DHS calls it a once-in-a-lifetime chance for STEM students and the clock is ticking

Terry Gerton I’m actually excited to speak about this program, a new launch from the Department of Homeland Security, science and expertise coverage for STEM interns. Tell us about the program and why you determined to launch it now.

Jennifer Foley This is a fantastic program. We’re actually excited to have this summer time’s cohort of interns come be a part of us. Part of what makes this program so particular is the experiential alternative that the interns have in working hand in hand with our Department of Homeland Security program managers on mission essential analysis.

Terry Gerton Why the stem focus right here?

Jennifer Foley The STEM focus is as a result of it’s so instantly aligned with our mission capabilities and our mission essential wants in growing science and expertise that instantly assists with the homeland safety operations.

Terry Gerton Can you give us an instance of a few of the initiatives that you simply suppose the students could be engaged on?

Jennifer Foley Absolutely. In the previous, we’ve had interns which have labored on Coast Guard vessel cyber safety, people which have work on the digitization of pollen assortment, interns that labored in immigration, forensics, human trafficking. We have had an intern at FEMA that developed a short-term housing plan for the county in the aftermath of a catastrophe. We have additionally had interns at the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory who did drone analysis to assist first responders. Interns which have labored in synthetic intelligence, agriculture safety at the border, and US-Canada cross-border opioids and fentanyl detection, simply to call a few.

Terry Gerton Those are fairly thrilling and actual time packages. Do students must have a technical college program, or in the event that they’re a coverage [major] or another type of main, do they nonetheless qualify for this program?

Jennifer Foley We are STEM targeted, however we’ve broadened that STEM focus to incorporate the social sciences as effectively. So we frequently have and have had nice success with students which are coming from political science, prison justice, and majors like that, in addition to the STEM focus.

Terry Gerton There are a lot of school intern packages on the market. What units this program aside and what do you wanna be certain students find out about as they’re contemplating selecting a program? Why this one?

Jennifer Foley I feel this one is worthwhile for many causes. I feel first and foremost, it’s designed to be a actually substantive program. The mentors are all vetted and the initiatives that the interns will probably be engaged on are vetted previous to bringing the interns onboard to make sure that they’re actually getting a substantive alternative to work on direct mission essential analysis. Additionally, students are, all through the summer time, taken to see varied components of DHS, for instance, are a few of our nationwide labs. So they get to essentially get a good sense of what’s happening inside the division and the analysis that is happening in the division. And they get join with one another, which is crucial. Being on website at St. Elizabeth’s offers them a nice alternative to work hand in hand with their mentors.

Terry Gerton Who is the best candidate for this sort of program?

Jennifer Foley The best candidate will probably be both an undergraduate or a graduate pupil from round the nation who has a 3.0 GPA or larger, majoring in a STEM main, which once more as we talked about that’s a little bit broader than conventional STEM to incorporate social sciences as effectively. And somebody who believes in the mission, who’s actually excited to come back find out about the Department of Homeland Security and all of the actually fascinating work that we do right here. And somebody who’s not afraid to work exhausting.

Terry Gerton I’m talking with Jennifer Foley. She’s the deputy director in the Office of University Programs at the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. So Ms. Foley, inform us a little bit extra about the advantages of this program. I perceive it comes with a stipend and a housing allowance. That’s a nice begin.

Jennifer Foley You’re completely right, it does include each a stipend and a housing allowance, which particularly coming to our nation’s capital of Washington D.C. Is completely key. Additionally, journey is paid every method, so your airfare will probably be lined so long as you reside 50 miles one-way outdoors of the nationwide capital area, your airfare will probably be lined.

Terry Gerton What about a few of the intangibles? What would possibly an intern count on when it comes to future job prospects with DHS or, you talked about participating with mentors?

Jennifer Foley The intangible advantages to this program are working hand-in-hand with the mentors on analysis that will probably be instantly utilized by the division. Additionally, this creates worthwhile alternatives to have interaction with these all through the division for potential future employment. Part of the cause that we do that program is to develop the subsequent technology of Homeland Security expertise. We need the interns to come back again as full-time staff to the [greatest] extent potential. That’s one in every of the targets of the program.

Terry Gerton I’m guessing that when DHS will get interns, they don’t include a lot of understanding about the division. How do you get them oriented into the number of missions and the difficult construction of the division itself?

Jennifer Foley It’s a massive activity, as you talked about, and I feel a lot of interns are shocked by the depth and the breadth of the work that we do, particularly a few of the extra area of interest analysis areas the place students could also be positioned. One of the ways in which we orient students to the division is by means of weekly conferences, for instance, with the S&T level of contact. So, throughout these conferences, the division at massive may be mentioned, or issues happening all through the division or actions which may be taking place in the Washington D.C. space to assist them get acclimated with the D.C. space.

Terry Gerton How does this program match into the division’s larger technique for constructing its subsequent technology of homeland safety professionals?

Jennifer Foley By cultivating the expertise for the subsequent technology of Homeland Security professionals, we’re hoping to create a technology that has the information and the wherewithal to come back again and work for the division.

Terry Gerton And what number of people will probably be accepted into this program? How massive will the cohort be?

Jennifer Foley Last summer time we had 85 students. This summer time we’re hoping to develop a bit. We can host a little bit extra. We are solely restricted by the variety of mentors that we’re capable of safe all through the division.

Terry Gerton Well, that feels like an thrilling alternative. I do know that there’s a deadline with this program. So discuss us by means of the utility course of and the deadline, which is quick approaching.

Jennifer Foley Absolutely. I’ll begin with the deadline, which is January fifth, so please do get your functions in now. The utility course of is such that you’d apply by means of a web-based utility course of. There is an essay part, a couple of questions which are related to an essay elements that can ask about your need to work for the division and your potential analysis areas. That all will get submitted and is then paired with potential mentor. There’s then an interview course of, and lastly choices are made.

Terry Gerton And is there a web site that candidates ought to go to to seek out the utility and the course of?

Jennifer Foley The greatest method for you to entry details about the program, together with the utility, is to Google “HS Power, DHS, and Science and Technology.” Those three Googled collectively will deliver up the high three hits about the utility course of and truth sheets about our program.

Terry Gerton Well then if we’re fortunate, this interview will immediate a deluge of candidates to the portal.

Jennifer Foley Yes, certainly.