Dear FIU Students,

Leonel E. Lagos, Ph.D., PMP®  Program Director

Leonel E. Lagos, Ph.D., PMP®
Program Director

I wanted to let you know about an incredible opportunity made possible to FIU minority students thanks to the sponsorship and funding of the US Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM). In an effort to overcome the challenges of an aging workforce, DOE-EM is actively and aggressively targeting college students across the US to enter DOE’s workforce. To this end, DOE-EM teamed up with Florida International University’s Applied Research Center and established the DOE-FIU Science & Technology Workforce Development Program. This innovative training and mentoring program provides a unique opportunity for FIU minority students interested in making a difference to our environment. Once selected, you will be inducted as a DOE Fellow and you will have the opportunity to conduct “hands-on” research, participate in 10-week internships, present at conferences, and become part of this unique fellowship. The intention of this program is to provide you with the training and experience needed to seek employment opportunities with DOE or DOE contractors. This program will provide you with ALL the tools to accomplish just that. I encourage you to browse our website and discover what your peers have been able to accomplish during the past few years. This program will provide you with the focus, training, mentorship, and professional skills that will be critical for your success once you join the workforce. There is a word that is often used in our group; the word is “ganas” (Spanish for “desire”). I want FIU students to have the “ganas” to succeed, not just as students, but also as professionals and to make meaningful contributions to the restoration of our fragile environment and resources.

To Potential Employers and DOE Community:

I would encourage you to browse our website as well; you will be amazed at the type of work these students (DOE Fellows) are doing. If you are interested in recruiting well-rounded, smart, and hard working students, you are in the right place. Our DOE Fellows are being specifically trained and mentored in DOE’s Office of Environmental Management technical areas of need. All of our DOE Fellows are engaged in soil/groundwater contamination research, deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) projects, and waste processing research. Their applied research has won awards at national and international conferences such as the Waste Management Symposia. Their practical knowledge and training of EM environmental challenges are unique. We take pride that our DOE Fellows are not only technically sound but well-rounded. Their presentation skills and project management knowledge sets them apart from the rest of the college students across the US. Once hired, our DOE Fellows are ready to hit the ground running and will be able to immediately contribute to your organization without extensive and costly training.

“In the end it’s the support the younger generation gets from us more “mature” humans that will not only make a difference in their lives but also in the world we all live in.”

Sincerely,

Leonel E. Lagos, Ph.D., PMP®

Program Director