Students Complete Elite Internships

August 25, 2015

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – August 25, 2015 – Four SJC Long Island students participated in an elite summer internship program at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York and were invited to present their research at a recent symposium. 

“The Brookhaven National Laboratory emphasizes safety first and encourages students to ask the hard questions, to think critically and outside of the box,” said S. Jane Fritz, C.S.J., professor of mathematics and computer science at SJC Long Island. “Above all, they encourage young people to engage in intellectual activities that have the potential to make a difference in the lives of others. Our students received a great deal of support and encouragement from their mentors, and collaborated and made friends with other students from all over the country.

For the past two summers, Thomas Smith ’15 has worked on the camera sensor for the international Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. This telescope, being developed in Chile, will map the southern sky.

Daniel Cisek ’15 has worked in the National Nuclear Data Center for the past two summers. His research involved using and modifying tools to detect anomalies in satellite images that are used for gathering intelligence. 

Samantha Miller ’16 developed and modified software for correlating multi-wave images for use with the new National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS). More than 10,000 times brighter than the previous NSCS, this device accelerates electrons producing light in the x-ray, ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths and serves as a microscope to study structures on an atomic and nano scale.

Matthew Stitt ’16 developed a graphical user interface that facilitates the use of the new NSLS and enables researchers to align samples within this super powerful microscopic tool. He learned and wrote the program in the language Python.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is a multipurpose research institution funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Brookhaven Lab brings world-class facilities and expertise to the most exciting and important questions in basic and applied science—from the birth of our universe to the sustainable energy technology of tomorrow.

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE
St. Joseph’s College has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan area with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the College provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility and service. Through SJC Brooklyn, SJC Long Island and SJC Online, the College offers degrees in more than 45 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs.