About The Program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, in partnership with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), gives you the opportunity to join an internship and development program called Homeland Security Workforce Opportunities to Increase Research Engagement and Diversity (DHS-WIRED). This program is designed to prioritize students from minority-serving institutions and those who are from backgrounds historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. DHS-WIRED serves as a catalyst, providing opportunities to expand your research, grow your skills, and discover the variety of opportunities available within national security.
Program Details
DHS-WIRED internships are part of a paid, 8- to 10-week enrichment program. Typically, appointments begin during the summer months, but semester opportunities are available as well. As a DHS-WIRED intern, you’ll apply your education, talent, and skills to real-world projects, while developing your network among DHS researchers. This entire experience equips you to learn more about the DHS mission and prepares you to be career-ready for a future in national security.
Program Eligibility
- Be currently enrolled at an accredited university as an undergraduate or graduate student.
- Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or higher.
Using Your Education
DHS-WIRED is open to students from a wide range of majors, as there are a variety of ways to use your education in support of the DHS mission.
- Cyber/Computer Science: Computer engineering, coding, cybersecurity, and computer science focusing on secure systems
- Concept and Application Evaluation: Physics, mathematics, statistics, and quantitative evaluation and assessment
- Analytics: Political science, public policy and international relations, criminal justice, and policy analysis
- Engineering: Chemical, biological, mechanical, material, and electrical engineering
Disciplines of Interest (Preferred, not Required)
- Analytics / Political Science
- Biology/Chemistry
- Cyber/Computer Science
- Engineering
- Physics/Mathematical Statistics
The PNNL Gold Experience
When you become a PNNL DHS-WIRED intern, you also gain access to our prestigious intern development experience, called the Gold Experience. In addition to our engaging research internship opportunities, our premier program provides you with strategic professional development opportunities and networking to elevate your future STEM career. Our internships are intentionally crafted to give you an immersive research experience. We believe investing in interns today is an opportunity to champion the future experts of tomorrow. Our enhanced model for delivering an internship is all about your comprehensive experience as a PNNL intern.
