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

Today we’re spotlighting the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) — a paid opportunity for STEM undergrads and recent grads to conduct real research at one of 17 U.S. Department of Energy national labs. With a $650/week stipend, travel and housing support, and mentorship from leading scientists, SULI is a powerful stepping stone for students interested in clean energy, advanced computing, and national security research.

Next, we’re highlighting NSF Graduate Fellow Garrett Asper, whose aerospace research at Virginia Tech could reshape how we deliver supplies to rural and disaster-stricken areas. Asper is improving control algorithms for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) — flying machines that could transform emergency response logistics.

Thanks for staying around for another awesome week of internship, scholarship, and research information from That Black Chemist!

Upcoming Opportunities

🔬 Do Research at a National Lab with the DOE’s SULI Program

The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) is a paid research opportunity for full-time undergrads and recent grads in STEM or science policy. Participants spend 10–16 weeks at one of the 17 Department of Energy (DOE) national labs working on real research projects under the guidance of expert scientists and engineers.

Interns receive a $650/week stipend, plus travel and housing support if eligible. Alongside their research, students attend seminars, lab tours, and professional development workshops on scientific writing, presenting, and career planning.

This is a strong fit if you're planning a research career, want to explore national lab work, or are curious about how STEM impacts energy, tech, and policy on a national scale.

‼️ Program Details & Eligibility

• Full-time undergrads at 2- or 4-year colleges

• Stipend: $650/week

• Recent associate’s or bachelor’s grads (2ithin 2 years)

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents, age 18+

• Students with a 3.0+ GPA and at least 6 STEM credits completed

📅 When

• Summer Term: 10 weeks (May-August)

• Fall/Spring Terms: 16 weeks (Aug-Dec or Jan-May)

• More Information: (Click Here)

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

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

• 🎓 Pathways to Science: List of paid internships and research opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. (Search here)

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

• 🧠 NASA Pathways Internship: Multi-semester internship involving different career paths at NASA (Link).

🌍 International Opportunities

• 🧲 Pathways to Science: List of upcoming internships, scholarships, and research programs hosted by the U.S. [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)

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Scientist’s Scroll

✈️ eVTOLs, Algorithms, and Aid: Flight Research for Disaster Relief

In the wake of the destructive 2024 hurricanes, aerospace engineering PhD student Garrett Asper is using his NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to revolutionize emergency response. His work focuses on improving control systems for electric and hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), futuristic vehicles that lift like helicopters but fly like planes.

eVTOLs offer the promise of delivering people and cargo quickly, quietly, and affordably to hard-to-reach areas like rural towns and disaster zones. Asper’s research at Virginia Tech aims to solve this by designing and flight-testing new control algorithms that will eventually be made open source, allowing others to build on his work.

Growing up in rural Appalachia, Asper sees eVTOLs as more than just cutting-edge tech — he sees them as tools for equity. His goal is to make sure even the most remote communities aren’t left behind when emergencies strike.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Tip of the Day

🧠 Think in Systems, Not Slices

Critical thinking in STEM isn’t about having an opinion — it’s about building ideas from the ground up using logic, patterns, and evidence. One of the most powerful ways to sharpen your thinking is to treat every issue like a system, not just a snapshot. Here’s how that mindset sets you apart:

• You'll Stop Oversimplifying Complex Problems: Whether it’s poverty, energy, or pandemics, real-world issues don’t have single causes. Thinking in systems helps you see the full equation, not just one variable.

• You’ll Learn to Ask Better Questions: Great thinkers don’t just argue: they test assumptions. Systems thinking forces you to look for connections, contradictions, and missing pieces others ignore.

• It Prepares You for Interdisciplinary Work: From AI to biotech to climate modeling, the future belongs to people who can think across boundaries. Systems thinkers adapt fast.

• You’ll Stand Out in Interviews and Research: Being able to map out a problem’s root causes or explain why one variable shifts another shows maturity, not just memory.

• The Best Scientists Think Structurally: Einstein didn’t memorize facts. Instead, he asked, “What are the rules behind the rules?” Apply that same logic and you’ll be ahead of the curve.

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Today’s Theme: Fact or Fiction Friday

Congratulations on making it through the work week! Ready to test your science savvy?

👇🏾 Vote if you think the statement below is fact or fiction and tell us why in the comments!

Statement: Earth’s magnetic field arises from quantum mechanical effects in the core.

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