Sandia has a number of challenging opportunities for students in the DHS Scholarship & Fellowship Program. Sandia is a participant in this program, however, the application and selection process is managed through the Department of Homeland Security. Please visit the official program website to learn more about the program and how you can apply to be a DHS Scholar or Fellow.
Special nuclear material (SNM) emits penetrating, high-energy radiation during active and passive interrogation. This radiation can be imaged and thus allows visualization of shielded and/or smuggled SNM. Although g-rays are one option for imaging, neutrons have the advantage of better penetration through high-z shielding, and are thus preferred in many cases. We are developing a neutron scatter camera to image fission neutrons from SNM. This will be the first instrument of its kind and a powerful tool to aid in the detection of smuggled SNM.
Invertebrates are exposed to the same toxins and bacterial pathogens that afflict all multicellular organisms, and they rely on a robust innate immune system for survival. Studies of invertebrates, such as the genetically well-characterized soil nematode C. elegans, have revealed molecular mechanisms of innate immunity that are highly conserved across species. We are using C. elegans, and combining behavioral, genetic, and microfluidic assays, to dissect the molecular mechanisms of the innate immune response to specific bacterial pathogens and toxins.
A first step in the mitigation of any biosecurity threat is the identification of the organism or biotoxin. At Sandia/California we are developing innovative micro- and nanoscale tools for the detection and analysis of biomarkers. In this project, we utilize the electrokinetic concentration and separation capabilities of nanoscale fluidic channels to enable rapid, label-free detection of biomarkers.
As a member of the engineering team, the student will investigate the pre-concentration and separation capabilities of nanofluidic devices featuring embedded nano-electrodes. Depending on the student’s experience and interests, additional tasks might include the design and fabrication of new nanofluidic devices or the development and optimization of proof-of-concept biomarker assays.
In Systems Analysis, students will conduct analyses for DHS programs to support development and evaluation of requirements for detection technologies and countermeasures to defend against chemical and biological attacks; decisions and responsive actions that are critical to mitigate the medical, infrastructure, and operational effects of chemical and biological attacks; and design and deployment of detection architectures for the protection of cities and high-value civilian targets. Results from these studies support DHS policy, planning, deployments, and system requirements.
In this department, students will work to implement or test software for DHS programs in support of large enterprise models that allow evaluation of response options and countermeasures to defend against chemical and biological attacks; role-based software training aimed at the formation of incident management teams and the decisions of key principals in the national incident; and management system used to respond to catastrophic events and natural disasters domain-specific submodels such as biological threat, health care capacity, and prophylaxis distribution. This software will support DHS training, planning, deployment, and system requirements.
Host pathogen recognition is often mediated by interactions among carbohydrates on the pathogen cell surface with carbohydrate recognizing proteins (lectins) on the host cell surface or vice versa. This project is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these recognition events and developing computational approaches to predicting carbohydrate-protein interactions. The ability to predict these interactions will provide innovative tools applicable to such areas as the design of lectin arrays for characterization of pathogen cell surface carbohydrates and thus pathogen detection (biomarker discovery) and the rational design of anti-adhesion therapies aimed at preventing pathogen attachment to its host, and thus preventing infection.
At Sandia/California we are developing innovative microsystems-based tools for the study of individual cells, particularly those comprising the innate immune system—the body’s first line of natural defense against pathogens. This multidisciplinary (biology, engineering, and imaging) effort should provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying innate immunity, thereby facilitating identification of disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
There are three main projects associated with this research area:
As part of the engineering team, the student will design and optimize microfluidics based flow assays to elucidate intracellular signaling cascades that is triggered when macropahges are infected with different Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis).Microfluidic assays will be optimized to monitor early infection events in host-pathogen interactions with fine temporal, as well as spatial resolution.
As a member of the engineering team, the student will use photonic forces to levitate and move cells using laser light in a microfluidic chip. We are developing many applications from the manipulation of cells by optical forces including a fluorescence-activated cell sorter and an array of single, living macrophage cells.
As a member of a multidisciplinary team, the student will use biochemical and biophysical approaches to help elucidate the means by which key sentry cells (macrophages) perceive pathogenic challenges, mount appropriate responses, and coordinate those responses via cell-cell communication.
The Secondary Reachback project requires the intern to investigate applying Web technologies to visualize temporal trends in large DHS data sets. Some possibilities include exploring different clustering, binning, and partitioning techniques; exploring 2D or 3D visualization tools; and exploring use of 2D animation. Experience with Web applications, computer programming, and the ability to creatively solve problems would be beneficial.
The Secondary Reachback project is seeking a computer science, engineering, physical science, or math student to assist with the development of data analysis tools. The tools are designed to query a data store (SQL database or CERN ROOT file or XML file), retrieve result sets, parse the results, analyze the data, and store the data in a file (text file, binary file, Excel file, CERN ROOT file, or XML file). This data is then available for use in more sophisticated analysis software.
The candidate will be expected to contribute to developing the base software as well as designing and performing higher-level analysis. Specific analysis details will depend on the intern’s skills and the immediate needs of the project.
The goal is to develop a low cost detection system that can rapidly identify with low false alarm the presence of bio-agent carrying aerosols. It is envisioned that the detection system can be used in facilities with large crowd gatherings, such as subway stations, airports, and sport stadium. This project requires skills in electronics, computer programming, optical engineering, microfluidics, fluorogenic staining, and particle transport.
The ISECAP project explores the application of modern gaming technologies to the real national security problem of critical asset protection. A long-term goal of this effort is to couple our traditional physics simulations that require high performance computing with gamed-based environments through which humans can immerse themselves in virtual worlds with realistic behaviors. In addition to modeling real-world scenarios where red and blue teams (asset protectors and asset attackers) interact, we are also interested in modeling human personalities and associated behavior and in extracting strategy information from data collected during play. We believe these non-traditional forms of simulation will play an important role in a broad set of national security areas.
Technical support to DNDO’s Southeast Transportation Corridor Pilot architecture development and demonstration. CAP / EDXL-DE interface software development, testing, documentation and training.
Provide support to senior staff in the area of advanced Information Management network design, documentation and implementation. Assist with the analysis of systems contributing to the national common operating picture and situational awareness that will centralize, consolidate, and standardize Department & Federal Government Alert & Warning systems architecture. Help prototype interoperable, secure, survivable IPAWS communications infrastructure.
The Fellow will analyze the open source literature, trip reports, conference proceedings, and other relevant information, build a database, and develop maps that categorize the variations in scientific capabilities, facilities, and infectious diseases for several key regions of the world, including the Middle East and Africa.
Restoring a large urban area hit by a terrorist biological agent release has many challenges. First, the threat scenario needs to be analyzed. Then, the decision analysis methods needed to prioritize needs, allocate resources, account for socio-economic as well as political needs, and to facilitate decision making will be great. Assessing the necessary tools will be the primary goal of this work.