Workforce Development
Brookhaven Lab is an ideal location for burgeoning scientists and engineers to study and train
To see how you can get involved with accelerator technology training, contact Ken White at (631) 344-7171
Accelerators and accelerator-related development often go unrecognized as one of the essential contributors to technology advancements in a variety of industries. Accelerators are used to explore the origins of the universe, test materials for space travel, explore protein structures for developing cutting edge drugs, and researching and producing radioisotopes for nuclear medicine, and more. Career opportunities in fields related to accelerator design, construction, operation, or as an end user are broad and exciting.
The accelerator community is always in need of talented and diverse individuals. There are many options for participating in accelerator related activities, exploring career options, and spending time at Brookhaven building skills and qualifications for jobs in accelerator-related fields. Brookhaven Lab’s Office of Educational Programs conducts programs at levels ranging from middle school through university faculty that are directly related to accelerators, or that build competence in skills valuable to accelerator fields.
Internships are offered by the Department of Energy at Brookhaven and the other 16 DOE national labs. Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI), Community College Internship (CCI), and the Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) programs offer semester and/or summer opportunities to collaborate with Lab scientists and engineers. Stipends are offered, and housing is available for qualified applicants. Graduates of these programs become excellent candidates for graduate school. Faculty participants develop durable relationships with Lab researchers and often build curriculum around their experience and submit collaborative proposals that advance their capabilities.
Many of the accelerator facilities at Brookhaven Lab, and those at other laboratories, have specialized programs for workforce development. Workforce Development opportunities specific to each facility described on this site are noted on their respective pages
Workforce Development by Facility
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider
RHIC serves a unique role in helping to train the next generation of world-class nuclear physicists, accelerator physicists, and engineers. The RHIC accelerator facility has provided training to countless accelerator physicists and engineers in a wide range of accelerator technologies. RHIC also serves as a host facility for the Center for Accelerator Science and Education (CASE), run jointly with Stony Brook University. The CASE program, established in 2008, has graduated about 15 students so far with about 5 more currently enrolled, plus 3-5 undergraduate summer students per year. Students trained in these accelerator and physics programs go on to apply their knowledge in fields including national security, medicine, energy generation, space exploration, finance, and more, making important contributions that fuel the economy, provide for security, and pave the way to a healthier, brighter future for all.
Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer
In addition to the educational internships and workforce development programs offered across disciplines at Brookhaven Lab, BLIP hosts an annual National Nuclear Chemistry Summer School. This program consists of lectures on the fundamentals of nuclear science, radiochemistry, and their applications in related fields. Laboratory work introduces students to state-of-the-art instrumentation and technology routinely used in basic and applied nuclear science. The course includes guest lectures and tours of nearby research centers and applied nuclear sites such as nuclear power plants and, sometimes, a nuclear submarine base. BLIP also offers opportunities for independent research in topics such as radioisotope production, separations, and target development for faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Accelerator Test Facility
The Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) provides a fertile venue for developing the next generation of accelerator and technology leaders. Undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral researchers regularly participate in experiments being undertaken by our scientific collaborators and user community. ATF scientists and engineers regularly host summer interns who participate in the programs offered by Brookhaven’s Office of Educational Programs. The facility also hosts an annual hands-on graduate-level course in accelerator physics in collaboration with the Center for Accelerator Science and Education at nearby Stony Brook University.
Instrumentation Division
In addition to the educational internships and workforce development programs offered across disciplines at Brookhaven Lab, the Instrumentation Division offers opportunities for independent research for faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students. We maintain a close relationship with Stony Brook University and host several students who perform their research in instrumentation related fields.
National Synchrotron Light Source II
NSLS-II participates in the educational internships and workforce development programs offered across disciplines at Brookhaven Lab. The facility has a large number of summer students and interns in various departments ranging from software development to experimental studies. In addition, NSLS-II offers a Joint Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) and National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) Lecture Series that is held at various universities. This program offers a comprehensive introduction to advanced material characterization and fabrication techniques deployed at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
NASA Space Radiation Laboratory
The NASA Space Radiation Laboratory provides an excellent training ground for radiation biologists, radiation therapy physicists, and technicians and test engineers. Undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral researchers regularly participate in experiments being undertaken by our scientific collaborators and user community. Until this past year (2016) NASA ran a summer school for the purpose of training graduate and postdoc level students in the field of radiation biology at NSRL with many hours of hands-on experience in the target room.
Accelerator Center for Energy Research
ACER participates in the educational internships and workforce development programs offered across disciplines at Brookhaven Lab. On average, four undergraduate interns and one or two early career faculty members participate in summer programs each year.
Superconducting Magnet Division
The Superconducting Magnet Division (SMD) hosts many students through the educational internship and workforce development programs offered across disciplines at Brookhaven Lab. SMD is also in the process of hiring new staff for its new initiatives and programs in physics, engineering, and technician roles.
