Internships are extremely valuable to students and not just because they look great on a resume but because students get to develop new skills and form bonds with mentors and really learn about their work beyond the classroom.

For some students, a promising internship from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington, might be just the ticket.

Students taking science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) coursework can compete for paid summer internship at PNNL. These internships last 10 weeks, from June to August. As of the summer of 2013, interns are paid a stipend of $500 and provided free housing.

EWU graduate Benjamin Knox, a Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, credits his summer internship at PNNL for inspiring him to pursue his current field of study.

Originally from Richland, Knox applied for an internship with PNNL after a friend told him of their summer internship at the lab. Knox decided to apply after learning that one application would put him in the running for several positions.

While doing research on the biotechnological potential of fungi, Knox gained research and teamwork skills. Knox recommended that students take advantage of these internships because PNNL has a lot to offer.

Knox explained in an email interview how his internship at PNNL has greatly impacted his current work. “Through research at PNNL, I discovered my love of research as well as a fondness for fungi,” he said. “If it wasn’t for my internship experience there, I’m not sure I’d even be pursuing a career in science.”

According to Marisela Lineras-Mendoza, a staff member of PNNL, students from all over the world apply for these internships. Mendoza also said only a small handful out of more than 900 PNNL interns have come from EWU.

Judd Case, dean of the College of Science, Health and Engineering, provided a possible explanation for the lack of Eastern students working at PNNL.

“A lot of our exceptional students are very engaged in their own research here,” Case said. “They have other kinds of opportunities for the summer, and in some cases, it’s like, ‘Wow geez, my choice is having to relocate to the Tri-Cities versus I’m here, I’m doing a research project with a given faculty member’ or they may have another internship opportunity,” he said.

PNNL offers a wide variety of paid internships from science to math to business. Students who are offered one of these internships will get a unique hands-on experience working at PNNL with top scientists doing actual research projects.

Requirements for these internships vary a bit. Some require a GPA. of 2.5 or higher while others require a GPA. of 3.4 or higher. Students must submit a resume, an essay explaining why they want the internship, as well as unofficial transcripts. Applicants must also highlight classes which are relevant to the internship being applied for and provide examples of work they have done outside the classroom.

Applications for summer internships will be accepted until the first week of March. For more information visit www.pnnl.gov.