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CS, Lab Divisions Host Students for Annual Job Shadow Day

From computational science to engineering to HR, students get close-up look at career options

April 10, 2015

Contact: Jon Bashor, jbashor@lbl.gov, 510-486-5849

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2015 Job Shadow Day lab mentors and Albany High students : (From left) Engineering’s Andrew Lambert, Dikshant Shrestha, Public Affairs’ Jon Weiner, Lake Chen, CRD’s Terry Ligocki, Kira Oliver, CRD’s Dan Martin, Ireri Morales, Computing Science’s Jon Bashor, Darcey Davis, Ash Tan, Computing Science’s Marcia Ocon Leimer, Han Wang, Nidina Sapkota, Materials Sciences’ Anne Ruminski, Carter Ta, Engineering’s Dan Cheng, William Xu and CRD’s Craig Tull. Other lab mentors not shown are Roy Kaltschmidt, Kathleen Bjornstad, Dave Cota, Maciek Haranczyk, Keith Beattie, David Skinner and Annette Greiner.

In what has become an annual pilgrimage, 17 Albany High School students interested in science, engineering and other career fields spent a few hours talking with Berkeley Lab mentors, including eight in Computing Sciences. The visits are part of the school’s annual Job Shadow Day in which students in their junior year are paired with mentors around the Bay Area. The lab has hosted 67 students over the past seven years.

“It was a wonderful experience and I had a great time,” said student Ash Tan of his meeting with Terry Ligocki of the Computational Research Division (CRD). “We had a great conversation, and his story helped me make choices for my own future based off of his own experiences while giving me insight into careers I'm interested in. Personally, I thought it was very helpful and enjoyed it a lot.”

"We had a great conversation, and his story helped me make choices for my own future based off of his own experiences while giving me insight into careers I'm interested in."Ash Tan, Albany High School

Ligocki also said he enjoyed the meeting. "We took a look at what I'm currently working on, the Empirical Roofline Tool, and then used that a springboard to discuss my career path and his aspirations," Ligocki said. "He and I both have diverse interests and I think it was good for him to realize that he could embrace that and have a successful career."

In addition to Ligocki, other lab staff who volunteered as mentors were Maciek Haranczyk, Keith Beattie, Dan Martin and Craig Tull of CRD; David Skinner and Annette Greiner of NERSC; Marcia Ocon Leimer of Computing Sciences Human Resources; Roy Kaltschmidt and Jon Weiner of Public Affairs, Andrew Lambert and Daniel Cheng of Engineering; Dave Cota of Facilities; Anne Ruminski of Materials Sciences Division; and Kathleen Bjornstad of the Earth Sciences Division.

“My classmate and I were both able to go to the lab where our mentor, was working. Our mentor showed us a bit of what it was like to work inside his office with design engineering,” said Lake Chen, who shadowed Lambert, who works in Bldg. 71. “Also he was able to show us around the manufacturing part of the lab, which was the coolest part. We also talked about the job industry and what paths in school my classmate and I would have to take to become a mechanical engineer. The trip was very educational.”

Student Lincoln Colby, interested in mechanical engineering as a career, shadowed Dave Cota of Facilities. “I really felt like he accommodated me and answered my questions truthfully,” Colby said. “I felt like I got an idea of what a day in the life for him is like. I felt very welcome up at the lab. Everyone seemed enthusiastic about having us up there for the day.” 

“My experience at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab was great! Marcia was very friendly, and easy-going,” said Ireri Morales, who is thinking of a career in human resources “I really liked Human Resources. I may have to contact Marcia for more information and advice! Thanks so much for the opportunity.” »See more photos.


About Computing Sciences at Berkeley Lab

High performance computing plays a critical role in scientific discovery. Researchers increasingly rely on advances in computer science, mathematics, computational science, data science, and large-scale computing and networking to increase our understanding of ourselves, our planet, and our universe. Berkeley Lab’s Computing Sciences Area researches, develops, and deploys new foundations, tools, and technologies to meet these needs and to advance research across a broad range of scientific disciplines.