Meet the inaugural U.S. National Science Foundation Leadership-Class Computing Facility (NSF LCCF) Internship cohort! Over 20 weeks, six interns received training on cutting-edge computing resources, workplace readiness training, and team-building opportunities. Read about their experiences, lessons learned, and why these interns recommend that others apply to the NSF LCCF Internship.
Javier Francisco Saenz Jr.
Mentorship Group: Enterprise Software
Mentor(s): Adam Gaither, Austin Darrow, Joshua Medina
Why did you apply for the NSF LCCF Internship?
This internship represented the perfect opportunity to align my work with my educational background in Computer Information Systems. I graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word with a Computer Information Systems degree during the COVID-19 shutdown in May 2020. I wanted to advance my career by returning to the field of technology.
What project(s) did you work on during your time as an LCCF Intern?
I collaborated with another intern on a machine learning and natural language processing project using TACC’s Frontera and Vista supercomputers to implement transfer learning techniques with transformer models for text classification. To support this work, we developed synthetic textual datasets using generative AI.
What did you enjoy most about being an LCCF Intern?
I enjoyed being surrounded by other interns learning alongside me, as well as the mentors and TACC staff who shared their extensive knowledge with us. The collaborative environment allowed for constant learning, whether from peer discussions or expert guidance.
How will the LCCF Internship help you move forward in your career?
I’ve learned new technical skills and reinforced my soft skills. This program goes beyond technical training by offering professional development classes that benefit our future careers, including time management, leadership skills, project management, resume writing, and job-search strategies.
How did your background prepare you for this opportunity?
I come from generations of physical laborers and began in physically demanding jobs. This heritage gave me a strong motivation to push myself beyond my perceived limitations. I was fortunate to pursue my undergraduate education and developed a passion for technology that led me to my current path. While my degree provided a foundation, it didn't include extensive coding experience or many of the specialized skills I've gained through this internship.
Why should others apply to the program?
This environment is meant for growth, so embrace the opportunity. While technical projects are important, don't overlook the value of professional development and networking.
Jared Galindo Hernandez
Mentorship Group: Scalable Visualization Technologies Group
Mentor(s): Dave Semeraro, Anne Bowen, Andrew Solis
Why did you apply for the NSF LCCF Internship?
I was inspired by the program’s openness to those of various backgrounds. I was skeptical of being accepted to the program because of my largely analytical-scientific career experience, but I saw the benefits of learning HPC, data analytics, scientific computing, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
What project(s) did you work on during your time as an LCCF Intern?
My primary focus was on a data preparation and visualization project that centered on the NHERI DesignSafe-CI storm surge and hurricane numerical simulation modeling outputs, along with related geospatial datasets. I developed software and algorithms to incorporate the project into more interactive and scalable data analysis and visualization tools.
Moreover, I helped develop interactive visualization methods and software for the “Artifact-Based Rendering” (ABR) engine, plug-ins (e.g. ParaView), and algorithms to wrangle geospatial data to viable formats (e.g. VTK). Part of the work was developing an input system for planar touch displays, projected phenomena, and enabling advanced human-computer interface interactions. This project will be integrated into an interactive visual display hosted at TACC’s NSF LCCF Visitor Center.
What did you enjoy most about being an LCCF Intern?
I enjoyed the variety of hands-on experiences. I dove into HPC workflows and wrangling elaborate and intriguing data. I wrangled geospatial and numerical simulation data, and am currently developing the visualization software for similar data. I love seeing how each piece fits into a larger project. The combination of cutting-edge technology, team-oriented problem-solving, and meaningful applications is what made this internship a fulfilling experience.
How will the LCCF Internship help you move forward in your career?
The internship provided me with concrete experience in interactive visualization, software integration, and user-interface design within HPCenvironments. By continually refining my skills in data pipelines, visualization workflows, software development, touch-interface integration, and projection visualization prototyping, I’m better prepared for advanced roles in data science and visualization, scientific computing, human-computer interaction, GIS analytics, and HPC-based research. I also now have a proven track record of collaboration in real-world projects.
How did your background prepare you for this opportunity?
Thanks to my previous work with HPC, robotics, data analysis, and scientific research, it was inevitable that I would find an opportunity as scientifically and technically oriented as this one.
Why should others apply to the program?
If you’re curious, driven, and ready to explore the frontier of what TACC has to offer, the NSF LCCF internship provides the perfect environment to sharpen your skills and make tangible contributions. This program is a rare chance to enjoy TACC’s technical and educational opportunities in a real-world environment, all while being mentored by experts who want you to learn. The mix of hands-on technical exposure, collaborative problem-solving, and professional development will prepare you for advanced roles in academia, industry, or anywhere large-scale challenges and solutions matter.
