PLS interns shine at the annual poster showcase

The 2026 Physical and Life Sciences (PLS) Summer Student Showcase took place on July 29 in the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Library. The day-long event featured the research projects of nearly 130 student interns from across PLS’s divisions. This annual event is a great way for students to practice their science communication skills and gives them the opportunity to learn more about the summer research of their peers.

This year’s top presenters of the showcase were:

• Aya Ahmad (Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Division), mentored by Aaron Donahue, for their poster titled: “Not All Salt Is Created Equal: The Influence of Aerosol Size and Injection Strategy on Marine Cloud Brightening.” Aya said: “This internship has been an incredible opportunity to develop my research skills, explore a topic I’m passionate about, and most of all, to learn from an amazing team whose support made this experience so rewarding.”

• Plaban Mishra (Biosciences and Biotechnology Division), mentored by Carlos Valdez, for their poster titled: “Expanding the application of carbonyldiimidazole derivatization for the detection of nerve agent markers.” Plaban said, “Working on this project introduced me to an entirely new field of forensic chemistry and its real-world applications, and I am incredibly grateful to my mentor for fostering my growth while helping me connect these experiences to my interests in neurobiology and medicine.”

• Jackson Shoultz (Materials Science Division), mentored by Bradley Childs, for their poster titled: “U(IV) conversion in molten FLiNaK and a new U(IV,VI) redox system.” Jackson said, “A combination of respect, trust, great science, and mentors empowering students have produced a superb internship experience at LLNL.”
• Isabel Hernandez (Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division), mentored by Jack Goodell, for their poster titled: “Investigating Integral Cross Sections of Structural Materials at Fission Neutron Energies.” Isabel said, "My summer at LLNL widely expanded both my technical and communication skills, giving me the chance to work on a project outside my usual academic focus and stretch the bounds of what I know."
• Saikat Das (Physics Divison), mentored by Alessandro Castelli, for their poster titled: “Statistical Analysis of the Effects of Radiation on Superconducting Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors.” Saikat said, “My internship has been a rewarding experience in which I learned new physics, worked with innovative devices, contributed to designing and running experiments and data analysis, and connected with supportive mentors that have guided me along this journey with valuable discussions.”

• Zoe Ko (Physics Divison), mentored by Peter Mcgill, for their poster titled: “Unveiling Exoplanet Atmospheres: Mitigating Stellar Contamination with Pandora.” Zoe said, “Since joining LLNL as an intern, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to work alongside incredible scientists and researchers on Pandora, an exciting LLNL–NASA mission.”