Meet LLNL interns: advancing engineering, national security and artificial intelligence

Each summer, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) welcomes students from broad academic backgrounds who bring fresh perspectives and technical expertise to the Lab’s mission. This year, interns are contributing to engineering, national security, high-energy laser research and artificial intelligence.

Meet four interns and learn how their LLNL experiences are shaping their skills, interests and career goals.

Applying classroom lessons to pioneering engineering

Julien Rodriguez is a junior mechanical engineering student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, interning in LLNL’s Engineering directorate.

Rodriguez is supporting a mechanical engineering safety note for the National Ignition Facility’s dual-crystal backlighter imager. The analysis evaluates the diagnostic’s components and fasteners under seismic and wind-debris loading conditions, helping qualify it for use during a high-yield shot.

“LLNL is doing work that is not being done anywhere else in the world,” Rodriguez said. “To be able to help design, analyze and engineer some of the systems at NIF and across the Lab is beyond amazing.”

Rodriguez has enjoyed exploring potential career paths through his internship.

“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world engineering challenges. I also value LLNL’s emphasis on work-life balance and flexibility, and I encourage future interns to connect with colleagues, learn about their work and build their professional networks,” Rodriguez said.

Building research expertise through interdisciplinary collaboration

Sanchita Chakraborty is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in applied and computational mathematics and statistics at the University of Notre Dame, interning in LLNL’s Strategic Deterrence directorate.

As a Defense Science and Technology intern, Chakraborty is researching the reconstruction of the beta-decay of neutron-rich scandium-57 using physics-aware inverse methods. Her work combines computational mathematics and nuclear astrophysics in support of LLNL’s national security mission.

“The most rewarding part has been getting to know Lab employees, particularly interacting with experimental nuclear physicists,” Chakraborty said. “Becoming the area expert in optimization algorithms has made this a fun, rewarding and enriching experience as I develop as an independent researcher.”

Her internship has expanded her understanding of nuclear physics and connected her with mathematicians, physicists and computational scientists across the Lab. These conversations have given her valuable perspectives on research careers and the post-Ph.D. job market.

Chakraborty encourages future interns to build relationships beyond their immediate groups and advisors, noting that broad connections can lead to new insights and opportunities.

Advancing laser materials through mentorship and innovation

Jennie Ren is an incoming Ph.D. student in materials science and engineering at Stanford University and a NIF and Photon Science Graduate Scholar at LLNL.

During her third summer at LLNL, Ren returned to the NIF and Photon Science directorate to research polymer adhesives for NIF and other LLNL laser systems. Her work helps mitigate debris deposition on amplifier slabs and supports the NIF Sustainment program. She also contributes to a Laboratory Directed Research and Development project developing high-refractive-index polymer nanocomposites for high-energy laser applications.

A Livermore native and Granada High School graduate, Ren was introduced to STEM through Lab-supported programs such as Coding with LLNL, Cybersecurity Club and Science Olympiad. Her internships at LLNL brought that experience full circle.

“The most rewarding part has been knowing that the work I do has tangible, real-world impacts,” Ren said. “My work on adhesives for NIF contributes to the NIF Sustainment program, which aims to keep the facility running through the 2030s.”

Mentorship and hands-on experience during her three summers at the Lab helped shape Ren’s decision to pursue a Ph.D. and continue working in materials and optical sciences. She encourages future interns to remain open-minded, attend Lab events and connect with colleagues across disciplines.

Using artificial intelligence to address complex challenges

Diego Merchan Rueda is pursuing a master’s degree in computer engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and serves as an Environmental, Safety and Health graduate intern in LLNL’s Operations and Business directorate. His work is conducted through the Office of Laboratory Oversight and the Consortium of Hybrid Resilient Energy Systems, a Department of Energy-funded partnership.

Merchan Rueda develops and evaluates AI-powered document-processing workflows using Python. His work includes extracting information from unstructured PDFs, evaluating optical character recognition and information-retrieval methods and documenting reusable solutions.

“The most rewarding part of my internship has been the people,” Merchan Rueda said. “Being surrounded by supportive mentors and colleagues who are willing to share their experience has made this an enriching experience.”

His work has provided hands-on experience in AI, document processing and software development while strengthening his research, problem-solving and collaboration skills. It also has deepened his appreciation for LLNL’s culture of continuous learning. He encourages future interns to ask questions, connect with colleagues and remain open to new tools and approaches.

“This internship has helped me grow both professionally and personally,” he said. “It has strengthened my technical skills, improved my English and given me the chance to learn from an incredible team.”

Together, these interns demonstrate how students contribute to LLNL’s mission while building technical skills, professional connections and career experience.

Ready for your next internship? Explore LLNL’s undergraduate summer and year-round graduate programs, and apply today. Learn more about the intern experience on the Big Ideas Lab podcast, available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.