Profiles

Joel Joseph

Joel Joseph is one of four recent graduates of the Electro Mechanical Technician Training Program (EMTP) program at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He learned about the EMTP from a friend who was participating in the program. Joel has always been interested in electronics.

As a child, his first project was to try and fix a broken television-of which he was unsuccessful. However, since then, he has moved on to work on car stereos and high-output radio wiring. He thinks the Lab's EMPT program is the perfect opportunity to be trained in his field of interest, while working at the same time.

Before entering the EMTP program at the Lab, Joel attended Northern New Mexico College and took courses in the college's electrical program. At the end of the one-year program, he became a licensed electrician and worked for two months for a Los Alamos firm. At that point, he was admitted into the EMTP program and has just recently been hired on at the Lab full-time.

During his time in the program, he worked mainly in general electronics, focusing on wiring, circuit boards, and soldering electrical connections. His mentor, Michael Webber, ensured that he concentrated on his schoolwork, helping him with homework if needed.

Though he has received his certificate in electronics, Joel plans to continue school at the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos and get his associates degree. He wants to continue working while taking any classes he can. While at the Lab, Joel has attended courses in AutoCAD, soldering, and most recently, NASA certification for soldering.

Joel highly recommends the program to other students. In fact, he is now encouraging his brother to enter the EMTP program. His advice to other students: "Just stay on top of your schoolwork. Don't fall behind, and do the best you can." When he is not working, Joel enjoys hanging out with friends, camping, working on bikes, motorcycles, and car stereos.

Michael Webber, Joel's mentor, thinks the EMTP program is a great way to get fresh new talent into the Lab. "It's very effective because the student can be evaluated on their work progress, and I can see how effectively the student will fit into the Laboratory setting before he or she is actually hired."

Webber has worked with two students from the EMTP program and has been very satisfied with both experiences. When asked about Joel, Webber commented, "He's a great kid, a hard worker, and we want to keep him."

For more information about the EMTP program, contact Brenda Montoya at bmontoya@lanl.gov or 667-4866.