Repperger Research Intern Program

This 10-week educational internship program posthumously honors Dr. Daniel W. Repperger, who mentored many young people during his 35-year research career with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), by providing research opportunities for students to participate in research projects at one of the Air Force facilities under the mentorship of an Air Force scientist. Each scientist has been hand selected to mentor, because of their technical knowledge, experience, and willingness to help science and engineering students enhance their learning through participation in an actual Air Force research project.

• About Dr. Daniel W. Repperger
  
  

  Dr. Repperger

  The Repperger Research Intern Program honors the life and work of Dr. Daniel W. Repperger (1942-2010), a scientist and mentor to many young engineers and scientists. As a researcher in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Human Effectiveness Directorate for 35 years, Dr. Repperger’s mathematical and scientific innovations have revolutionized image and network complexity analysis. He received international recognition in haptic controllers, human-machine interface performance enhancement, and mathematical methods development. While Dr. Repperger’s significant research accomplishments helped advance the performance of Air Force airmen and the field of human-centered research, his most significant accomplishment may well be the impact he had as a kind and caring mentor of many young Air Force scientists and science and engineering students.

  Dr. Repperger received a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He was a David Ross Research Fellow at Purdue from 1971-1973 and a National Research Council Post-Doctoral Fellow at Wright-Patterson AFB from 1973-1975. A member of Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi, Dr. Repperger was a Registered Professional Engineer in Ohio and on the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Academy of Sciences. He was a Fellow of the IEEE, Air Force Research Laboratory, American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, the Ohio Academy of Science and the Aerospace Medical Association. Dr. Repperger authored over 400 technical journal articles, reports and conference publications, was selected as Associate Editor of five international journals and obtained 14 U.S. patents and 28 Air Force invention registrations. His honors and awards include the Harry G. Armstrong Scientific Excellence Award, Human Effectiveness Directorate Mentor of the Year, IEEE Third Millennium Medal Winner and the IEEE Dayton Fritz Russ Award. Dr. Repperger is listed in the Who's Who in Science and Engineering and the American Men and Women of Science.

• AFRL 711^th Human Performance Wing Chief Scientist Message
  
  

  Rajesh R. Naik, PHD, ST
  Chief Scientist
  711^th Human Performance Wing

  As the Chief Scientist for the 711^th Human Performance Wing at the Air Force Research Laboratory, I invite you to submit an application to participate in our 2021 Repperger Research Intern program. This program posthumously honors Dr. Daniel W. Repperger, who mentored many scientists and engineers during his 35-year research career with our organization, by providing opportunities for student interns to conduct research in one of our facilities. Interns will participate under the mentorship of an Air Force scientist or engineer who has been hand-selected to mentor because of their technical knowledge, experience and willingness to help science and engineering students enhance their learning through participation in an actual Air Force research project.

  Please review the information and application instructions to determine your eligibility and then review the research projects to see if any match your research interests. If selected for one of the projects, you will be appointed to a 10-week research internship at one of our three research locations: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH; Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX; or Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. The research appointments will be administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). Along with gaining first-hand research experience, you will learn the inner workings of an operational laboratory and develop contacts and friendships that will last a lifetime. Again, please review the information on this website carefully to understand the specifics of the program before you apply. I look forward to reviewing your application and wish you the best of luck in the selection process.

• What is the 711^th Human Performance Wing?

  The 711^th Human Performance Wing advances human performance in air, space, and cyberspace through research, education, and consultation, accomplished through the synergies created by the wing’s two distinct but complementary entities:

  • The Airman Systems Directorate leads the U.S. Air Force’s human-centered research, discovering biological and cognitive technologies to optimize and protect the Airman’s capabilities to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace. The Directorate provides a strong in-house research program and extensive research partnerships with industry and academia. Its research team is composed of the most diverse range of technical disciplines in the Air Force to explore the human from the bio-molecular level to the societal behavior level. The Directorate focuses its research in five Core Technical Competencies: Adaptive Warfighter Interfaces, Bioengineering, Training, Bioeffects, and Aerospace & Operational Medicine.
  • The U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) is an internationally renowned center for aerospace medical learning, consultation, aerospace medical investigations and aircrew health assessments. The school trains approximately 5,000 students each year. It also performs research on technologies for the rapid detection of chemical, biological and radiological events, hyperbaric medical research and light, durable intensive care capabilities. USAFSAM also has the Nation’s only Radiological Assessment Teams available for 24/7 deployment.
• Key Information

