The Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) is thrilled to present the 2023 cohort of the Technology Commercialization Internship. This remarkable collective of undergraduate STEM and business students, which were selected from over 300 applicants, represents an impressive blend of cultures and backgrounds, reflective of our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). 67% of members of this year's cohort are proud attendees of minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and approximately 19% come from disadvantaged communities, a major objective of the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative. Over an eleven-week period, this cohort will immerse themselves in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE's) world-class national lab system, strengthen their entrepreneurial mindset, and delve into energy technology markets. Get to know the 2023 cohort of interns!

Salvador Ayala—National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Salvador Ayala and his family immigrated to the United States in 2017 to pursue higher education. After graduating from Highland High School, he transferred to Heritage University in Washington State. He is in his sophomore year, pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Salvador enjoys going to the gym, hiking, and occasional reading. He is interested in how business intersects with technology and hopes to understand how businesses are influencing technology. Salvador looks forward to learning about other opportunities to work on significant, impactful projects, which could help him gain more knowledge and skills as a student.

Kerat Bangar—Sandia National Laboratories

Kerat Bangar is a first-year physics and engineering science student at Middlesex College. She spends her spare time crocheting, reading, and hiking when the weather permits. Kerat is eager to learn more about how the federal government is working to advance energy technology development this summer.

Renee Catanach—Sandia National Laboratories

Renee Catanach attends New Mexico State University, where she majors in Computer Science and is working towards two minors, Spanish and Software Development. She loves to travel and explore new cultures, play sports with friends, and is an ardent Tetris player. This summer, Renee anticipates learning about cutting-edge technologies that align with her fields of study under expert mentorship.

Obehi Ehigie—Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility

Obehi Ehigie is a mechanical engineering student who recently transferred to California State University, Long Beach. Her hobbies include playing rugby, baking cute treats, visiting local art galleries and museums, and skateboarding. Obehi is grateful for this internship opportunity, as she has always been passionate about engineering, programming, and technology as a whole. She looks forward to gaining insights and growing in her position under the guidance of a mentor in such an intriguing field.

Alex Gutierrez-Diaz—Kansas City National Security Campus

Alex Gutierrez-Diaz is a dedicated Mathematics major at California State University, Los Angeles, who will graduate in May 2023. Starting this fall, he will pursue an advanced degree in cybersecurity and mathematics, aiming to blend both disciplines and develop a thesis question for a future doctorate program. Alex is eager to learn about the process of practical application of theory through a technology commercialization lens. He is particularly curious about how this lens differs from a purely mathematical perspective. Alex enjoys traveling, trying unique dishes, and exercising.

Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt—Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt is presently completing a dual degree in Physics and Environmental Studies at New College of Florida. She is enthusiastic about beginning her Master's in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley in fall 2023. Raised on a sailboat in Hawaii, Antonia is fluent in both French and German. Beyond academics, she is passionate about rowing, playing the ukulele, hula-hooping, creating mermaid tails, and engaging in unique art projects. Antonia is excited to connect with other innovators and entrepreneurs this summer and explore the challenges of bringing renewable energy technologies, including her patented mobile solar carport appliance, to market.

Zoryah Gray—Argonne National Laboratory

Zoryah Gray is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science at Northwestern University. As a middle child, she has an older sister and a younger brother. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, spending time with friends, and writing. Zoryah is eager to learn more about the process of tech commercialization and the logistics behind it, as she aims to understand what happens behind the scenes of technology created for public use. She aspires to start her own business in the future and believes that gaining more knowledge about technology transfer and commercialization will be extremely beneficial.

Johnathan Gorum—Sandia National Laboratories

Johnathan Gorum is a graduating senior at Bowie State University, majoring in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. A member of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society and the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center, he is also a scholar in the Center for Financial Advancement (CFA) program. Johnathan enjoys working out, traveling, attending conventions and festivals, and creating music with friends in his leisure time. He aims to develop his leadership, business, and marketing skills and launch new business ventures after graduation. Johnathan eagerly anticipates the DOE internship this summer to enhance his entrepreneurial thinking and explore new market opportunities.

Radeha Haqu—Sandia National Laboratories

Radeha Haque is a rising junior at Binghamton University majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a minor in Sustainable Engineering. She is thrilled to learn about how to bring a technology product to the consumer market while understanding the technical concepts behind it. Radeha aims to be a significant contributor in merging business and engineering applications to create innovative solutions. Outside of academics, she loves to draw and animate, and enjoys creating mini videos for her friends and family.

Adrian John Hernandez—Sandia National Laboratories

Adrian John Hernandez hails from Bellflower, California, and is studying at California State University, Long Beach. He is currently majoring in Electrical Engineering with a minor in computer science. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, playing guitar, and reading. Adrian looks forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the technology generated by his appointment location and further improving his social interaction skills this summer.

Meghana Karthic—Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Meghana Karthic, a rising junior at Johns Hopkins University, is studying Computer Science with a minor in Entrepreneurship & Management. Passionate about creating technologies to assist underserved communities, she plans to use her coding and business skills to promote health and sustainability after graduation. Meghana looks forward to learning about the research projects at the U.S. Department of Energy this summer and devising a market strategy to maximize their social impact. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to crime podcasts, working on jigsaw puzzles, and exploring the best pasta spots near her university with friends.

Abhimanyu Khandelwal—Sandia National Laboratories

Abhimanyu Khandelwal is a rising junior at Pennsylvania State University majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. He enjoys running, playing chess, and learning about ancient history. Abhimanyu looks forward to expanding his knowledge and contributing to the intersection of business and technology, specifically machine learning and AI. He is excited about further developing his business and technical skills during the internship.

Tina Memarian—Sandia National Laboratories

Tina Memarian is a student at the University of New Mexico, majoring in International Studies and Chemistry. She enjoys spending time outdoors with friends, family, and her dog. Tina also finds joy in watching movies, creating pottery, and embracing new experiences. She is keen on honing her technology commercialization skills and stepping out of her comfort zone. Tina looks forward to collaborating with others and developing commercialization plans.

Nathan Mitchell—Brookhaven National Laboratory

Nathan Mitchell will be a senior this fall at the University of Houston and plans to graduate with a mechanical engineering degree in May 2024. His hobbies include creative writing and having fun with his younger siblings. Nathan is most excited to learn about the business side of technology transfer during this internship. Bringing technology into real life has been a goal of his since starting college, and he is looking forward to working towards that goal this summer.

Arunabh Sarmah—Sandia National Laboratories

Arunabh Sarmah is a mechanical engineering student studying at the University of Houston with a focus on sustainability and research. A big music nerd, he plays guitar, saxophone, and drums, and also loves listening to music. He hopes to learn a lot about technology commercialization and is excited to see how his skills and background will fit into this role.

We are thrilled to welcome this diverse and talented group of students who are poised to make significant contributions at the crossroads of technology and business. We eagerly anticipate the progress they will make during their internship!

If you are interested in learning more about the OTT Technology Commercialization Internship program, we welcome you to explore the opportunity. For more information about the program and how to join the next cohort, please visit the Technology Commercialization Internship page.