The Graduate School of Engineering and Management provides valuable internship opportunities for college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. These internships offer short-term experiences ideal for senior projects and cooperative education. By working in our state-of-the-art laboratories alongside top professionals, students gain both academic and financial benefits. This summer, interns were welcomed to AFIT with a special orientation day that included tours of labs and critical briefings. They also participated in weekly Lunch and Learn sessions where Graduate School faculty presented their research, providing an inside look into the ongoing work in AFIT labs.
Two of our Graduate School of Engineering and Management summer interns recently participated in Q+As to share their experiences with potential future AFIT interns. Learn how their internship opportunities have led to positive impacts on their career goals.
(U.S. Air Force contributed photo)
CHLOE HARBECKE
University: Cedarville University
Major: Mathematics
AFIT Graduate School Department: Engineering Physics
AFIT Research Center: Center for Directed Energy
Why did you apply for an internship experience at AFIT?
I have a friend and classmate who did this internship last summer and loved it. He told me about the internship and got me connected with AFIT. As he had a good experience and learned a lot from it, I wanted to try it as well. I was really interested in getting more research experience as this isn’t something that I have had in the classroom, and this was the perfect opportunity to do that.
What new skills or knowledge are you gaining through your internship?
I have learned a lot about experimental design, data analysis, and coding throughout my internship. I have never been a part of preparing an experiment before, and now I have seen many of the complications that must be overcome when setting up an experiment, which has helped me gain experience in problem solving. I also have been able to do a lot of work with big data, and have learned how to evaluate data quality, deal with outliers through various methods, and then analyze what this all means in terms of our experiment. This has been really interesting, because I have never had the opportunity to work closely in processing and cleaning data before, which has also given me a lot of coding experience, primarily with MATLAB. I used to dread coding, but now I see how helpful it is in solving real-world research problems.
How has this internship helped you clarify your career goals?
I would like to go to graduate school so that I can teach mathematics at the postsecondary level. As graduate school involves a lot of research, this internship has helped me to see the reality of what doing research actually looks like day to day. As I have never done research at this level before, this has been really helpful in showing me that it is not as scary as it sounds. There is problem solving, creative thinking, and perseverance that is needed, but it is also really exciting and rewarding when progress is made. This internship has definitely given me the starting point that I need to continue my education, and to do that with a head start.
How would you describe your experience here to another student considering an internship?
I have learned so much about what research looks like, and have been able to do it in a positive environment where faculty are excited to help students learn. Our faculty mentors are very dedicated to walking alongside us, pushing us to grow and succeed. I also have found it rewarding to be able to work on projects with applications that are relevant in the world today. This internship has provided a good opportunity to use the skills and knowledge that I already had, learn new skills and concepts, and work alongside people who care. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone who is looking to gain experience in research in a positive and encouraging environment.
CHLOE FUN FACT: "My grandfather was actually a part of AFIT before I was. He worked in the materials lab while in the Air Force and continued there while doing further research as a civilian. He also mentored graduate students and taught some classes at AFIT."
(U.S. Air Force contributed photo)
COLIN McLAGAN
University: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, B.S., Aerospace Engineering; AFIT graduate student, M.S. Astronautical Engineering (Fall 2025)
AFIT Graduate School Department: Engineering Physics
AFIT Research Center: Nuclear Expertise for Advancing Technologies (NEAT) Center
Why did you apply for an internship experience at AFIT?
I chose to intern at AFIT due to the many interesting projects and the plethora of connections to advanced research laboratories and government projects. I am here for my third summer internship and plan to pursue a master’s degree at AFIT.
What new skills or knowledge are you gaining through your internship?
Through my internship at AFIT, I have learned a lot about material science, down to the atomic level. All my work is computational, so I have gained knowledge of new coding languages and materials science software. I have also learned and advanced my technical writing, presentation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
How does your work at AFIT align with your academic studies??
My research focuses on studying the material behavior of metals and alloys under high temperature to provide better understanding of how to improve aerospace materials. In my field of astronautical engineering, strong and high temperature resistant materials are paramount to ensure mission success and safety for astronauts and payload, especially with re-entry applications. This research allows me to narrow in on a specific part of my studies.
How has this internship helped you clarify your career goals?
I hope to work in the aerospace industry, designing spacecraft and satellites that will expand the scope of present engineering goals and achievements. Because of these internships, my master’s degree at AFIT will be sponsored, allowing me to pursue higher education in the field that I love while still performing research that pushes the boundaries of the materials science industry.
What tasks presented the biggest challenges, and what did you learn from them?
I was unfamiliar with research techniques and norms before coming to AFIT. I learned quickly that organization, communication, and technical reading and writing skills were essential. But I also learned that failure is part of the process. At times, I hit a roadblock, not seeing the results that I want for weeks at a time. But through the failure, I have gained more knowledge with the lessons learned. These experiences have helped improve my problem-solving skills and taught me to be a little more patient as well.
What do you hope to take away from this experience as you continue your academic or professional journey??
This internship has provided me with a wealth of knowledge relating to research techniques, especially in the materials science field. As I continue my research and studies at AFIT, I hope to soak up as much information as I can to aide my success later in my career. As I continue at AFIT, I plan to create many connections with professors and students that can help me learn new skills and open up new opportunities for me after graduation.
How would you describe your experience here to another student considering an internship?
AFIT is an institution dedicated to research applications, especially regarding national security and defense. The professors and advisors are well educated, eager to teach and happy to help students learn new and complex topics. The labs and facilities on campus are state of the art, and collaboration with other labs such as AFRL gives interns access to equipment that most universities do not have. The connections with labs and government agencies all over the country provide students with great networking opportunities. The prestige of the university makes interning at AFIT worth it, even if it’s just to have the opportunity highlighted on a resume.
