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Former IALR Intern Named One of Virginia’s Top 50 Interns by SCHEV

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Former IALR Intern Named One of Virginia’s Top 50 Interns by SCHEV

Former IALR Intern Named One of Virginia’s Top 50 Interns by SCHEV

After proving herself over a 10-month internship that culminated in a full-time job offer, Savannah Callahan, a former intern at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), has been named one of Virginia’s Top 50 Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

The recognition highlights outstanding college interns across the commonwealth who demonstrate excellence, professionalism and meaningful contributions to their host organizations. For Callahan, it is a reflection of the impact she made while transitioning from student intern to full-time marketing professional at IALR.

“I am incredibly grateful and honored to be named one of Virginia’s Top 50 Interns. This recognition means so much to me and it would not have been possible without the opportunities and support I’ve received at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. Being able to continue my internship with IALR three times allowed me to grow both professionally and personally, and I am deeply thankful for the trust and encouragement shown by my colleagues and supervisors. The supportive, collaborative environment at IALR truly fosters growth and the guidance and encouragement I received played a major role in helping me transition into my full-time role. I am extremely grateful for everyone who believed in me and supported me along the way.” – Savannah Callahan, Manufacturing Advancement Marketing Coordinator, IALR

Callahan began her internship in March 2025 as a marketing and communications intern. She continued working with the team through January 2026, expanding her responsibilities and supporting a wide range of marketing and storytelling initiatives across the organization.

“Over the course of her internship, Savannah consistently delivered strong work, took initiative and grew into a true contributor to the team, making the transition to a full-time role a natural next step.” – Allison Moore, Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

Throughout her internship, Callahan contributed to digital content, brand storytelling and event promotion. As the internship progressed, more and more of Callahan’s work was in support of IALR’s Manufacturing Advancement division.

In January 2026, following her extended internship, Callahan stepped into a full-time role as marketing coordinator for manufacturing advancement. In that position, she now supports marketing and outreach efforts for the entire manufacturing advancement division, and specifically for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program and the Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) at IALR.

“Savannah’s experience is a strong example of effective internships. She is one of four former interns who transitioned into full–time roles at IALR after gaining hands-on experience through meaningful, real-world projects.” – Jessie Vernon, Director, Employer Engagement & Experiential Learning, IALR

SCHEV’s Top 50 Interns program recognizes students whose internship experiences exemplify the value of high-quality, work-based learning for both students and employers.

Callahan’s recognition reflects IALR’s commitment to providing meaningful, paid internship experiences that prepare students for long-term career success while supporting Southern Virginia’s workforce and economic growth.

IALR recognized as 2026 Top Employer for Interns

IALR recognized as 2026 Top Employer for Interns

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research has been recognized as one of Virginia’s 2026 Top Employers for Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). This recognition reflects IALR’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, paid internship experiences that prepare the next generation of professionals across a range of industries.

SCHEV recognizes employers who provide exceptional internship opportunities for students, helping them develop critical skills and gain real-world experience. Each summer, IALR offers an immersive internship program spanning diverse career fields, including research and data analysis, marketing and communications, economic development, manufacturing engineering, agricultural technology, coding and robotics, IT and more. The internships are designed to provide practical, hands-on experience while interns contribute to IALR’s work of driving economic transformation in Southern Virginia.

2025 IALR Internship Recap 

“We believe experiential learning is essential to workforce readiness,” said Dr. Melanie Lewis, IALR’s Vice President of Advanced Learning. “Being recognized as a top employer for interns highlights the intentional work our team does to prepare students for meaningful careers while supporting the region’s long-term economic growth.”

“Our internships are built around collaboration and impact,” said Jessie Vernon, IALR’s Director of Employer Engagement & Experiential Learning. “Students gain professional confidence and clarity, and IALR benefits from fresh perspectives and motivated contributors.”

IALR is excited to welcome at least 13 interns to its 2026 summer program. Applications for the 2027 program will be posted in the spring of 2027.

In addition to hosting interns, IALR supports Southern Virginia businesses in designing and implementing effective internship programs by providing technical assistance and resources. Internship support is one of many ways IALR’s Advanced Learning division connects employers with talent through work-based learning.

