BHSU HOSTS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND NATIONAL LABS

Image Credit: Stephen Kenny/SURF

Black Hills State University hosted leadership from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science along with lab directors and researchers from 15 of the nation's National Laboratories Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the Joy Center on the BHSU campus.

One of the priorities of the DOE Office of Science is ensuring that opportunities for DOE funding and partnerships are available to all. "Part of the way they attempt to achieve this goal is through visits from senior leadership in the agency and at the National Laboratories to small, under-resourced institutions across the country," said Dr. Cate Caldwell, Director of Grants at BHSU.

DOE representatives visited the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) before arriving on campus that afternoon. The first session at BHSU was geared towards faculty and undergraduate students. Regina Rameika, Associate Director, High Energy Physics, and Wade Johnson, Program Manager for Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, gave presentations, followed by short networking sessions for students to connect with DOE visitors about internships and research opportunities.

The second session of the day focused on faculty and graduate students in the Master of Science of Integrative Genomics (MSIG) program at BHSU. Dr. Yun-Seok Choi, assistant professor of chemistry and coordinator of the MSIG program, gave insight on the MSIG program, and Crysten Blaby from the Lawrence Berkley National Lab discussed careers and partnerships in genomics.

"This visit underscores the DOE's commitment to ensuring that opportunities for funding, research partnerships, and career development are accessible to institutions like ours-emerging research institutions that are full of potential and talent," said BHSU President Steve Elliott during the DOE's presentation at the Joy Center. "Their visit presents a unique and invaluable opportunity for our university community to connect with the nation's foremost leaders in science and energy research."

"We had a good turnout. The event was packed," added Caldwell. "Hopefully, this results in BHSU students obtaining prestigious jobs and internships with the DOE and National Labs, as well as an increase in faculty grant funding."