What’s Happening Today!

Welcome to a new & exciting daily post from That Black Chemist! 

For students at community and 2-year colleges, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Community College Internship (CCI) Program is now accepting applications! This paid 10-week research experience places you at one of 17 national labs across the country, where you’ll get hands-on training in cutting-edge energy, science, and tech projects.

Moving forward, we’re spotlighting Lisa Ng, a NIST researcher and allergy-conscious mom, who’s using science to keep indoor air safer for everyone. From bathroom exhaust fans on timers to kitchen ventilation and particle-filtering air purifiers, her research tackles real-world health concerns.

Finally, let’s journey back to 1922 with the Stern-Gerlach experiment, when physicists Otto Stern and Walther Gerlach discovered quantum spin by firing silver atoms through a magnetic field.

Upcoming Opportunities

⚙️ DOE Internship for Community College Students

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Community College Internship (CCI) Program is now accepting applications for paid 10-week research experiences at 17 national labs. If you’re a STEM student at a 2-year college, this is your chance to get hands-on training in real-world science, energy, and tech projects while working alongside top DOE scientists and engineers.

📅 Program Details

• Stipend: $650/week for 10 weeks

• When: Summer or academic semester

• Where: One of 17 DOE National Laboratories

• Support: Travel and housing assistance provided

• Application Deadline: Coming zoon

• Apply Here: [Website]

✅ Eligibility

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident

• Aged 18+ by internship start

• Currently enrolled ay a community or 2-year college

• Minimum GPA of 2.7

• Completed at least 1 semester and 6 STEM credits

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

• 🧪 NSF REU Summer Research Programs: List of funded undergrad research programs. (Search here)

• 🎓 Zintellect: List of scholarships, research fellowships, and internship opportunities funded by the U.S. government or private sector. (Search here)

• 💰 NASA OSTEM Internships: List of NASA Internships for high school and undergraduate STEM students. (More info)

• 🪖 Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship: $30,000-$46,000 scholarship awarded to top STEM students. (Link)

🌍 International Opportunities

• 🧲 Pathways to Science: List of upcoming internships, scholarships, and research programs hosted by any country [open to international students]. (Search here)

• 🔬 Amgen Scholars Program: Prestigious summer research program for undergraduate students in the U.S., Europe, or Asia. (More info)

• ⚛️ European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): Search for any upcoming internships related to chemistry, physics, engineering, or data science! (Link here)

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Intrax Global Internships: STEM-focused internship program for international students hosted by the U.S. Department of State. (More info)

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Scientist’s Scroll

🌀 NIST Researcher Shares Real-World Tips for Cleaner Indoor Air

Lisa Ng, indoor air quality researcher at NIST (and mom to kids with allergies), offers a science-backed look at how she keeps the air clean in her home and how her work is helping families do the same nationwide.

Ng uses kitchen ventilation, particle-filtering air purifiers, and exhaust fans on timers in bathrooms to manage allergens, moisture, and airborne chemicals. She’s careful to avoid devices that add things like ions or UV light to the air, due to unclear safety data.

Beyond the lab, Ng is passionate about inspiring the next generation—especially girls—to explore science by showing how everyday things like air quality can lead to high-impact careers.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Tip of the Day

🎓 Choose a STEM Major That Matches You

Not all STEM paths are built the same and not all of them fit you. The best major is the one that aligns with how you think, what excites you, and how you want to work. Here's how to find your match:

• 🧠 Abstract Thinking: Majors like math, physics, or theoretical CS reward creativity and logical puzzles. Great for independent thinkers and idea-builders.

• 🧪 Discovery: Chemistry, biology, and environmental science let you explore how nature works through hands-on experiments and detailed observation.

• ⚙️ Building: Engineering, computer science, and applied physics let you design, test, and improve real-world systems. Ideal for tinkerers and builders.

• 💭 Communication: Fields like science policy, data science, or science writing blend technical skills with people skills. Perfect if you like explaining ideas or leading teams.

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Today’s Theme: Throwback Thursday

🧲 Stern-Gerlach and the Quantum Split

In 1922—before Schrödinger’s cat and quantum tunneling—Otto Stern and Walther Gerlach performed an experiment that shocked the physics world. By shooting vaporized silver atoms through a magnetic field, they expected a messy smear on a detector. Instead, they got two sharp lines, proving that atomic behavior followed strange new rules.

What they really discovered was spin: a quantum property that didn’t even have a name yet. Though they thought the split came from electron orbits, it was actually due to the internal angular momentum of electrons which are quantized into “spin-up” or “spin-down” states.

Their experiment became a cornerstone of quantum mechanics. Later physicists tried to clarify what really happened during the split.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

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