IALR was recognized alongside additional Region 3 award recipients, including:

  • Appalachian Conservation Corps
  • Averett University
  • Danville – Pittsylvania Community Services
  • Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History
  • LE&D Professionals, PC
  • Letterpress Communications
  • Solex Architecture, Inc.
  • The Danville Hotel Collection (The Bee Hotel, The Holbrook Hotel, The Laurel Hotel)
About IALR

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.

Tour of IALR – Advanced Learning

Tour of IALR – Advanced Learning

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is a catalyst for regional economic transformation. Our Advanced Learning division works toward this mission with three main focus areas:

Join us for a free group tour of the many programs supported by IALR’s Advanced Learning division to learn about our impact and see our innovative and collaborative approach.

Register

This one-hour tour will include an overview of what IALR does before taking a closer look into some of our initiatives, including:

  • The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program
  • Work-based learning programs, including Southern Virginia internships and internships at IALR
  • Summer STEM Camps at IALR
  • Dual-enrollment programs in partnership with Danville Community College and areas school divisions
  • Two separate AmeriCorps programs
  • Much More!
Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Businesses

Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Businesses

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is seeking employers and businesses across Southern Virginia to partner and participate in work-based learning programs.

“We encourage employers across Southern Virginia to participate in our programs, which help employers grow the regional workforce and allow students to connect and learn about quality career opportunities in the region.” – Jessie Vernon, Advanced Learning Program Manager, IALR

Each of the programs below is part of IALR’s EmPOWER framework, an employer-driven system to empower and connect students to careers. Through career awareness, engagement and experience IALR builds pipelines of students whose skillsets align with current employer needs and economic development interests.

AspHIRE – Meet Your Future Workforce

IALR is looking for volunteers to participate as mock interviewers or session presenters at AspHIRE mock interview days across Southern Virginia. The mock interview days allow high school seniors – as well as some juniors – to hone their interview skills with a local professional. Students take part in a formal business lunch and several work-readiness sessions.

The AspHIRE Mock Interview Days will take place at the following locations and times:

  • Danville, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research: March 5 and 7
  • Farmville, Longwood University: March 13
  • South Boston, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center: March 26

The minimum volunteer commitment is 1.5 hours, but business professionals and employers who would like to invest more time are welcome. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Volunteer Interest Form 

Ignite – Internships

IALR is looking for businesses that can host a high school or college intern this summer. Companies will receive assistance in navigating the logistics of creating an internship program and finding talent. IALR also connects employers with available resources – including matching funds and mentor training – from partners like the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (Virginia TOP).

More than 25,000 students across Southern Virginia have access to MajorClarity, a work-based learning platform where all internships will be posted. This gives businesses access to the best and brightest students across the region. Internship duration and hours are customizable and companies may be eligible for matching funds for the cost of the intern.

Internship Support

Employer Internship Interest Form

Next generation Of Work (NOW) – Teamship

IALR is looking for businesses interested in having teams of students tackle a pressing business problem – a process that provides benefits for students and benefits for employers. The time commitment for businesses participating in NOW is just five hours; students are supported by a District C-certified coach.

Past business participants have posed problems such as staffing difficulties, EPA regulations, and the adoption of new technology.

Businesses meet with the students three times during the Teamship process and receive real solutions to their problems. The next cohort of NOW-Teamshp will begin April 8. Businesses that are interested in participating should contact Jessie Vernon no later than March 11. 

Next generation Of Work (NOW)

Exploring Careers Through Industry Teacher Externships (Excite)

IALR is looking for businesses to host teachers or school counselors through Exploring Careers through Industry Teacher Externships (EXCITE), a professional development program for educators across 15 counties in Virginia. This teacher externship program connects the classroom to the workplace. Teachers can use their experiences to design and implement classroom activities, projects and work-based learning opportunities that will add relevance and meaning to students’ classroom learning.

Participating businesses commit between one and three days during the summer to host educators. There is no financial commitment associated with this program.

Businesses interested in hosting an educator this summer can contact Kiana Dillard. The deadline to sign up to host an educator is May 3.

Business Interest Form 

Educator Interest Form

Sector-Focused Camps

In addition to summer STEM camps hosted at IALR, IALR works with local employers to develop and implement sector-focused camps. These camps, which can range from a single day to a whole week, provide an opportunity to introduce students to targeted industries – and help them discover career paths to enter these fields.

