For more than a decade, the Computing Sciences Area (CSA) Summer Program at Berkeley Lab has given undergraduates, graduate students, and visiting faculty in science and engineering the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience. Working alongside mentors from the Applied Mathematics and Computational Research (AMCR) and Scientific Data (SDD) divisions, as well as the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) and the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), participants tackle real-world challenges at the forefront of computing, science, and engineering.

When the program kicks off on June 3, 2025, over 100 students and visiting faculty will join this vibrant community. The program also marks a new chapter: for the first time, AMCR group leads Andy Nonaka and Dan Martin are serving as co-chairs, taking over from longtime summer program leader Osni Marques, who recently retired. Nonaka, who leads the Center for Computational Sciences and Engineering (CCSE), and Martin, who leads the Applied Numerical Algorithms Group (ANAG), have some exciting changes planned and are eager to build on the program’s strong history.

We sat down with Andy and Dan to learn more about what’s in store for the 2025 cohort.

Q: What inspired you to co-chair the CSA Summer Student Program?

Dan: Andy and I have been involved with the summer student program for a long time, and I’ve heard from many participants how life-changing it can be. The program really helps students connect with the broader computing sciences community and exposes them to the full breadth of exciting work happening at the Lab—opportunities they might not otherwise see.

Andy: Berkeley Lab’s CSA summer program is truly second to none—from the mechanisms we use to recruit students and faculty to the summer programming across all four divisions, there’s a real sense of cohesiveness. Staff and management work hard to provide training and support to mentors, which ensures a welcoming environment and a special experience for our visitors. My own internship experiences were nothing like this. I’ve been a CSA summer program mentor for a long time, and now, as co-chair, I want to help build on this tradition for the Lab.

Q: What are your goals for this year’s program, and are there any changes or new directions you’re especially excited about?

Andy: We want students and faculty to feel like a vital, valued part of the community that will make meaningful contributions to projects. Our goal is for them to connect regularly with other interns and key staff members to build an extended network across CSA and the Lab.

To make our programming even more engaging, we’re making events more interactive and fast-paced, with shorter talks covering a broad range of topics that capture the team science ethos of research in CSA. We’re also introducing new mentoring sessions and career development workshops, so our interns can get even more out of their summer experience.

Dan: Building on what Andy said, I hope students leave the program excited about the possibility of coming back to work at Berkeley Lab. Many past participants have told me how much they want to return to CSA, which is exactly the outcome we’re aiming for.

With more mentoring and career development events this year, we hope to equip students with the tools they need to succeed in a collaborative, team-based research environment, which can be new for many of them. One of the things that makes Berkeley Lab—and all of the Department of Energy National Labs—special is our commitment to advancing fundamental science that benefits society. Because our research supports critical needs in areas like energy, security, and scientific innovation, there will always be opportunities for students, computational scientists, engineers, and mathematicians to make a difference at the National Labs—no matter how national priorities shift.

Q: What advice and lessons learned do you have for students joining the program this summer?

Andy: For many of our visitors, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from world-class scientists who are eager to share what they’re doing, offer insights, and provide mentorship—I heavily encourage our visitors to attend as many events as possible and ask questions.

If you take advantage of your time here, you’ll gain valuable technical skills such as mathematics and programming, as well as soft skills such as teamwork and effective communication. These are skills that will serve you well in any career, whether you pursue academia, industry, or another path.

Dan: My practical advice is to pack a sweater—summer in Berkeley can be chilly! More importantly, I also would encourage students to participate in as many events as possible, especially the Summer Student Poster Session, which past students often say is a highlight of the program.

Many students are still exploring their interests, so take advantage of the chance to meet people from different fields and backgrounds. While it’s easy to get focused on your own project, being open to experiences outside your immediate area can lead to unexpected insights and opportunities. Sometimes, stepping away from your work and having conversations about other topics can help you solve problems you’re facing.

As an intern, we want you to learn about what we do in the computing sciences at Berkeley Lab. Working in a collaborative national lab environment is different from academia and shows you how science happens in the real world. Make the most of opportunities to build transferable skills, like communicating your work—these will serve you well wherever your career takes you.

To learn more and see what’s in store, check out the schedule for this year’s Summer Student Program.