

Caitlyn Larson, a graduate of Stevens High School in Rapid City, SD, is majoring in chemistry and secondary education with minors in physics and sign language studies at Augustana University, in Sioux Falls, SD. Through her internship with the Education and Outreach team, Larson looks forward to supporting local teachers and promoting relevant, current science in South Dakota classrooms. “I wanted to be an intern at Sanford Lab because of the ground-breaking science that is happening here,” Larson said, “but one of the special things about Sanford is the focus on making that science accessible to classrooms across South Dakota. That makes this internship a perfect fit.”

BHSU Internships

In addition to our Chris Bauer and Dave Bozied internships, the Education and Outreach team at Sanford Lab is joined by two BHSU interns. These interns will be working primarily with the team’s EPSCoR-funded teacher professional development program.  

Shantel Cryan, a graduate of T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, SD, is studying biology education at BHSU. “I want to learn how to incorporate Sanford Lab science into my own future classroom,” Cryan said. “After I graduate, I hope to stay in the amazing Black Hills area and pursue a career in secondary science education, teaching and inspiring the next generation of scientists!”

Tayler Lenz, a graduate of Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD, is studying composite science education, American Indian studies and biology at BHSU. “This summer, I am looking forward to learning more about the projects going on at Sanford Lab and meeting other educators on the same mission as I am,” Lenz said. “After college, I plan to begin teaching at the 7-12 level of any and all of the sciences!”

For more information on our internship program, visit our Internship webpage or contact Peggy Norris, deputy director of Education and Outreach at [email protected].