Past sector-focused camps have focused on industries like local government, healthcare and construction.

Businesses that are interested in hosting student tours, serving as guest speakers/instructors, or sponsoring a sector-focused camp should contact Jessie Vernon.

Registered Apprenticeship

In partnership with IALR, the Danville Life Saving Crew – the primary Emergency Medical Services provider for the City of Danville – signed 13 individuals as Virginia’s first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) registered apprentices during an October ceremony.

IALR also supports the development and implementation of successful registered apprenticeship programs for employers across Southern Virginia through the Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship (ExTRA) program. Registered apprenticeship is an industry-driven workforce training strategy that combines on-the-job training and classroom instruction to develop highly skilled employees in a particular occupation

State Registered Apprenticeship is ideal for various sectors like construction, healthcare, early childhood education, manufacturing and information technology.

Through ExTRA, IALR provides technical assistance in the creation of apprenticeship programs, grant funding, connections to employers and talent, and more.

Employers that are interested in apprenticeships should contact Natori Neal.

Apprenticeships 

Growing Impact Showcased in 2023 Annual Report

Growing Impact Showcased in 2023 Annual Report

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has published its 2023 annual report, which highlights the growing impact IALR and partners are making in Southern Virginia and beyond. In FY 23, IALR expanded its impact with the scaling of programs and the growth of the campus, technology and team.

“The last fiscal year was one of tremendous growth and expansion for our region. All the while, each of our five divisions upheld our mission of economic transformation in critical ways.” – Telly Tucker, IALR President

View the Full Report

Just some of the new initiatives and programs launched, announced or expanded during FY 2023:

  • The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program continued scaling up toward its target of 800-1,000 annual graduates by 2025.
  • The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program is expanding across the Commonwealth thanks to a $3.4 million grant from GO Virginia and public and private investments.
  • The inaugural Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East brought more than 220 participants from around the world to the IALR campus.
  • The Institute Conference Center hosted 27,600 guests at events and programs, ranging from multi-day conferences to executive business meetings to training seminars.
  • IALR opened and began operations in the Center for Manufacturing Advancement, which supports industry with a variety of services and houses the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
  • Nearly 30 industrial sites across Southern Virginia received a higher certification from the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program, with 21 moving from Tier 2 to Tier 4 and an additional eight sites moving from Tier 2 to Tier 5, which denotes a shovel-ready graded pad site.
  • A new Public Health AmeriCorps program launched to expand public health capacity through education and outreach, including public health workshops.
  • IALR entered into 15 new non-disclosure agreements to partner with companies around the world by providing contract analytical and testing services.
  • Five new companies announced projects in Southern Virginia and four existing companies announced expansions. These projects total 545 new jobs and $335.7 million in capital investments.
  • In its ninth year, the Career ChoICE Youth Expo expanded to a second location at Hampden-Sydney College, allowing the event to reach additional students across more than a dozen Virginia localities.
  • IALR received a $497,890 grant from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission for the ExTRA (Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship) program to grow state-registered apprenticeship in 15 Southern Virginia localities.
  • Megabytes café launched a new and improved menu.
SMART Platforms: Automation and Accuracy in Plant Imaging

SMART Platforms: Automation and Accuracy in Plant Imaging

Some of the world’s most unique and innovative plant imaging technology has been developed here at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).

The Spatially and Mechanically Accurate Robotic Table (SMART) Platform, allows researchers to automatically take thousands of photographs over a plant’s life cycle, collecting data from beginning to end. With a mix of computer and human analysis of these photos, researchers can examine plant growth at every stage of development, allowing for a better understanding of the impact of different variables on plants.

What is a SMART Platform?

The SMART Platforms consist of an aluminum frame with a tray holding up to 86 individually potted plants. A color-sensitive webcam mounted to a mechanical arm, called a gantry, then takes a picture of each plant, providing a measurement of plant canopy size as well as other morphological traits of the plant, including leaf shape, discoloration and more. These functions are all controlled using Python code, which tells the gantry and camera when to move across the table and take photos. 

IALR Vice President of Applied Research Scott Lowman (left) and Virginia Tech Research Specialist Mitchell Doss (right) look at the potted plants inside the SMART Platform.