James Hernandez
Mentorship Group: Enterprise Software
Mentor(s): Adam Gaither, Austin Darrow, Joshua Medina
Why did you apply for the NSF LCCF Internship?
After earning my bachelor's degree in Computer Science, I needed more hands-on experience before entering the workforce. TACC offered me an incredible opportunity to bolster my career opportunities.
What project(s) did you work on during your time as an LCCF Intern?
I worked on a classification project in collaboration with NSF and TACC. My role involves categorizing incoming scientific abstracts into their respective fields of study using artificial intelligence. Utilizing the Frontera and Vista systems, I worked with large language models like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Meta’s Llama to generate synthetic data. Additionally, I use Hugging Face’s NLP models like BERT and deep learning tools such as AdamW for classification and transfer learning.
What did you enjoy most about being an LCCF Intern?
TACC’s culture emphasizes continuous learning. Beyond our mentors, everyone here is knowledgeable and generous with sharing their expertise. I appreciate that I can seek help and TACC staff will genuinely try to assist.
How will the LCCF Internship help you move forward in your career?
I have gained invaluable amounts of scientific knowledge and technical experience through this program. This internship will jumpstart my career in tech by opening new doors and providing a strong foundation for my future growth.
How did your background prepare you for this opportunity?
My Computer Science degree taught me how to systematically approach and solve complex problems. Earning my degree instilled the persistence to keep moving forward when faced with challenges. These problem-solving skills and resilience have been essential in my internship at TACC.
Why should others apply to the program?
This program is for you if you’re passionate about technology and excited to work with cutting-edge tools. As an intern, you'll constantly be learning and growing as you benefit from TACC’s welcoming culture. This internship is a learning opportunity—you won’t know everything, and that’s okay. Consider facing challenges as a valuable experience.
Etienne Cuero
Mentorship Group: User Services
Mentor(s): Jack Gaither, Virginia Trueheart
Why did you apply for the NSF LCCF Internship?
I had been job hunting since graduating from Texas State University in 2023 and wanted to work in my field while gaining valuable experience.
What project(s) did you work on during your time as an LCCF Intern?
While working on some Python projects, my mentors approached me to assess my technical skills by challenging me with various assignments. I focused on loading data from a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) file and retrieving specific information like date of birth and first name. I also worked on cleaning data from a JSON file so it could fit within Python’s syntax as a dictionary. In addition, users sometimes encounter issues while running their jobs on TACC systems. I utilized both Frontera and Lonestar6 to start developing an AI chatbot that can assist TACC users with general help and questions going forward.
What did you enjoy most about being an LCCF Intern?
I enjoy learning about topics like natural language processing and machine learning accuracy metrics. I also enjoyed getting to know my fellow interns and TACC staff.
How will the LCCF Internship help you move forward in your career?
I have a clearer understanding of what to expect in machine learning and a better feel for what a healthy work environment should feel like. The professional development sessions improved my interpersonal job-searching skills.
How did your background prepare you for this opportunity?
In 2022, I worked as a camp counselor for TACC’s summer camps. I’ve also participated in these camps as an attendee. It’s because of these experiences that I was introduced to the fields of computer science and programming.
Why should others apply to the program?
This internship can be the start of a career change, an introduction to the tech industry, and even a boost to your college career. The mentors are understanding and eager to help you improve your skills.
James Labyer
Mentorship Group: Life Sciences Computing
Mentor’s Name(s): James Carson, Erik Ferlanti, Joe Allen
Why did you apply for the NSF LCCF Internship?
I wanted to gain real-world software engineering experience, learn more about career pathways in HPC, and contribute to projects that have a positive impact on society.
What project(s) did you work on during your time as an LCCF Intern?
Utilizing TACC’s Jetstream virtual machines, I developed a website that presents tissue sample data for biologists looking for an improved way to visualize their collected data. I also used TACC’s Core Styles repositories and UI Pattern library to implement style and security enhancements for a website that showcases TACC computing resource usage data.
What did you enjoy most about being an LCCF Intern?
I enjoyed learning new skills and methodologies from tutorials on Lonestar6, reading documentation written by TACC staff, and getting feedback on the design and implementation of my work.
How will the LCCF Internship help you move forward in your career?
The real-world experience I gained will help me find a job as a software engineer. I am also learning software development practices that will assist me on future projects.
How did your background prepare you for this opportunity?
My previous experience as a software product manager taught me how to turn customer needs into software requirements. I used that experience to develop functional requirements for a website that includes tissue data tracking, 3D models of samples, volumetric maps of measurements taken on samples, and scientific images. In addition, I used my Python programming skills on the projects during this internship.
Why should others apply to the program?
This program is a fantastic growth opportunity. The mentors want you to succeed and will teach you the skills necessary to advance your career.
Learn more about the NSF LCCF Internship!