The Materials Science in Extreme Environments University Research Alliance (MSEE URA) is continually exploring ways to collaborate and interact with Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DOE) organizations. As a basic research consortium with a strong focus in workforce development, exposing MSEE students and postdocs to DoD organizations and the careers they offer is of paramount interest.
In support of this workforce development focus, MSEE graduate students and postdocs, in collaboration with a host DoD or DOE laboratory, organize a Student Symposium annually. Only open to MSEE’s students and postdocs, these symposia offer our primary workforce the opportunity to interact with federal researchers, scientists, program managers, and leadership; network and build connections amongst their peers; practice technical presentation skills; and explore careers and facilities at various federal laboratory locations. Typically, the symposia consist of remarks from the federal lab leaders, technical presentations given by the students, poster sessions, networking and panel discussions amongst federal researchers and scientist, and tours of the host lab’s campus and facilities. Since 2022, this event has been held annually in the Fall and helped place students and postdocs in technical positions at the hosting organizations.
Members of our Government and Corporate Affiliates Program – Interested in hosting our students and postdocs for a symposium? Please contact [email protected].
2024 Symposium at DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center
Thanks to an Education Partnership Agreement between Johns Hopkins and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC), MSEE students had the opportunity to collaborate with DoD scientists and researchers at DEVCOM CBC. In September 2024, MSEE held its third annual Student Symposium in collaboration with DEVCOM CBC. Across the two-day symposium, the student-organized symposium offered a full list of activities.
The first day of activities was held off-site and consisted of opening remarks from the student organizing committee, Dr. Warren Gardner, Responsible Official for DEVCOM CBC. The day continued with technical talks, a student poster session, and a career panel staffed by DEVCOM CBC and Army Research Lab researchers.
The second day was held on DEVCOM CBC’s campus in Edgewood, MD. During the morning session, MSEE participants were introduced to DEVCOM CBC leaders Dr. Matt Shue, Deputy Director for Research, and Dr. Rick Cox, Director of Research and Operations, who provided an overview of the center and their experience in federal service. Following the morning session, students toured the various DEVCOM CBC facilities of relevance to MSEE and interacted with laboratory staff and researchers.
2023 Symposium and Workshop at AFRL Eglin
In the first week of September 2023, MSEE held two events for their graduate students and postdocs in support of the alliance’s workforce development goals. Both events took place at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) in Florida, where attendees were able to network and explore the facilities and career opportunities available at an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
The first of these events was the second annual Student Symposium. On September 5 and 6, attendees of the student-organized symposium participated in a full slate of networking, mentorship, and educational opportunities.
The symposium’s first day featured a discussion with Kyle Overdeep, an AFRL technical program manager. Overdeep, a former DTRA-funded graduate student, discussed his journey from PhD student to technical program manager. After hearing from Overdeep, students presented their MSEE research through oral talks and a poster session, followed by tours of the facilities within the Advanced Munitions Technology Complex at Eglin AFB.
Day two of the symposium continued with a networking session and tours of the Terminal Engagement Research Facility and the McKinley Climatic Laboratory. Throughout the symposium, MSEE students and postdocs were able to engage with AFRL researchers and scientists, including the Branch Chief of the Energetics Materials Branch, Jacob Morris.
Following the student symposium, AFRL researchers and MSEE students and postdocs participated in a two-day short course on uncertainty quantification (UQ) in physics-based modeling using Python. The UQ Short Course, led by Dimitris Giovanis and Dimitrios Tsapetis of Johns Hopkins University, was held at AFRL’s off-site facility, the Doolittle Institute.
Participants in the short course were introduced to uncertainty quantification (UQ) in computational modeling using the Python programming language and a variety of UQ methods, including forward propagation of uncertainty, surrogate modelling, and Bayesian inference using the UQpy toolbox.
2022 Symposium at LLNL
In September 2022, MSEE held its first Student Symposium at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The two-day event was attended by 23 MSEE graduate students and postdocs, and various LLNL Scientists.
Day 1 activities were held off-site and consisted of remarks from MSEE’s Technical Point of Contact, Dave Petersen, followed by technical presentations from our students.
Day 2 activities were held on LLNL’s open campus. During the morning session, MSEE students and postdocs had the exciting opportunity to hear from LLNL’s Director, Dr. Kim Budil; Associate Director of the Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Dr. Glenn Fox; and Associate Program Manager, Tom Arsenlis. Following the morning session, the students held a poster session for the LLNL scientists.
After lunch, MSEE students were offered tours of the National Ignition Facility, High Explosives Applications Facility, Jupiter Laser Facility, and the High-Performance Computing Center.