“It’s like having a fixed camera above every plant on the table.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR

In most cases, the gantry and camera are programmed to photograph each plant every 15-30 minutes. By capturing images of plants during their life cycle, researchers can visually fill in the blanks that traditional measurement techniques leave behind.

Initially conceptualized by Jerzy Nowak and Alfred Wicks of Virginia Tech, and based on off-the-shelf equipment used in traditional manufacturing, the SMART Platform concept was later picked up by IALR’s Vice President of Applied Research, Dr. Scott Lowman, during his post-doctoral research in imaging. Dr. Lowman revitalized the idea, custom designing and building new functional tables, control systems and software that are now fully operational. Five SMART Platforms are currently in use, four hosted on IALR’s campus and another at Hargrave Military Academy.

Accuracy and Analysis

These tables are accurate to within a thousandth of an inch. This means that wherever the camera is programmed to go, it will return to that exact spot every single time. This accuracy allows researchers to capture timelapse photography of plant life, visualizing plant growth and death as if a stationary camera had been placed above each plant.

Researchers can utilize this technology to analyze the growth curves of plants during an experiment. Using the fully automatic system to take measurements every 15 minutes, they can see the impact of different variables over time.

“I can start an experiment, and as long as I can take care of the plants, it can run continuously until it’s completed or the plants die.” – Mitchell Doss, Virginia Tech Research Specialist 

A color-sensitive webcam mounted to a mechanical arm, called a gantry, takes a picture of each plant, providing a measurement of plant canopy size as well as other morphological traits of the plant, including leaf shape, discoloration and more. These functions are all controlled using Python code, which tells the gantry and camera when to move across the table and take photos.

These tables are unique because they turn each plant into its own experimental unit. In traditional plant research, scientists take the fresh and dry weight of the harvested plant as a data point. However, this method leaves a gap within the plant’s early development and growth stages. Researchers can gain hyper-detailed data on plant growth by taking measurements of a plant throughout its life cycle.

Analyzing the data gathered from the SMART Platform is a complicated process. After conducting an experiment, researchers have folders on the computer containing thousands of images of each plant. From here, complex lines of code conduct image analysis that detects the amount of greenness (which equals the size of the plant) within an image. By calculating the difference between the number of green pixels from one image to another, researchers gain data on how much and how quickly a plant has grown.

Continued Improvement

Summer interns Kendall Moore (left) and Hunter Pruitt (right) both spent time improving niche aspects of the SMART Platform. Moore designed a hydroponics system to implement into the tables while Pruitt developed a program that automates the tables’ coordinate-finding system.

To continue the development of the SMART Platform, the Applied Research division utilizes IALR’s Summer Internship program to provide young researchers with the opportunity to work with – and improve – this technology. This summer, the team of interns helped build two brand-new SMART Platforms.

“We need people with diverse skills and backgrounds to move these tables forward.” – Dr. Scott Lowman

The interns also carry out individual projects to improve niche aspects of the SMART Platforms. Hunter Pruitt, a rising senior at North Carolina State University, spent his summer working to automate the tables’ coordinate-finding system. Eliminating the need to manually input the coordinates for a plant on the table makes the technology more efficient and easier to use.

Another intern this summer, Kendall Moore, a rising senior at the University of Virginia, designed a hydroponics system to implement into the tables. This will allow for new research on hydroponic growth techniques in addition to potted plants.

The current coding system and graphic user interface used to run the tables was developed by Samuel Hedrick, an intern during the summer of 2021. This allows the table to be user-friendly to those who don’t have a specific background in computer science.

Mitchell Doss, a Virginia Tech Research Specialist currently earning a master’s degree in horticulture, has worked with the SMART Platforms since 2014, when he was a part of the original team of interns who helped with image analysis. Now, the roles have reversed, as Doss has taken on supervising the Coding and Robotics interns.

“IALR is the place for opportunities.” – Mitchell Doss

A jack of all trades in terms of research, Doss has been a part of IALR’s Applied Research Division since 2021. He has conducted various experiments via the SMART Platforms and is carrying out research for his master’s program on potassium levels in fertilizers.

Lowman, Doss and Virginia Tech faculty member Dr. Kaylee South are drafting a research paper introducing the SMART Platform into the present literature. Once this is published, it will allow future research done via the tables to reference it, as opposed to including tedious details within the methods and materials sections of the paper.

What’s next?

