Engineering a summer experience 2026

This summer, I wanted to gain an appreciation for the behind-the-scenes office work that goes into bringing a building to life. I also wanted to gain as much on-site construction experience as possible. 

I was thrilled to meet people passionate about decarbonizing buildings. I made connections that I hope to carry with me as I go forward into sustainable design and construction. I was also challenged with questions from people not as familiar with the movement, which, going forward, will motivate me to get my hands dirty and figure out how to get better at answering their questions every day. 

I gained experience writing Requests for Information (RFIs) and submittals. RFIs are official documents submitted to the architect or engineer clarifying design intent or resolving discrepancies that arise in the field. Submittals are a quality assurance tool used in the procurement process, ensuring that materials meet the specification requirements established by the owner. I also got some field engineering experience by communicating with subcontractors as well as hands-on experience with layout, drywall taping, fire caulking, metal framing, and more. 

For sure! I learned about various construction career paths, one path being starting as a project engineer and working one’s way up to project manager (PM). Another common path is becoming a field engineer, then getting promoted to senior field engineer, then superintendent, and so on and so forth. By getting to experience a bit of each path through this internship, I learned that I absolutely love being in the field, I love MEP systems, Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) fascinates me, and I want to explore field engineering more, as well as various carpentry/apprenticeship opportunities.  

I managed to get my forklift certification and was even able to sit in a crane operating booth! Aside from that, going on site walks with superintendents and project engineers/managers was definitely my favorite part of my day. I love seeing how the different trades work together to sequence work as well as seeing the different stages of the framing, rough-in, and finish process. 

Since high school, my North Star has been climate. Studying engineering for me was a means to understand how we can harness technology for climate solutions, and coming to Amperesand was an expression of that purpose. I was thrilled about being in San Francisco this summer, working at a startup that is developing cutting-edge technology to modernize the electrical grid using solid-state transformers (SST). I hadn't planned on being a Business Strategy Intern this summer, even though I hope to be in a similar role post-grad. When I cold emailed the CEO of Amperesand because of my interest in the company's mission and technology, he suggested that I would be a good fit for this position. As part of a fast-growing deep-tech startup, I was excited to wear many hats and learn about strategizing business decisions while supplementing it with my engineering background. 

This experience reassured me that climate tech is a field that I see myself thriving in. Reading about policy updates, emerging technology, and new ideas to drive climate solutions is something I did a lot at this internship, and it has truly built my confidence in engaging in high-level conversations with leadership and anyone who is curious about this space. I also gained some clarity on what my strengths are and the areas where I can improve through this experience, which I hope to keep learning as I navigate my career. 

As a Business Strategy Intern at Amperesand, I worked on many projects, some economic-driven and some technical. I worked on a market sizing analysis for future market opportunities in solar and battery storage. Other projects included building grid-facing simulations for SSTs using industry software to develop value proposition for the company, automating market intelligence sources for the product team, strategizing our conference and event attendance, and leading the organization of an industry-wide event for investors, customers, and partners. All of these experiences helped me channel my technical skills in a decision-making scenario that was driven by strategy to enhance Amperesand's commercial operations. 

This experience reinforced my love for engineering and technology through a strategic lens. I realized that being part of a team that is driven by implementing technical solutions for impact is somewhere I feel excited to grow and contribute. I am looking forward to bringing this into my senior year as I prepare for life after graduation. 

Learning from people and hearing stories about why they do what they do. The incredible team at Amperesand was a joy to be around, work with, and have a great time with over this summer. San Francisco is also a city that brims with ambitious people who are inspired to do wonderful things with their resources, and I really resonated with what the city brought to me as well.

Going into this summer, I wanted to understand what it’s like to work in an industry setting, since I had previously only worked in academic labs. I wanted to make connections across many areas of the company and learn about the industry from people with experience navigating it. I also hoped to branch out scientifically and work on a new project! I’m happy to say that my experience covered all of these things and more.

This summer, I decided that I will definitely be applying to Ph.D. programs in the fall. I talked to numerous people about their application experiences and made some academic connections. I also completed a project that I may be able to submit to conferences and that I can build on for my senior thesis. My program does not give out return offers, but I am so glad I got experience in industry before committing myself to a Ph.D. for 5-6 years!

My project was on developing an assay to measure xRNA endosomal escape capabilities. Throughout the summer, I worked in the lab growing cells and running experiments. I presented my work as a poster and a PowerPoint. The intern program held weekly sessions where I learned about different branches of the company, talked to older scientists, improved my AI and data skills, and practiced presenting my work. We also had special program events, including "science court" where we debated the claims of a paper, and a scavenger hunt across the campus.

This program was amazing because all of the interns were housed together at Northeastern. My favorite part of the experience was making friends with the other interns from across the country and the world.

During this internship, I hoped to not only build and develop my lab/research skills but also form connections with other interns and professionals who could provide me with insight into other career paths, such as production, quality, and tech transfer. 

The experience reaffirmed my interest in wanting to explore the biotech/pharma space, especially in terms of building a greater understanding of how science is developed from the bench and translated into a commercial therapy or treatment. Furthermore, working at Sanofi showed me just how much work and coordination is put into developing the very vaccines that continue to protect patients during the height of the flu season! Whether it is in R&D, manufacturing, or on the commercial side, I'm very eager to continue seeking opportunities within this space to learn more about how new technologies and medicines are developed to address challenging health problems. 

