2025 summer experiences for Brown engineers

This experience helped me gain entry into the medical technology industry. While the role was more business-focused, it gave me valuable insight into the full process of developing and marketing products, as well as the company’s cross-functional collaboration.

This was an invaluable learning experience that exposed me to all aspects of the company and the broader industry. My team ensured I learned about various roles and even arranged tours of the testing and manufacturing laboratories. I contributed to diverse projects, primarily reviewing early-stage technologies and startups to assess their strategic fit with the company. This involved extensive independent research, as well as participating in, and at times presenting, findings and recommendations.

My favorite part of the experience was the networking and personal growth. I had the opportunity to collaborate with teams across R&D, quality, marketing, regulatory affairs, and strategy development and innovation. Everyone was welcoming and supportive, committed to helping me learn and grow. Seeing people passionate about their work reinforced my desire to pursue a career in this field.

I want to go into engineering consulting in the future, specifically in the noise and acoustics industry. Acentech is a market leader in this field, and taught me a lot about working with architects and the world of engineering consulting.

I got to visit client sites and take high-precision acoustic data and process it into reports for clients. I also had the opportunity to do a summer long research project studying structure borne vibration along a slab cut in floors. We used white noise with accelerometers (plus some ANSYS simulations) to study how vibrations transmit around a cut in a floor. 

This experience confirmed that pursuing engineering consulting as a career is the right choice for me. There is a huge variety of work, and the career is completely focused on problem solving and design. 

I got to visit Brown! Acentech does a lot of acoustic and vibration consulting for higher education in New England, and Brown is a frequent client. Overall, visiting clients at different sites was my favorite part, as you get to travel and do some real world problem solving.

I was hoping to get hands-on mechanical engineering experience at a fast-paced company this summer! I was confident that I wanted to work in industry after I graduated, but wanted to get actual experience to confirm that it was the right fit for me.

This experience helped me understand the vast range of careers that are available to mechanical engineers. I learned how to work in a corporate environment and got experience with designing components for manufacturing. 

This experience made me more inclined to pursue the aerospace industry after graduation. It also made me appreciate how important company culture is – I loved all the people I worked with, and it made the job so much more rewarding. 

Chemical engineering is an extremely versatile field. While that versatility is one of the reasons why I chose it, it can also make it challenging to pinpoint what exact industry you want to grow a career in. Going into my internship, I wanted to explore how the skills I’ve developed in the classroom, such as problem-solving, data analysis, and process design, could be applied in a real-world industrial setting. I was excited to tackle hands-on projects, learn from real-world engineers, and get a clearer understanding of what a career in manufacturing looks like. The most important thing for me was being able to actually make an impact with my summer. I was incredibly fortunate that Eastman gave me ownership over meaningful projects that allowed me to truly hone my problem-solving skills and develop my confidence and expertise as an engineer. 

I originally applied to Brown as a biomedical engineering major, as I have always been really passionate about R&D within the biotech industry. However, after taking organic chemistry, I immediately fell in love with the intersection between molecular design and large-scale chemical processes. It was actually what drove me to declare a concentration in chemical engineering instead! Going into my junior year, I was initially unsure whether I would want to pursue a career in research or industry, but having tried research last summer, I decided to give industry a chance. My internship at Eastman gave me a clearer sense of what day-to-day problem-solving looks like in a manufacturing environment, and I found myself immediately drawn to the pace and tangible impact of process engineering. It truly helped me realize a potential future in industry, especially in roles where I can work on chemical processes beyond just the molecular level. 

Over the course of twelve weeks, I led four independent projects while also taking on daily troubleshooting tasks. One of my main projects was designing a new heat exchanger/water recirculation system that actually resulted in a $1.5 million valuation. I was also granted the opportunity to present my design in front of the senior site and process managers. This experience gave me an understanding of the challenges within large-scale manufacturing and a new appreciation for the level of precision and detail within project engineering. 

Not only did this internship further cement my passion for chemical engineering, but it also sparked a personal interest in process improvement and solidified my decision to pursue a career in industry. Additionally, it inspired me to explore new topics within chemical engineering, especially in areas like reaction kinetics and sustainability. I have even now changed my course plan to include classes such as ‘ENGN 1340: Water Supply and Treatment Systems - Technology and Sustainability’ and ‘ENGN 1931R: The Chemistry of Environmental Pollution.’ 

The highlight of my internship experience was definitely the people. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, supportive, and genuinely invested in helping me learn and succeed. On top of that, I was able to gain exposure to tools I hadn’t used before, like Power BI, PI Vision, and Aspen Plus. With guidance from my manager and project team, I learned how to balance process efficiency with cost-effectiveness and collaborate with people from various backgrounds and disciplines. This experience ultimately pushed me to think more critically, ask the small questions, and always keep an open mind because you never know what you might learn from the people around you. 