Plants shake as they grow. That fact is common knowledge in the scientific community, but it is unclear why they shake or what that movement says about a plant’s overall health. The meaning of plant movement is one area IALR researchers are beginning to explore using the SMART Platform’s complete imaging capabilities.

“We’ll be practically the only people in the world that can look at plant movement as an indicator of plant health scientifically.” – Dr. Scott Lowman

One inconvenience in developing code to detect plant movement is determining the difference between movement and growth. As it stands, plant growth is categorized as the total amount of green pixels in an image, whereas plant movement is the amount of change in green pixels found in an image. In short, if green pixels are found where there were none before, or there are no green pixels where there were before, that is considered plant movement.

Recently, IALR obtained a 3D-scanning device that allows the user to create a three-dimensional model of any object. Implementing this technology within the SMART Platform could allow for further exploration into plant growth and movement.

The capability to accurately measure plant movement could offer a new dependent variable for experiments. This possibility can also be paired with IALR’s extensive endophyte library to provide early detections of bacterial impact.

“It’s not what you expect to find; it’s what you don’t expect to find that makes it interesting.” – Dr. Scott Lowman

Moving forward, the objective is to integrate new types of cameras onto the table, such as multispectral, hyperspectral and lidar cameras that could detect changes in wavelength reflection that human vision cannot detect. Different aspects of plant movement could also be studied, such as leaf tip curling and other changes in the structure of plants.

Another development is the use of a hydroponics system to further automate the process of experimentation via the SMART Platform. In the future, this technology could be merged with the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center at IALR.

The eventual goal is to share the SMART Platform technology and research capabilities with companies and institutions commercially. After many alterations and tweaks throughout the years, an efficient and user-friendly product is nearly ready for market.

IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report

IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has published its 2021-2022 annual report, which highlights innovative and collaborative partnerships across departments that are transforming the economy of Southern Virginia.  

“Significant economic growth has resulted due to robust partnerships across the region. IALR stands ready to serve as Virginia’s go-to partner for education and workforce development, business and economic growth, and a globally competitive business ecosystem.” – IALR President Telly Tucker.

View the Full Report 

One of the pivotal moments of the report period is the creation and adoption of the new IALR Strategic Plan, which will guide IALR’s work and efforts for the next five years. With input from key stakeholders, the plan establishes strategic goals to outline how IALR can best capitalize on its unique strengths to impact the region. 

Just some of the new initiatives and programs launched, announced or expanded during FY 21 and FY 22:  

The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC™) framework is spreading into schools across the Commonwealth. The GO TEC program is just one component of the newly developed and proven EmPOWER system – an employer-driven model to systematically connect students to careers through career awareness, exposure, and engagement and experience. Future and current members of the workforce, as well as businesses, find joint benefits in problem-solving teamships, apprenticeships, externships and internships, mock interview days and more.  

While striving to promote a diversified economy by serving a variety of industries, much of IALR’s impact in 2021-2022 was in the manufacturing sector. Expanding the existing middle-school-through-college workforce development pipelines, the new Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is a rapid adult-learner model that prepares talent for jobs in the defense industrial base. ATDM launched in 2020 and is already proving successful and showing what modern public-private partnerships should look like. In addition, IALR partnered with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Danville Regional Foundation to construct the Center for Manufacturing Advancement, a new destination for manufacturers ready to optimize and scale and home to the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence.  

Through the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, a joint project with Virginia Tech, IALR has established itself as a global leader in the CEA industry. The presence of the innovative research and state-of-the-art equipment are already making an impact on Southern Virginia. Thanks to best-in-class resources, including lab spaces and staff, the Applied Research team provided 30 companies with applied research and testing services like analytical chemistry, polymer testing and more.  

In partnership with the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) and many other economic development organizations, IALR is proud to champion the area while working with local, regional and state partners. In FY 21 and 22, the Southern Virginia region saw $498 million in announced capital investment and 1,288 new jobs. IALR contributed to economic success by serving as a temporary home for growing businesses by providing critical testing services and lab space to innovative companies across industries. The Bridge to Recovery Program connected companies with suppliers and helped businesses become more resilient post-pandemic.  

