Battelle Interns Reflect on Their Experiences

Battelle’s internship program is a key component of our efforts to prepare the next generation of solvers for future careers in STEM fields. More than 75 college students maximized the opportunity during the summer of 2023 to collaborate with some of the brightest scientists, engineers, technologists, and business professionals while gaining meaningful experience in their fields of study. 

Hailey Manuel

Hailey Manuel is studying Information Systems at the University of Cincinnati and is currently an intern supporting the Philanthropy & Education department. Her internship has broadened her perspective beyond her area of study and allowed her to work with data in a real-world setting.

“I’ve learned about the details of event planning and organizing event data, and now I also have a deeper understanding of STEM,” said Hailey. “I want to be a data scientist, so having real-world experience in seeing, collecting, and using data has been really helpful.”

For Hailey, this internship has also had a positive impact on her confidence. “My team has been my favorite part of this internship. I’ve gotten so much advice about how to move forward in my academic and professional career.”

In fact, many Battelle interns cite their colleagues as one of the most impactful aspects of their internship. Not only are Battelle employees world-class experts in their field, but they are genuinely excited to share their knowledge and guide learning experiences for others.

Lennon Anderson

Lennon Anderson, an intern in National Security, studies Computer Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University. Hearing positive feedback about working at Battelle from friends helped Lennon decide to intern at Battelle. 

“I value engaging and challenging work and heard from friends who worked at Battelle that their projects stretch their skills and keep them engaged and excited to tackle problems,” said Lennon. “My favorite part about my internship is the people I’ve met. In my department, everyone is very knowledgeable and excited to teach and explain what they’re working on.”

The opportunity to gain firsthand experience outside the classroom has also given Lennon more confidence. 

“Through my internship, I’ve become familiar with the problem-solving process in Cybersecurity,” said Lennon. “This has allowed me to be more confident in tackling abstract problems and articulate how I plan to solve them.”

During their internships, students can apply academic concepts to real projects with meaningful impact that help Battelle meet client needs while ​students gain skills to help them in their future careers.

Bella Lomeo

Bella Lomeo, who is studying Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina, said the opportunity to work in a lab was the highlight of her internship. 

“I knew Battelle had great programs for individuals interested in life sciences, and I wanted to gain lab experience,” said Bella. “I’ve loved working in a lab and have learned so much about the field of histology and Good Laboratory Practice procedures, which will continue to benefit me in my future endeavors.”

Beyond providing meaningful work experience, interns are also invited to participate in special events to help them connect with other interns, meet leaders throughout the organization, and learn more about Battelle’s mission and culture. And it is often our mission and culture that bring interns to Battelle.

Justyn Lewis

Justyn Lewis enjoyed his first Battelle internship so much that he returned this year. Justyn, who is studying Computer Science at Morgan State University, is supporting the Aviation Security team. 

“When I learned about Battelle’s mission and its history, I realized that this is everything I want to be a part of,” said Justyn. “I had a summer offer from another employer, but I love working in the government space, and my manager, Allen Anderson, was amazing, so I chose Battelle.”

While he says he’s gained more experience with testing software and SQL through his internship, the best part has been the potential impact of his work. “My favorite part is being able to work on projects that can really make an impact, both at Battelle and for society.”

Gabriela Pirinelli

A student at The Ohio State University studying Ecological Engineering, Gabriela Pirinelli was drawn to her field ecology internship with the NEON program because of her interest in climate change and ecological restoration. 

“Collecting data used to analyze our changing ecosystem allows me to help on a project exploring an issue I am passionate about,” said Gabriela. “My favorite part of this internship is completing fieldwork while understanding how my work leads to data that can be used in the future to hopefully better ecosystems across the U.S.” ​

Start Your Career With Battelle

100% of 2023’s summer interns recommend or highly recommend an internship with Battelle. If you’re a student looking to spend your summer receiving valuable coaching and feedback from some of the top experts in your area of study, explore Battelle’s co-op and intern positions to find the one that’s right for you.