UW students admire Fermilab’s Wilson Hall, the central laboratory building of the
6,800-acre campus near Chicago, during the recent Student Career TREK. (Tyler Grabner
Photo)
“This kind of opportunity is hard to get from anywhere else.”
So says Justin Wang, a master’s degree student in computer science from Cheyenne,
of his recent experience on a University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Physical
Sciences Career TREK. The four-day, all-expenses-paid trip took 16 students on comprehensive
tours of both Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
(Fermilab) in the greater Chicago area.
While there was some opportunity for sightseeing, the purpose of TREK tours is to
give students the opportunity to connect with UW alumni and other industry professionals
for an under-the-hood look at what working in their chosen career fields really entails.
On this trip, the group of 15 graduate students and one undergraduate student — from
electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, energy resource
management, statistics and computer science — observed operations firsthand at some
of the pre-eminent facilities in the nation.
The action-packed itinerary included tours of the computing facility, Advanced Photon
Source and Smart Energy Plaza at Argonne, as well as the original bubble chamber,
Super Conducting Quantum Materials Lab and particle accelerator at Fermilab. Each
day included ample opportunities to practice important networking skills through meals
and question-and-answer sessions with industry professionals at each of the labs.
“I was able to go, to learn and to grow without having to worry about money. In every
way, this trip was an eye-opener,” says sophomore Addison Taggart, of Loveland, Colo.
“It broadened my horizons, introduced me to inspiring people and places, and played
a role in shaping the next steps of my academic and career journey.”
For Taggart, who is studying energy resource management, this journey now includes
applying for a summer internship at Argonne National Laboratory.
Organized by Tyler Grabner at the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Career
Services Office, TREK trips provide a transformative experience that on-campus professional
development opportunities simply can’t match.
Wang adds that “seeing the lab in action is totally different from getting information
about the lab and their research through reading published journal papers. During
the visit, I could see all kinds of equipment, the design of the lab and, most importantly,
I had face-to-face communication opportunities with scientists and engineers. It’s
much easier to ask questions in person and build connections with them.”
In addition to Grabner, other UW faculty and staff members went on the trip to help
students get the most of their experience: Heather Chandler, a senior office associate
in the School of Energy Resources; Rudi Michalak, a senior lecturer in physics and
astronomy; and Hasan Iqbal, an assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer
science.
Alex McDaniel, a master’s student in electrical engineering from Laramie, was especially
appreciative of their support both before and during the trip.
“Our faculty who planned the trip were very good at giving advice and training along
the way so that we were prepped to put our best foot forward,” McDaniel says.
Whether or not students on the trips choose to apply to the companies they visit,
they consistently gain valuable skills, connections and fresh perspectives to support
their future careers.
“I would recommend this kind of career trek to other students,” says Zia Ur Rehman,
a master’s student in chemistry from Pakistan. “It helps with networking and making
connections for internships or jobs, and it also gives students a clearer sense of
direction in their studies and research.”
To learn more about the Student Career TREK program, visit www.uwyo.edu/ceps/resources/studentservices/jobs/trek.html.