Guest post from Rebecca L. Medina, Director of the Science and Technology Directorate’s Office of University Programs.
Summertime is in full swing! While some students travel, visit family and friends, or work part-time, others continue their education and learning by participating in summer internships. Internships provide students with an opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience and conduct meaningful research alongside experts in their respective fields of study.
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) believes in fostering a diverse and inclusive community of rising professionals who are passionate about homeland security and research, and we do this through several OUP workforce development initiatives, including our Homeland Security Professional Opportunities for the Student Workforce to Experience Research (HS-POWER) internship program. We are excited to welcome the 2023 class of summer interns to S&T and the greater Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and federal government family, and we can’t wait to share word of the amazing things they accomplish this summer.
HS-POWER is a 10-week internship program geared toward undergraduate and graduate students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The program aims to foster lasting relationships between students, researchers, DHS personnel, and research facilities that will ultimately cultivate the next generation of educated and skilled STEM professionals.
Talented students from a variety of personal and educational backgrounds are paired with experienced mentors whose expertise and perspectives help advise students on their research projects while also teaching them how to address current issues facing our nation and how to come up with solutions for future challenges. Previous interns’ projects focused on mission areas including cybersecurity, next-generation explosive trace detection, international partnerships, and more.
Students have the opportunity to work with DHS components, federal research laboratories, and other HS-STEM-focused entities nationwide, either onsite or in a virtual environment. This summer, OUP is sponsoring 97 enthusiastic HS-POWER interns across DHS components, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Transportation Security Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Twenty-seven of the interns will begin working with us here at S&T this month.
This immersive experience will allow students to develop critical skills, expand their knowledge, and make meaningful connections within the field. HS-POWER students make contributions to national security, improve disaster response strategies, strengthen cyber defenses, and protect the nation from emerging threats.
Follow along as we introduce the HS-POWER students every Friday on S&T’s social media platforms, including LinkedIn and Instagram—the first group is live now! Follow @DHSSciTech to learn more about these students and their projects and be the first to know about upcoming opportunities.
For more information on HS-POWER, visit the ORISE STEM Internships and Fellowships page.