First Energy Talent Show Attracts Defense Students and Professionals from Across the U.S.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Energetics Research Center (PERC) hosted a first-of-its-kind Energy Materials Talent Expo that connects students and postdoctoral researchers interested in careers in energy with employers across the defense sector.

The PERC – Energetics Talent Showcase (PERC-ETS), held May 29–30 on the Purdue University campus, gave 52 undergraduate and graduate students from nine universities the opportunity to present and network with representatives of government and industry.

Energetic materials—things that are booming—are types of materials with a lot of chemical energy stored in their molecular structure, such as explosives, pyrotechnics, and propellants. PERC focuses on comprehensive energy materials research, meeting existing and emerging explosives needs for civil and military infrastructure, commerce and aviation. It also supports the United States’ need for more stable, less sensitive, and easier to process energy materials, including fuels, pyrotechnics, and explosives in munitions.

The Department of Defense has identified developing the defense enterprise-wide workforce as a key priority in its 2022 National Defense Strategy, with the Defense Department aiming to attract individuals with the skills needed to solve complex national security challenges. The energy materials sector, in particular, is often challenged by a lack of replacements as professionals leave or retire. To address this need, Stephen Beaudoin, PERC director and professor of chemical engineering, created PERC-ETS.

“We designed this student-focused event to cultivate relationships and help talented ITAR-eligible students transition into defense-focused careers,” Beaudoin said. “We were honored by the excellent turnout from both the academic and defense communities and thrilled by the amount and quality of engagement from students and government and industry. We hope that as word gets out, this will become a premier student recruiting event.”

Because few universities have energy-focused programs, defense employers often have difficulty recruiting candidates with adequate training in handling these sensitive materials. PERC-ETS solves this challenge by facilitating connections between recruiters and students with enough experience to engage in a research project on day one.

All participants completed or worked on an energy materials research project in one of the following areas: novel energy materials, advanced diagnostics, property/performance modeling and simulation, and manufacturing. Phillip J. Cole, Chief of Energy Equipment Manufacturing at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indiana Base, participated in the PERC-ETS study and confirmed the growing need for a larger, more experienced workforce in the energy industry.

“Potential new employees joining our team with significant exposure to the energy environment would enable us to rapidly build competency,” Cole said. “The short-term demands on the Navy’s only public arsenal at Indian Head will require expanding our workforce across the full spectrum of our capabilities – from basic science and technology research to decommissioning and disposal of energy facilities. An event like this provides a key connection between employers and potential new team members who are well-positioned to make an immediate contribution.”

In addition to formal presentations and posters, PERC-ETS provided a wealth of networking opportunities. Daniel Laky, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame and a graduate of the chemical engineering doctoral program at Purdue, secured an interview by talking to defense experts.

“The event was instrumental in providing me with networking opportunities that will help me in my future career,” Laky said. “I was able to meet and talk with scientists and executives in the energy community that I would never have met on my own.”

Nishan Khanal, a research associate and doctoral candidate in aerospace engineering at the University of Central Florida, appreciated the balance between structured presentations and more informal web elements.

“The smaller scale and more personalized aspect of the event was definitely helpful because it meant that all potential employers could see your presentation and previous work,” Khanal said. “The opportunity to talk to government and industry representatives during the many breaks and social events was key in building connections.”

PERC-ETS will become an annual event held in the spring and will coincide twice a year with the invitation-only Purdue Energetic Materials Summit (PEMS). PEMS brings together scientists and engineers from government, industry, and academia to discuss key challenges and potential technical solutions related to energy materials. The event includes technical lectures, workshops, lab tours, and free time for conversation and community building. The last PEMS, held in June 2023, hosted more than 100 energy materials experts representing eight universities, 15 government agencies, and 21 companies from across the country. The next PEMS is scheduled for spring 2025.

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Author/media contact: Lindsey Macdonald, [email protected]

Source: Stephen Beaudoin, [email protected]