The Institute Conference Center hosted a variety of events geared toward the growth of industry sectors and Southern Virginia, including trainings and economic development activities. Numerous companies, including anchor and growing employers held successful job fairs, connecting community members with quality employment. An extensive renovation of the main building and a relaunch of Megabytes, IALR’s on-site café, have allowed the Institute Conference Center to provide even better service for the 20,800 guests who visited.  

IALR Seeking Businesses to Partner in Work-based Learning Programs 

IALR Seeking Businesses to Partner in Work-based Learning Programs 

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is seeking employers and businesses across Southern Virginia to partner and participate in several work-based learning programs. With varying levels of time and financial commitments, these programs help employers grow the regional workforce and allow students to connect and learn about quality career opportunities in the region.  

“We operate a variety of youth workforce development programs that are mutually beneficial to the participants and the businesses involved,” said Jessie Vernon, Program Manager for Advanced Learning at IALR. “Our programming helps build recruitment pipelines and exposes youth in the region to the opportunities available with area businesses. While we coordinate these programs, they truly would not be possible without the support of our business and community partners.” 

Each of the programs below are part of EmPOWER, an employer-driven system to empower and connect students to careers. Through career awareness, engagement, and experience we can build pipelines of students whose interests and skillsets align with current employer needs and economic development interests. 

Exploring Careers through Industry Teacher Externships (Excite)

IALR is looking for businesses to host teachers or school counselors through Exploring Careers through Industry Teacher Externships (EXCITE), a professional development program operating for educators across 15 counties in Virginia. By placing educators in local businesses through this teacher externship program, IALR helps connect the classroom to the workplace. With first-hand exposure, teachers can design and implement classroom activities, projects and work-based learning opportunities that will add relevance and meaning to students’ classroom learning.  

Participating businesses commit between one and three days during the summer to host an educator. There is no financial commitment associated with this program.  

Businesses interested in hosting an educator this summer can reach out to Jessie Vernon. The deadline to sign up to host an educator is May 19th.  

Host a Teacher

Two women talk with a man in a manufacturing plant.

IGNITE – Internships (already completed) 

IALR is looking for businesses that can host a high school or college intern this summer. Companies will receive project/business support as they mentor and aid in the skill development of a young person and might just train their next hire.  

More than 26,000 students across Southern Virginia have access to MajorClarity, a work-based learning platform where all internships will be posted. This gives businesses access to the best and brightest students across the region. Internship duration and hours are customizable and companies may be eligible for matching funds for the cost of the intern.  

Those interested in hosting a summer intern at their business should complete this online interest form. The deadline to request a summer 2023 intern is April 28th.

HOST AN INTERN

AspHIRE – Meet Your Future Workforce (ALREADY COMPLETED)

IALR is looking for volunteers to participate as mock interviewers or session presenters at AspHIRE mock interview days across Southern Virginia. The mock interview days provide high school juniors and (primarily) seniors an opportunity to hone their interview skills with a local professional. In addition to their interview, students take part in a formal business lunch and six work-readiness sessions. 

The AspHIRE Mock Interview Days will take place at the following locations and times:  

  • South Boston, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center: March 29 & 30 
  • Danville, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research: April 7 & 26 
  • Farmville, Longwood University: April 25 

The minimum volunteer commitment is 1.5 hours, but business professionals and employers who would like to invest more time are welcome. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.  

 

 

IALR Interns Start Work-Based Learning Experiences

IALR Interns Start Work-Based Learning Experiences

IALR’s summer 2022 interns gain valuable work-based learning experience in a professional environment during the eight-week program.

Earlier this month, 15 interns joined the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) to begin the 2022 summer internship program. While receiving meaningful on-the-job training, the interns develop real-world leadership skills and experience a professional work environment to prepare them for future careers. Students hail from across Southern Virginia.

The interns were assigned to work on projects unique to their mentors’ respective departments.

Megan Pollok and Seraiye Johnson are assisting the Applied Research division with AgTech research. Pollok is examining the use of beneficial bacterial endophytes in the treatment of Fusarium Head Blight, a fungal disease commonly occurring in small-grain crops. She is experimenting with eight varieties of winter wheat and hopes to continue this research in her undergraduate studies. Johnson is experimenting with agricultural technology to see its effects on plant nutrient uptake and growth.

Intern Parker Burke works with the Research team to harvest microgreens in the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center.

