2024 NIST Internship Reflections

During the summer of 2024, the NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory’s (PML) Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) hosted two undergraduate students through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and Professional Research Experience (PREP). These and other programs facilitate collaborations between NIST and universities to offer work experience opportunities under the mentorship of a NIST scientist or engineer. Let’s hear from OWM student in their own words:

Dinelka Jagoda | School: University of Maryland

My name is Dinelka Jagoda, and I am a computer science major with an upper-level concentration in art at the University of Maryland, College Park. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to work within the Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) specifically for the  Metric Program, which focuses on K-12 educational materials and resources related to the International System of Units (SI). Under the guidance of my research advisor, Elizabeth Benham, I delved into the world of STEM education, where I gained a profound understanding of the practical applications of SI skills in both academic and everyday contexts.

My second SURF fellowship experience at NIST allowed me to contribute to the development and enhancement of multiple educational resources. One of my significant accomplishments this summer was expanding the NIST Educational STEM Resource Registry (NEST-R) resources, which is an online catalog of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational and professional development resources. My work with the platform included analyzing a wide variety of NIST outreach articles, activities, and videos, then applying the registry schema, selecting appropriate keywords, writing descriptions, and developing teaching tips to prepare each new record for upload into the registry. I was able to add dozens of resources to help educators and students discover and access SI resources more efficiently, which will facilitate better metric system classroom education. Additionally, I had the privilege of assisting with the distribution of the SI Teacher Kits, which play a crucial role in how the Metric Program disperses metric learning materials to educators across the United States. I expanded my Drupal website content management system experience by designing and developing new webpages for upcoming and updated publications, including the Metric Conversion Card (SP 365), Metric Ruler (SP 376), and Metric Estimation Game. My contributions to the publication of the Metric Estimation Game lesson plan manuscript have refined my writing, reviewing, and organizing skills; I am a co-author of this new SI classroom resource.

Overall, this fellowship experience allowed me to advance a broad number of professional skills and allowed me to gain experience in a different field of study. By having the opportunity to incorporate art into many of my projects, I’ve been able to narrow down my career path as well! The work I accomplished these past two summers at OWM has solidified my interest in pursuing a more art-focused direction within computer science, particularly in areas like UX/UI design, web development, and human-computer interaction, which I’m excited to explore further. 

Maryanne Amanze | School: Montgomery College

My name is Maryanne Amanze and I recently graduated with an associate degree in computer science from Montgomery College and am transferring to the University of Maryland, College Park, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in information science. Over the Spring and Summer, I had the privilege of working at the NIST Office of Weights and Measures as a Legal Metrology PREP intern under the guidance and supervision of my mentor, Elizabeth Benham.

During my internship at NIST, I worked on various projects primarily focusing on K-12 educational outreach materials and the promotion of the International System of Units (SI). To support the 2024 summer international games and improve high school athletes’ application of metric system measurements, I researched and developed the new Metric in Sports: Track and Field webpage and expanded the “fun facts” series throughout the site. Website educational content is a primary way that educators and students access Metric Program resources. My website projects included evaluating customer utilization data to prioritize content updates, as well as developing graphic banners and illustrations to enhance the companion technical content. In addition, I analyzed and updated the SI Teacher Kits digital and hardcopy components and streamlined the distribution process.

My experience at NIST was highlighted by many opportunities to participate in multiple on-campus education outreach events, including the NIST Childcare Center Kindergarten STEM Program Frog Hop hands-on measurement activity and the Take Our Kids to Work Day (TOKTWD). During these events, I worked alongside other volunteers to introduce young learners to the field of metrology. As part of the photo shoot for the upcoming Metric Estimation Game lesson plan publication, I learned how to plan and collaborate to achieve high-quality images that will help educators conduct the activity in their classroom. Furthermore, I gained many valuable career skills, including experience in the Drupal website content management system. The professional development training sessions available during my internship and collaborations with the OWM office team provided me with a comprehensive understanding of how a professional work environment operates.

Related News

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• 2023 NIST Internship Reflections 
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• Catch the Wave - NIST SURF for Career Success: Announcing 2023 Office of Weights and Measures Undergraduate Research Opportunities 
• OWM Welcomes Montgomery College Interns (2022)