Research Participant Experiences
Chris Goodin is a Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. From May 2006 until August 2006, he interned at UNIRIB, specifically working on the University Isotope Separator-Oak Ridge (UNISOR). His internship was funded by the Center of Excellence for Radioactive Ion Beam Studies for Stewardship Science, established through a partnership with Rutger’s University and ORAU’s UNIRIB.
Hometown: Vicksburg, Miss.
What was your research focus during the UNIRIB internship?
Developing a target and ion source intended to be used for heavy ion beam experiments for my thesis.
What were your favorite parts of the internship?
I enjoyed building up new ion sources, as well as assembling a new charge exchange cell at the center beam line of UNISOR. I also learned to operate the ion source, extract a beam, and deliver it to the moving tape collector, which was interesting.
How did your internship at UNIRIB benefit you?
Aside from my experience at UNIRIB, I have had very little opportunity for lab work. I think the overall quality of my dissertation will be greatly enhanced by being able to include an experiment in which I was heavily involved from planning to analysis and will demonstrate my ability to work in the lab.
For more information on how to apply for physics opportunities at UNIRIB, go to http://see.orau.org
Emily Prettyman is an undergraduate with a double major in math and physics at DePaul University. She interned with Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) radioactive ion beam facility, the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF), from June to August, 2006. Her internship was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) Program, which offers 10-week appointments to conduct hands-on research at DOE national laboratories. The program is administered for ORNL and DOE by ORISE.
Hometown: Tecumseh, Mich.
What was your research focus during the UNIRIB internship?
My research was focused on hold-up time measurements, which are the rates at which chemical elements are released from a target ion source during proton-induced fission. I helped make the hold-up time measurements using various targets and varying temperatures and then analyzed the data to find trends from these measurements. The goal was to be able to use these hold-up time measurements to design optimal targets to maximize production of specific isotopes. As a result of the experience, I was invited to present a poster at a regional nuclear physics conference to show the research results.
What were your favorite parts of the internship?
Being exposed to different people and experiences. This was also my first hands-on experience, and it was exciting to be able to apply the things I have been studying in school and to see real experiments rather than the rigged ones associated with my courses.
How did your internship at UNIRIB benefit you?
Meeting so many people and making so many connections will hopefully assist me when applying to graduate school in the next year. Additionally, the experience reinforced the things I have been learning in college over the past three years.
For more information about the SULI Program, go to http://www.scied.science.doe.gov
