The Energy Hawks program is a fully immersive internship experience hosted by the State Energy Research Center (SERC) at the EERC. During this program, students work closely with EERC engineers, research scientists, and project managers while learning about North Dakota’s current energy landscape, focusing on future energy challenges, and developing value-added opportunities. This year’s group included a total of 14 students from disciplines ranging from economics and mathematics to engineering and medicine
Ajan Meenakshisundaram
Ajan is a UND student pursuing a Ph.D. in Energy Engineering at the Institute for Energy Studies (IES), College of Engineering and Mines. From this internship, Ajan hopes to gain a deeper understanding of North Dakota’s energy market and ways to optimize the energy mix to reduce overall emissions. He says he’s most looking forward to visiting energy industries and understanding their operations.
Ajan is originally from Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India, and enjoys landscape photography and playing cricket in his free time.
Ali Alber Mollick
Ali is a UND student who has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and is pursuing a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Prior to coming to the EERC, Ali worked as a Mechanical Engineer at Shah Cement Industries Ltd in Bangladesh. From this internship, Ali is most looking forward to learning more about North Dakota’s energy industry and the EERC’s research efforts. He hopes to gain a better understanding of the technical, regulatory, and social implications of the energy industry.
Ali is originally from Bangladesh and enjoys playing football, watching movies, and reading books.
Andrew Wilcox
Prior to coming to the EERC, Andrew worked at UND’s Writing Center. He has a degree in English and a minor in Sustainability Studies. From this internship, Andrew is most looking forward to working with a multidisciplinary group of people and hopes to learn more about energy.
Andrew is originally from Penn Valley, California, and enjoys reading and studying language in his free time.
Blanche Yougang
Blanche is a student at UND pursuing a master’s degree in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Finance. Prior to being a student at UND, she was a Financial Analyst at Corning Inc. in Corning, New York. From this internship, Blanche is most looking forward to gaining practical skills in research and analytics, critical thinking, time management, and networking.
Blanche originally from Yaounde, Cameroon, and enjoys braiding, watching movies, listening to music, and exploring in her free time. A fun fact about Blanche is that her name means “white” in French.
Coolin-Campbell Mawuli Zor
Coolin-Campbell is a UND student pursuing a master’s degree in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics. Prior to coming to the EERC, Coolin-Campbell worked as a Graduate Service Assistant at UND. From this internship, Coolin-Campbell is most looking forward to the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, working alongside industry experts, and gaining valuable insights that will serve as a strong foundation for his future pursuit of a Ph.D. in Mineral and Energy Economics.
Coolin-Campbell is originally from Ghana and enjoys listening to country music (preferably Kenny Rogers) and learning about things he knows very little of.
Erin Becker
Erin is a UND student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a concentration on sustainability. Prior to coming to the EERC, Erin worked as an Activity Assistant for a nursing home. She also works at UND Catering. From this internship, she’s most looking forward to meeting new people and learning about the energy industry. She also hopes to gain a deeper understanding about how engineering can fit into different industries.
Erin is originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, and enjoys baking, reading, swimming, and spending time outside.
Friday Obuzor Ebere
Friday is a UND student pursuing a Ph.D. in Energy and Petroleum Engineering. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a master’s degree in Petroleum and Gas Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Prior to coming to the EERC, Friday was a Graduate Teaching Assistant in UND’s Petroleum Engineering Department. From this internship, Friday is most looking forward to developing his technical knowledge on energy systems and is hoping to learn more about North Dakota energy sources with carriers, challenges, and innovative technologies.
Friday is originally from Nigeria and enjoys reading, football, and traveling.
Hannah Murray
Hannah is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Professional Chemistry with a minor in Geology at Minot State University. Prior to coming to the EERC, she was an intern at a medical imaging center in Canada. From this internship, Hannah is most looking forward to the western North Dakota field trips and hopes to gain a better understanding of the energy industry and research being conducted at the EERC.
Hannah is originally from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, and enjoys spending time outdoors, especially in the mountains of Alberta hiking, backpacking, camping, climbing, and longboarding. Hannah plays on the softball team at Minot State University and will be working remotely after returning from the western North Dakota trip.
Kyle Holter Vogel
Kyle is a UND student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Prior to coming to the EERC, Kyle worked at Camp Wilderness, a Boy Scout camp near Park Rapids, Minnesota. From this internship, Kyle is most looking forward to the trip to western North Dakota and hopes to gain experience collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.
Kyle is originally from Grand Forks, North Dakota, and enjoys camping and scuba diving in Minnesota lakes. Kyle is an Eagle Scout and a certified dry-suit and wet-suit scuba diver.
Luke Tupa
Luke is a UND student pursuing a degree in Economics. Prior to coming to the EERC, Luke worked for the Grand Forks Park District. From this internship, Luke is most looking forward to learning more about the energy industry and hopes to network.
Luke is originally from Larimore, North Dakota, and enjoys playing and watching sports, golfing, and spending time with his friends and family.
Muhammad Shamsul Islam
Shamsul is a UND student pursuing a master’s degree in English. He also has both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English Language and Literature from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Prior to coming to the EERC, Shamsul was a Graduate Teaching Assistant in UND’s English Department. From this internship, Shamsul is most looking forward to learning more about the energy industry.
Shamsul is originally from Sylhet, Bangladesh, and enjoys gardening and playing football.
Nicholas (James) Oberg
Nicholas is a UND student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Prior to coming to the EERC, Nicholas worked at his family farm as well as at Kearney & Company IT. From this internship, Nicholas is most looking forward to getting hands-on experience researching different energy fields. He hopes to gain skills from this internship that will eventually help him work in the energy industry.
Nicholas is originally from East Grand Forks, Minnesota, and enjoys going to the lake, playing golf, and watching sports.
ParkerJay Hoaglund
ParkerJay is a UND student pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Prior to coming to the EERC, ParkerJay worked at Walmart. From this internship, ParkerJay is most looking forward to exploring different fields of research.
ParkerJay is originally from East Grand Forks, Minnesota, and enjoys skateboarding; rock climbing; playing bass, guitar, and ukelele; and fixing cars.
Redwanul Islam
Redwanul is a UND student pursuing a master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Prior to coming to the EERC, Redwanul worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for UND’s Chemistry Department. From this internship, he is most looking forward to learning more about North Dakota energy and hopes to gain professional experience.
Redwanul is originally from Bangladesh and enjoys conducting research on polymer characterization with mass spectrometry and size-exclusion chromatography.