Parker Burke and Benjamin Boles are working with the Research team to help further develop new components of IALR’s SMART Table robotic plant imaging system. Burke and Boles also use python coding and data analytics for 3D printing.

Graydon Smith and Elizabeth Burrell are conducting biotechnological research. The interns experiment with hydroponically grown plants, testing the effects of beneficial bacteria in controlling and fighting plant diseases.

Grayson Haskins, Rachel Martin and Kaden Knight are interning within the Advanced Learning department. Haskins and Martin help to promote and establish a variety of efforts and programs, engage with students in summer STEM camps, and are developing a scavenger hunt/ escape room experience for the GO TEC mobile lab. Knight works as the Data Analytics Intern, assisting with data analysis for the GO TEC and Work Ready Community initiatives.

Rachel Davis assists the Public Relations and Communications department with building positive public awareness and brand identity through the website, social media, newsletter and other communications strategies.

Jackson Boles is interning in the Institute Conference Center, where he identifies methods to extend the database for Megabytes café. Additionally, Boles supports his department by assisting in event set-up, guest engagement and marketing techniques.

Clark Givens assists the Facilities Maintenance team by updating inventory, prioritizing safety throughout IALR’s growing campus, and performing various tasks such as light repair, motor replacement and landscaping.

Interning with the Economic Development department, Vanessa Argueta and Emily Ebalo work with the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance. Both interns are researching different aspects of the region to then promote the benefits through social media and other public relations platforms.

Glenda Argueta works in the Information Technology department, assisting with software installation and updates, responding to user requests, and aiding in system and equipment set-up for IALR’s events.

Each intern is making significant contributions and will present their summer work to IALR staff when their experience ends in August.

Interns Jackson Boles, Emily Ebalo and Vanessa Argueta meet to discuss the growing role of IALR’s Institute Conference Center in supporting Southern Virginia’s economic development activities.

Interns Gain Valuable Work-based Learning Experience

Interns Gain Valuable Work-based Learning Experience

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) welcomed nine interns for the 2021 summer session. Benefits of this internship include gaining on-the-job training and real-world leadership development experience valuable to future careers.

Each intern worked on projects pertaining to the focus of their assigned department. Megan Pollok, Graydon Smith and Samuel Hedrick assisted Dr. Lowman and the Research team. Pollok worked on a lettuce growing project she said would help determine “if beneficial plant bacteria can help improve heat tolerance in cool weather horticultural crops.” Hedrick worked with the SMART table, a precision imaging platform for plant research. He programmed a camera to take and file images, created a Graphical User Interface to set parameters, like the number of plants on the table and intervals at which the table should run, and used image analysis tools to gather data from the photos. Smith helped test the disease-fighting capabilities of IALR’s library of more than 2,000 beneficial bacterial plant endophytes. He inoculated test subject wheat seedlings and seeds with strains of the Fusarium fungus, a common plant disease.

Research interns Smith, Pollok and Hedrick use the SMART table, a precision imaging platform, to record and track plant growth in the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center.

Cassandra Wade aided Human Resources by creating a performance-based bonus system for IALR employees, modernizing new hire orientation presentations, and creating a visual chart that shows lines of command in IALR staff throughout various divisions. Katherine Clatterbuck organized a Women in STEM panel, in which a board of women in STEM fields converse with students about their future career interests. Benjamin Boles helped the IT department arrange equipment for webinars, update computers with new software and aid IALR staff with technological inquiries.

Kaitlyn Davis and Jahna Waters produced communications like this newsletter story, developed social media content, captured photos of events, and more. Emily Ebalo worked in the Economic Development department where she conducted research on the region’s assets and resources; supported housing studies; assisted with site, industry and leader photo and drone shoots; and helped coordinate economic development announcements in the region.

All interns were hard at work during this program, which culminated with a presentation showcasing their projects. To view more photos, visit bit.ly/IALRinterns21

IALR’s summer Interns include (left to right): front row – Emily Ebalo (William and Mary), Samuel Hedrick (University of Virginia), Kaitlyn Davis (William and Mary), Cassandra Wade (Liberty University) and Benjamin Boles (Virginia Tech); back row – Megan Pollok (Virginia Tech), Jahna Waters (Averett University), Katherine Clatterbuck (Roanoke College), and Graydon Smith (University of Virginia).