I hoped to learn more about mechanical engineering in an industry environment. Hayward is a global pool product manufacturer, and I wanted to learn how to program collaborative and industrial robots, and also design automated production processes.

I worked closely with the manufacturing engineering team at Hayward to deploy two robots on two production lines. I automated screw-insertion on a pool light manufacturing line. My project included fixture design, rapid prototyping, process engineering, and robot programming. I also designed a process to automate blade insertion on a chlorinator production line.

My experience confirmed my suspicion that industry was the right path for me right out of college, but it also made me realize that I definitely wanted to go back to school for a master’s degree or Ph.D. in a few years. I discovered that I really enjoyed working with robots, and want to sharpen my programming and electrical engineering skills. I am currently deciding if I want to stay on a mechanical path or switch to electrical to get closer to automation in industry. 

The fast pace of a manufacturing environment was my favorite part. I loved that Hayward designs and manufactures their products at the same facility. I spent most of my time out on the production floor or in the machine shop – measuring, building and troubleshooting. I loved that no two days were the same, and I found myself solving novel engineering challenges every day. While I deeply enjoy the controlled, mathematical world of engineering design – this experience of rapid problem solving in a manufacturing environment was very illuminating.  

Going into this experience, I wanted to develop and refine my wet lab skills while working with experts to apply those techniques to a meaningful cause. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of guidance and independence I was given from my mentor and lab members. 

This experience is relevant to my future career goals in medicine because I believe that, as a doctor, having a research-oriented mind is important for improving healthcare quality. In a research and medical university, there is constant exchange between academia and medicine, where clinical access can help fuel new research and new research findings can be used in novel clinical applications. 

My work ultimately intersected with two different labs, andI had the opportunity to speak with both regularly to learn about their research focuses and apply those learnings to my own project. One lab focuses on lipidomics and light microscopy, and the other lab is investigating changes to cell structures during infection. I was extremely grateful to be able to take advantage of resources from both labs to construct a project that aims to characterize membrane changes during infection through light microscopy. 

My favorite part of the experience was the ability to interact with people from different labs, specialties, and occupations. Having access to the OHSU faculty through speaker events, interdepartmental meetings, and sheer proximity provided many opportunities for me to connect with a wide range of professions, which helped expose me to the intricate connections between science, research, and medicine. I loved being able to witness the intersection between these fields and how they collaborate to push forward innovation and benefit the human experience.

Since high school I've been interested in biomedical engineering--specifically the medical device industry because of its direct impact on patient lives. Boston Scientific stands out as a global leader and innovator in this space, with a wide range of minimally invasive technologies that advance science and improve patient outcomes. This summer I was on the Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) New Product Development (NPD) R&D Implantable Hardware team on the mechanical side. Last summer I was on the Urology NPD R&D Implantable Hardware team, also on the mechanical side.

My return internship at Boston Scientific provided various opportunities to strengthen and develop both my technical and professional skill sets. Project work included designing and executing test methods focused on testing key device metrics such as sensing and impedance. I also CAD-modeled and 3D-printed several fixtures for in vitro and in vivo preclinical testing, and participated in the studies themselves—including phantom, acute animal, and cadaver studies—to evaluate device performance. Beyond technical work, I was selected as the intern representative for two Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): PRIDE (this summer), where I helped organize large-scale events including the MN Twins Cities Pride BSC Booth, and EmpowHER (last summer), where I conducted and presented benchmarking insights to bolster  collaboration across ERGs.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my internships at Boston Scientific over the past two summers has been the opportunity to work alongside and learn from such an exceptional group of engineers. The culture at BSC is deeply collaborative and genuinely supportive – everyone is willing to share their insights and lend a hand if needed. In many ways, it honestly reminds me of the community I’ve experienced at Brown Engineering! I’m incredibly grateful for the experience and to all the individuals who made it so meaningful.

As a 2025 Summer Intern in Global Clinical Immunology and Vaccines at Sanofi, I hoped to witness a new stage in the vaccine research process within an industry setting. Building on my experience in Dr. (Anita) Shukla’s lab at Brown, which focuses on early development stages of research, I aimed to gain hands-on experience in later-stage vaccine research. My goal was to learn more about the clinical trial pipeline for vaccines nearing market entry. By participating in this internship, I hoped to broaden my understanding of the entire vaccine development process and contribute to Sanofi’s mission of protecting global health through innovative immunology research.

