UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute 2026 summer interns had the pleasure of attending the Fourth Annual ULRI Research Symposium from July 13th to July 15th in Chicago, IL.
Developing Early Career Skills and Fostering Relationships
This year’s research symposium kicked off early for ULRI interns, as the Institute of Research Experiences and Education hosted a Student Engagement Program Meet and Greet at ULRI & ULSE Headquarters in Evanston, IL. The morning started off with a networking breakfast, allowing this year’s intern cohort to connect with one another after starting their internships in their respective offices and cities earlier this summer.
“The meet and greet was an amazing chance to make connections and exchange ideas among the other interns in a comforting environment. I left the event feeling inspired and humbled, being able to talk to PhD and master's students and hear about their careers. ”
—Jameson Pinthiere
Research Intern
UL Research Institutes | Fire Safety Research Institute
Soon after, ULRI and UL Standards and Engagement’s Human Resources team delivered a resume-building workshop. From learning what recruiters look for in the hiring process to discovering how interns can leverage their LinkedIn profiles, students deepened their understanding of early-career development in the nonprofit sector.
“The resume workshop felt intentional and helpful. I really appreciated how honest the presenter was and how she made the most of the time we had. For example, she gave us advice on how to interview better and how to use our LinkedIn profiles in line with current hiring trends. As a young professional, I feel prepared for whatever the future holds, so thank you to ULRI-ULSE for thinking of us.”
—Maya Bond
Marketing and Communications Intern
UL Research Institutes | Fire Safety Research Institute
Translating Research for Societal Impact
Following the Meet and Greet, interns joined the rest of the event’s attendees in a networking reception and welcome dinner. This year’s symposium theme, “Safety Science Education: Translating Research for Societal Impact,” underscored how solving the safety challenges of the future starts with education today.
“Attending the Research Symposium was an extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience for me because the theme of public education directly connects to the work my team and I do every day. Witnessing keynote speakers emphasize the impact of STEM education in varying spheres further highlights the importance of ULRI’s fire safety public education campaigns that I have contributed to, such as Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety and Close Before You Doze. These campaigns inform the public on imperative fire safety best practices and contribute to a safer world.”
—Ashlyn Bonner
Public Education Marketing Intern
UL Research Institutes | Fire Safety Research Institute
The next two days included a full program of keynote speakers, plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and an evening at Quinn Fire Academy, where ULRI’s fire safety team demonstrated three hands-on training toolkits. Rooted in the theme of education, each topic explored just how research and education are a continuous cycle.
Between understanding how we inspire the next generation of scientists, translate fire safety science from the classroom to the street, and keep the public safe from emerging dangers, interns were able to walk away with a clear sense of the full scope of the work conducted at ULRI and the role they play in creating a safer world.
“I’m thrilled that ULRI emphasized educating proper disposal and recycling of lithium-ion batteries for their overall theme of safety science, as lithium-ion battery fires are an emerging issue that is not being publicized enough.”
—Seungjun Jeong
Research Intern
UL Research Institutes | Fire Safety Research Institute
In addition to attending the ULRI Research Symposium, SEP offers interns structured mentorship, professional development workshops, and the opportunity to deliver a final presentation to showcase summer achievements and personal growth. ULRI’s Fire Safety Research Institute is proud to support students throughout their internships and careers. Our internship program complements the SEP by offering a wide range of opportunities for motivated students to contribute to ULRI’s Fire Safety Research Institute’s mission of addressing unsolved fire safety risks in the world. Through hands-on work, cross-team collaboration, and relevant professional experience, many of our interns have gone on to graduate and begin their careers at ULRI’s Fire Safety Research Institute.