  Program Dates:	June 7 – August 13, 2021
  Program Hours:	Selected participants will be expected to maintain a full-time schedule (based on 40 hours/week) during the appointment except for normal holidays recognized by the hosting facility.
  Stipend:	~$12,000 for 10-week period
  Lodging:	Participants are responsible for securing their own living space and determining the means of local transportation prior to arriving at the assigned appointment site. Below are various resources to help participants identify housing during their appointment. ORISE is not affiliated with these companies and does not review or approve any of the websites. Inclusion of these sites on this page does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by ORISE, ORAU, or DOD. Dayton, OH                    San Antonio, TX • Apartment Finder                • Apartment Finder • Local Hotel Search              • Local Hotel Search Pittsburgh, PA • Apartment Finder • Local Hotel Search
  Research Locations:	Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH; Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX; or Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
  Number of Positions:	Approximately 15 students will be selected for participation
  Eligibility Requirements:	Applicants need to meet the following eligibility criteria at the time of application: Be a U.S. citizen (evidence of U.S. citizenship must be submitted to ORISE at the time appointment is accepted) Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited institution of higher education during the 2020-2021 academic year.   Applicants must provide proof of enrollment during the Fall 2020 term at the time of application. Candidates selected for an internship appointment will be required to provide proof of enrollment during Winter/Spring 2021. Be pursuing a degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) discipline. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher on a 4.00 scale as of Fall 2020
  Final Report:	All selectees are encouraged to prepare a PowerPoint presentation or poster by end of internship. Notifications will be made to those required to present their poster or slide deck during the intern summer close-out summit.
  Application Deadline:	February 15, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. EST
  Additional Documents Required Upon Selection:	Proof of Spring 2021 academic enrollment Proof of U.S. Citizenship Copy of U.S. Passport Copy of Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state of birth Copy of Consular Report of Birth (of U.S. citizen) Abroad or Certification of Birth Copy of Naturalization Certificate Copy of Certificate of Citizenship
  Computer Access	Students selected will be required to undergo a National Agency Check prior to being granted access to government computer systems.
  Notification:	Students selected for the program will receive an appointment with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) to participate in a research project sponsored by the 711th Human Performance Wing. The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.

• Project Catalog

  The 2021 Project Catalog 

  • USING BIG DATA AND COGNITIVE FACTORS TO PREDICT SOCIAL-CYBER BEHAVIOR
  • INDIVIDUALIZING COGNITIVE MODELS
  • INSTRUCTIONAL AND BIG DATA APPROACHES ENABLING PERSONALIZED LEARNING IN MILITARY MEDICINE
  • MODELING AUDITORY DETECTION OF COMPLEX SOUND SOURCES IN REAL SOUND ENVIRONMENTS
  • MULTISENSORY INTERACTIONS IN VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS
  • PERSISTENT, GLOBAL, PROFICIENCY-BASED TEAM TRAINING FOR HUMANS AND MACHINES
  • SCIENCE OF UNDERSTANDING
  • ASSESSMENT OF TRANSGENIC MICE AS LIVING RADIOFREQUENCY DOSIMETERS
  • INVESTIGATING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY BIOEFFECTS OF PHOTOTHERMAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL EXPOSURE
  • INVESTIGATION OF RADIO FREQUENCY PULSE BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE IN HIGH-RESOLUTION PREDICTIVE MODELS
  • ASSESSING VISUAL PERFORMANCE WITH AND WITHOUT EYE PROTECTION
  • ULTRAFAST IMAGING: STREAK CAMERA PHOTOGRAPHY FOR VISUALIZING ULTRAFAST CELLULAR DYNAMICS
  • MODULATION OF NEURONAL ACTIVITY BY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
  • MODELING NEURAL ACTION POTENTIAL RESPONSE TO IR SIMULATION
  • ADVANCED SKIN MODELS FOR GHz EXPOSURE ANALYSIS
  • UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF DIRECTED ENERGY ON NEUROMUSCULAR AND NEUROBIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS
  • ELECTRO-PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CELL MEMBRANES - MODEL REFINEMENT
  • CHARACTERIZATION OF THE AIRMEN RESPONSE TO SUSTAINED HIGH-G
  • FUNCTIONALIZED NUCLEIC ACIDS NANOSTRUCTURES FOR AIRMAN AUGMENTATION
  • OMICS AND SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: A SYSTEMS BIOLOGY APPROACH TO HUMAN PERFORMANCE
  • ASSESSING THE VIROME OF WARFIGHTER MICROBIOMES
  • DESIGN OF ROBUST BIOLOGICAL SENSORS FOR SIMULTANEOUS MONITORING OF WARFIGHTER BIOSIGNATURES
  • ELECTRONIC/ELECTROCHEMICAL/OPTICAL SENSOR FOR MOLECULAR BIOMARKERS
  • BUILDING MODEL CAPABILITY TO PREDICT PERFORMACE ON MEDICALLY RELEVANT TASKS WHILE IN MOPP GEAR
  • STUDIES ON QUANTUM DYNAMICS OF ELECTRON TRANSFER IN MITOCHONDRIA
• How to Apply

  Applications will be open December 8, 2020 – February 15, 2021.

  A completed application consists of:

  • All required fields in both the profile and application form.
  • Transcripts - Unofficial transcripts may be submitted. Transcripts must include name of the academic institution, name of the student, completed coursework and grades through Summer 2020 and courses in progress/completed during Fall 2020. Final grades for Fall 2020 semester will not be required.
  • A current resume/Curriculum Vitae
  • Two academic recommendations completed by either faculty adviser or school faculty. All applications must have two completed recommendations to be considered by the selection officials. References are asked to describe students’ Scientific Capabilities and Personal Characteristics and must specify how they know the students. The best references are from professionals who can speak to the applicant’s abilities and potential. The weakest references are those from personal (non-professional) acquaintances such as friends, relatives, and neighbors.

  Incomplete applications will not be considered.

  Submitted documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system.

  All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

  If you have questions, send an email to AFRL-Summer@orise.orau.gov.