UTEP CS Students Participate in the MSEIP AFRL and NASA Summer 2024 Intern Program
This summer, Computer Science students from the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) had the opportunity to participate in the prestigious MSEIP Summer 2024 Internship Program with two research organizations: the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and NASA.
Students spent the summer working with AFRL mentors in Rome, NY and with NASA mentors in Huntsville, AL. Their work with these esteemed organizations provided them with valuable insights and hands-on experience in their field.
“What I enjoyed most about this internship was the growth that came with it. It nudged me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to further develop my interpersonal skills.” -Francisco Jimenez (MSEIP AFRL Intern)
“I enjoyed being able to learn all about NASA's missions, working together in a team and seeing how our work contributes to these missions”- Samantha Silva (MSEIP NASA Intern)
How This Internship Guided Their Career goals
“It gave me a taste of what work life in the STEM field is actually like—a typical 9-to-5. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every second of it: the work, the people, and the overall experience. Working with AI sparked an interest in me that I don’t think I would have discovered without this internship.” -Francisco Jimenez (MSEIP AFRL Intern)
“Being surrounded by top talent at the AFRL really made me consider taking the fast-track program to obtain my master’s degree at UTEP. I never really considered it before and with that, I found a new interest in AI and machine learning capabilities. Working with hands on experience in the field I love at the lab really solidified my career path.” -Fabian Ornelas (MSEIP AFRL Intern)
“This internship has influenced my career goals by giving me more experience in CS research, government work, software engineering, and computer networking. This experience will help me determine which specific position is the best fit for me.” -Michael Ike (MSEIP AFRL Intern)
“This internship influenced my career to become an excellent software engineer. And it has also motivated me to inspire more people to study computer science.” -Rogelio Lozano (MSEIP NASA Intern)
Insights from Our Interns
“Start the search for internships early, and practice for interviews to find a way to stand out from others.” -Samantha Silva (NASA Intern)
“I would encourage anyone to apply to everything because you never know what opportunities you might be missing if you don’t. Internships are a great opportunity to explore different career paths and connect with other people and in the process, you get to have fun and further develop your skills. It can seem intimidating, but I would say it is worth it to put yourself out there.” -Jazmin Huerta (MSEIP AFRL Intern)
“My advice is to persevere and work hard because the harder you work the luckier you get, and opportunities will eventually come to you.” -Rogelio Lozano (MSEIP NASA Intern)
Connect with the department to learn more about these opportunities.
Go miners!
NASA interns: Samantha Silva, and Rogelio Lozano
AFRL interns: Fabian Ornelas, Francisco Vazquez, Jazmin Huerta, Francisco Jimenez, and Michael Ike