Credit: N. Hanacek/NIST/Virginia Tech Across the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), internships are a very important experience for students and staff members alike. But for most of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic closed the campus to most NIST staff members and prevented traditional internships on campus from happening. This challenging situation inspired some innovative solutions and experiences. Taking Measure spoke to remote intern Shelby Platner and her mentor, NIST materials researcher Zachary Trautt. From late May to early August, Platner conducted her internship from Ijamsville, Maryland, with Trautt, who worked from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Our interview has been edited slightly for clarity.