Naval Research Interns Explore Naval Careers During ‘Pathways to Discovery’ Panel

WASHINGTON, D.C.  –   The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) hosted its first annual Pathways to Discovery career panel and networking event July 17, inviting summer interns from the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP), Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP), and other Department of the Navy programs to explore career possibilities in science, engineering, and national defense.

The event featured an interactive panel discussion with researchers and leadership who shared personal experiences, advice, and behind-the-scenes insights into working at the nation’s premier naval research institution.

Panelists represented disciplines spanning space science, electronics, materials, and neuromodulation, offering diverse perspectives on career paths, professional development, and long-term growth in the federal research environment.

“This is about more than building résumés,” said Erica Deschak Joya, NRL’s Scientific Interchange Program Coordinator and event host. “It’s about building relationships, learning from experienced professionals, and understanding how your passion for STEM can have a real-world impact through service to the Navy and the nation.”

The panel was moderated by Pania Newell, Ph.D. Newell an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Utah and visiting faculty at NRL guided discussions around mentorship, motivation, and the realities of research.

Panelists included:

• Peter Matic, Ph.D., associate director of research for NRL Materials Science and Component Technology Directorate
• Andy Nicholas, head of NRL Sensor Development and Applications, Spacecraft Engineering Division
• Maggie Stevens, Ph.D., electrical engineer in NRL’s Electronics Science and Technology Division
• Harry Cole, a current NREIP intern, NRL’s Electronics Science and Technology Division

Panelists emphasized the unique opportunities at the laboratory to shape meaningful research careers while working on challenges of national importance. Matic noted, “I consider it a privilege to work here. The work you do helps the 18- and 19-year-olds in uniform who are out there protecting our country. That’s something you can’t get out of every job.”

For Cole, a returning intern, the experience has been transformational.

“Ten weeks of getting involved in the research that I want to do is almost life-changing,” he said. “I feel that I’m getting the skills to be a researcher while actually contributing to research. That’s the rewarding part, getting to answer the questions that I once thought I’d never have the chance to explore.”

Other discussion topics included the importance of mastering foundational and translatable skills, like coding, scientific communication, and teamwork, as well as coping with challenges like imposter syndrome, research setbacks, and shifting passions over time.

“There is no perfect pathway for your passion,” Cole said. “Often when you think your passion is fading, you’re already well set up to succeed in something else. You just have to shift your perspective.”

Panelists also shared advice on how interns can position themselves for long-term careers at NRL, from maintaining professional networks and seeking mentorship to setting achievable research goals and staying curious.

“Reliable interns stand out,” Cole said. “They aren’t always the smartest in the room, but they’re the ones who show up, are willing to learn, and follow through.”

The conversation concluded with a look at how NRL scientists develop and fund their research, describing the internal proposal process, external partnerships with Department of Defense agencies and industry, and the understanding of technology readiness levels (TRLs) to track the maturation of innovations from concept to deployment.

Following the panel, interns were encouraged to continue the conversation during a networking reception with researchers, mentors, and peers.

“As you heard from the panel, there’s no single path into a career at NRL,” Newell said. “But for those who are curious, driven, and eager to work on problems that matter, there’s no better place to start.”

Pathways to Discovery is one of several career and development initiatives NRL offers to cultivate the next generation of scientists and engineers in service to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL, located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.
For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil. Please reference package number at top of press release