PANAMA CITY, Fla. –
The Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) college students began their 10-week internships May 20, at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD).
NSWC PCD welcomed 28 students selected to work on a wide range of projects covering multiple disciplines to include computer science and engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, mathematics, and physics. This year, more than 730 college students were competitively selected from over 1,700 applications to conduct research at 41 Department of the Navy (DON) laboratories. The annual summer internship receives funding through the Office of Naval Research and individual government laboratories, and provides hands-on training to college students in a unique environment.
Student programs such as NREIP provide a great opportunity for young scientists and engineers to learn what it means to become a Navy employee. These programs are crucial to maintaining interest in science and engineering careers among college students and are a critical asset to government laboratories, all vying for top recruits to join their ranks.
NSWC PCD uses these programs to form a pipeline of potential employees that may eventually fill critical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) positions following graduation. The internship allows the student to experience working with employers, as well as, letting them work on cutting-edge technology and projects that address issues currently faced by the warfighter.
NSWC PCD’s success with the internship program can be directly attributed to the support received from senior leadership as well as the engagement of mentors assigned to each intern. The favorable experience provided by this program encourages the students to seek repeat internships and, ultimately, employment in the STEM field within the DON.
"NREIP internships are an excellent opportunity for students to get hands-on training in a real-world environment that directly impact the warfighter," said NSWC PCD Commanding Officer Capt. Aaron Peters. "These young men and women are the future of science and technology in this country and I am excited that they have taken the opportunity to spend the summer learning the Navy mission.”