This experience at Sanofi was extremely valuable to me, as it provided insight into how academic research translates into real-world healthcare solutions. Through my interactions with various departments, particularly in clinical development, I gained clarity about my career trajectory. This experience confirmed my goal to pursue a Ph.D. after graduation, with a newfound understanding of how academic research complements industry innovation. I hope to return to Sanofi afterward, ideally in a scientist position focusing on early pre-clinical stages of vaccine development, where I can contribute to groundbreaking immunological research. The collaborative environment and mentorship I received helped me understand the diverse career paths within pharmaceutical research and solidified my passion for vaccine development.

I was a part of the Serum Bactericidal Antibody (SBA) Assay group within Global Clinical Immunology. I had two critical immunology projects focusing on Monovalent Replacement testing and Human Complement (HC) Acquisition optimization. This included investigating IgG/IgM-depleted commercial human complement alternatives to enhance efficiency of serogroup-specific HC qualification processes and executing monoclonal antibody supernatant testing and screening of concentrated purified monoclonal antibody to establish dilution and titer ranges. In addition to my projects, I contributed to the lab’s data organization process, good documentation practices, as well as coffee chats to learn more about Sanofi’s other departments outside of Global Clinical Immunology.

By witnessing the full spectrum of vaccine development, from early research to late-stage clinical trials, I gained clarity about where my passion truly lies. This experience helped me recognize that while I value understanding the entire pipeline, my greatest interest remains in earlier-stage research where scientific innovation begins. The internship provided a crucial industry perspective that complemented my academic foundation from Brown, confirming my desire to develop deeper expertise through doctoral studies. With a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, I plan to return to Sanofi’s early-stage research departments, where I can apply advanced technical skills to pioneer breakthrough vaccine technologies and contribute to the foundational science that ultimately transforms patient lives.

I pursued an internship with WSP because I wanted to learn more about the engineering and design process that goes into the built environment. Companies like WSP in the engineering consulting field sit at an intriguing intersection of outputting very technical and detailed engineering work while also fostering a collaborative and interactive client-facing environment. After completing an internship in the engineering simulation world after freshman year, I was excited to explore a different niche in the mechanical field that involved working with tangible outputs and interacting with the local community. 

Coming into this internship, I did not realize how vast and wide the opportunities within the built environment were. WSP alone is a universe with 75,000 employees across the world. Being able to talk from people across the country who are on different teams within the company opened my eyes to what kinds of jobs and niches are out there. I plan on taking what I learned here and continuing to explore different parts of the engineering world during the rest of my time at Brown. 

As a team member of the larger Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing team operating out of the Arlington office, my daily work consisted of the design and renovation of heating and cooling systems for various projects ranging from residential units to multi-level offices that WSP has across the metro area. Our team’s goal was to ensure total thermal comfort and the best air quality for our clients to live and work in. When I was on site, I would help refer to site plans, validate existing conditions, and derive design solutions. This could mean I would be simply walking through a hallway taking measurements or other times getting up in a cherry picker to check out the plenum; the different adventures every day was something I really enjoyed about the job. 

This experience gave me a thorough perspective on what it's like to work in the aviation and aerospace industry; giving me an insight into the plethora of paths one can take within the area.

I had a personal project for analog and digital circuit design while also getting plenty of lab and field experience.

This experience cemented my commitment to aerospace and clarified that I want to stay close to hardware and flight system design. Academically, I’m now prioritizing VLSI, semiconductor devices, and advanced analog/mixed-signal coursework to sharpen my design and analysis skills.

Site tours! I got to see everything from A350 planes to state of the art flight systems.

The projects I worked on were directly implemented into the current civilian nuclear power plant fleet! I created a new tool to track maintenance, made policy recommendations on how to reshape advanced nuclear small modular reactor licensing, and single-handedly laid the foundation to build an in-house artificial intelligence model that pulls from archival company data and supporting documentation. 

It was great to work on engineering principles and designs on real-world scenarios, especially in the nuclear field, which has been gaining a lot of traction this summer! I also learned a lot about risk: risk-informed processes for evaluations and probabilistic risk assessments: both concepts that I had no background on prior to my internship.

We were able to see X-Energy's Training Center, where they are designing and implementing improvements to nuclear reactor operations and training, even creating augmented reality that incorporates olfactory cues for scenario training!

It opened my eyes to the manufacturing and consumer packaged goods industry. I gained understanding of different roles both in engineering and engineering adjacent, and what the future in manufacturing looks like.

I worked on two continuous improvement projects. One related to developing preventative maintenance procedures and plans for packaging equipment and the second was a waste mitigation project to improve “right-first-time” production.

I had no idea what manufacturing looked like, and now that I have experienced it I am fully onboard. Making products like Snickers gives me a lot of pride knowing I am making products people love.