UAB student gains high-tech calibration experience at USATA headquarters
Facing a competitive national shortage of qualified health physicists, USATA teamed with UAB to provide promising students with direct, hands-on laboratory experience alongside seasoned metrology professionals. The collaboration exposes undergraduates to the Army's specialized calibration and radiation protection missions at Redstone Arsenal, bridging the gap between classroom theory and operational defense while opening clear pathways to future civilian careers within the military.
From June 15 to Aug. 31, Shanna completed hands-on training across USATA’s Radiation Standards Lab at Redstone Arsenal, rotating through nuclear counting, nucleonics, dosimetry and the Health Physics Safety Office.
"I was excited to learn about opportunities in health physics here at Redstone Arsenal where I could be close to home," Shanna said. "When I realized how varied the work at USATA headquarters is, I knew it was the internship for me. As someone new to the field, getting a chance to experience several sectors of health physics was thrilling."
Stepping into USATA’s advanced metrology facilities for the first time presented an immediate transition from academic textbooks to operational hardware.
"I'm pretty sure I started bouncing," Shanna recalled. "I was so excited to see some of the equipment I'd read about, and knowing I'd get to use some of it was amazing. My vocabulary was reduced primarily to 'wow' and 'cool' outside of questions for an embarrassing amount of time. Fortunately, everyone at USATA was kind, patient, and walked me through the practical applications."
A typical day began with standard radiation safety protocol and securing a personal dosimeter before heading to the calibration benches. Working alongside senior metrologists and physicists, Shanna prepared samples, annealed dosimeters, managed laboratory inventories and calibrated field instruments designed for operational deployment.
Beyond technical bench skills, the experience reinforced a critical laboratory discipline: deliberate pacing over rushed execution.
"Most of my work experience has been very fast-paced, but when you're working with tiny parts, fast means mistakes — and mistakes have a real cost here," Shanna explained. "Figuring out how to slow down on aspects of the job where output isn't the only driver was probably my biggest achievement. Precision is more important than throughput."
That precision has direct implications for service members operating in hazardous radiation environments. For Shanna, whose father served 24 years in the military, the mission connection was clear.
"The difficulty with radiation is that you can't sense if a tool isn't functioning correctly," Shanna said. "That makes USATA's role even more important to Soldier safety and mission success. If you have malfunctioning tools, your mission could easily end in failure. If my father was still active duty, I'd want him to have the best tools available."
Laboratory leadership praised the intern's contributions, work ethic and integration with the technical staff.
"Shanna performed numerous rotations within USATA’s Radiation Standards Lab, to include a rotation in Nuclear Counting, Nucleonics, Dosimetry and the Health Physics Office," said Patrick Marine, certified health physicist and nuclear counting team lead. "She excelled at every rotation, demonstrated an excellent work ethic, and was able to think through complex problems. She was a favorite in the building and will be missed."
Following graduation, Shanna plans to pursue full-time civilian career opportunities supporting the Army’s health physics mission.
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