Coming from the early-stage discovery side of research, I found the clinical development space very interesting. Instead of focusing on novel drug-delivery platforms, we're developing assays and experiments to provide supporting data on vaccine efficacy. In my case, I was working on developing an internal control for a digital PCR assay, which would add another layer of analysis to how effective the vaccines are in preventing infection. Being exposed to advanced machines and technology that are able to pump out results at greater throughputs was very exciting and eye-opening! I also learned about implementing GxP compliance measures, such as wearing scrubs, while also being very meticulous with my documentation and record-keeping. 

Going into the internship, I was really open to just getting industry experience in any role. Whether it be in R&D, manufacturing, or process development, I was just eager to get a solid understanding of how science is translated from the bench to the patient. Likewise, after working a late stage clinical setting, while also being surrounded by facilities that produce vaccines at scale, I was really eager to explore other fields beyond R&D. For example, at Sanofi they have roles such as Continuous Improvement and Manufacturing Science, Analytics and Technology, where they take on various projects that are very cross-functional and essentially help scale and optimize the processes that pump out billions of vaccines within the U.S. and globally. After this experience, I’m looking toward exploring roles within these fields to build a greater understanding of drug substance and drug production. 

In addition to developing technical skills in assay development, I particularly enjoyed the intern/co-op events that Sanofi hosted throughout the summer. For instance, we were able to travel to different sites and network with other interns, while getting valuable workshops on career/professional development. I was able to really learn more about different groups within the industry, such as market access, manufacturing and supply, as well as supply chain! Getting the exposure to industry roles beyond R&D was very insightful, and they built these types of networking events through fun community service activities, as well as through a cruise around the Statue of Liberty!

I was hoping to get some experience working at an engineering startup - I was drawn to the fast-paced environment and the idea of working alongside other young, driven engineers. I had previously interned at a large engineering firm, so wanted to compare the two and see which one stood out to me more!

I learned so much about practical engineering over the summer, from creating good engineering drawings to navigating tight design deadlines. VATN gave me the chance to practice applying what I’m learning in the classroom at Brown in a totally different environment, and I think my summer equipped me with many of the skills that I’ll need at a full time position after graduating.

I was able to work on a wide range of different design and build projects for the mechanical engineering team! No two days were the same - I got to participate in vehicle testing, sit in on design reviews, and even help build vehicles. I really felt like a member of the full-time team, and loved getting to work under several different people across both the mechanical and electrical engineering teams.

This experience has definitely made me more likely to work at an engineering startup in the future. I really enjoyed the team-first culture and drive to make meaningful change, and hope to work in a similar environment after graduating. 

Getting to go out on the water for testing! It was so cool to see the vehicles in action and get out on the water during the summer – not only was the weather beautiful, there was so much to learn. 

Last summer I contributed to the Orion Crew Survival Suits (OCSS) as a spacesuit engineering intern at NASA Johnson Space Center. Watching them worn during Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years, made that work feel very real and special. I learned so much about textiles used for intravehicular activity (IVA), including conducting advanced textile research and testing on flammability risk in enriched oxygen cabin environments. This summer I hoped to dive deeper into the research and development of space textiles on the crew and thermal systems textile engineering and development team.

This summer gave me the hands-on familiarity to gain intuition about different fibers used in space exploration, as well as experience with the analysis, testing, and fabrication of flight hardware. Working at NASA has given me a breadth of professional and technical tools that have allowed me to integrate my dual degree studies in materials engineering and apparel design effectively.  

My work centered on the development of high-performance, flame-resistant textiles for oxygen-enriched spacecraft cabins. Textiles that make up the softgoods in the cabin are prevalent throughout and pose one of the largest flammability risks. This summer I collaborated within engineering teams of textile engineers, softgoods designers, and materials/processes engineers to lead projects that aid the development of textiles that align with agency needs, that can be infused into the fabrication of softgoods flight hardware.

Last summer in the spacesuit engineering branch, I was very tied to the hardware for actual flight suits. This summer, I've had the opportunity to evaluate wearable systems from a specific technical point of view, with real responsibility and stakes rather than surface level exposure.

My favorite part about NASA is always the people. Everybody becomes the most interesting person you’ve ever met after asking a few questions. I have been met with a sincere amount of support and encouragement toward my career goals, as the passion that people at NASA feel toward space exploration is profound and special.

I hoped to gain hands-on experience in the mechanical engineering field and learn what the day-to-day work at Prinoth, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of snow groomers, looked like. I wanted to make an impact on the team I was working with and see the products I designed used in the field. I was excited to learn about the different culture in Italy and to have the opportunity to explore the beautiful natural landscape during the weekends.

This experience allowed me to see how hands-on the mechanical engineering world operates. You see new problems every day and there is no clear blueprint on how to solve them; you are the one making the decisions. Working at Prinoth has solidified my passion for traveling to new places and in the future, I want to continue to learn from others around the world.

As the only intern in the research and development department, I was working side by side with the power train team, learning from them, and applying what I learned to different prototype projects for new snow groomers. I talked with suppliers, worked with 3D modeling, performed calculations, and researched a variety of relevant material. I learned the inner workings of hydraulic systems, implemented electric systems, worked with gears, belts, shafts, bearings, and further mechanical engineering applications. A highlight was being able to present my work in front of a variety of teams at Prinoth.

This experience showed me the importance of who you are working with, and what you are working on. It makes a difference if you can show up to the office every day, passionate about your role. The people working at Prinoth love the outdoors, skiing, and being able to provide clients with the best snow groomers to keep ski resorts around the world in perfect condition. My coworkers made an effort to show me around the production line, got to know me as a person, and the culture established here makes all the difference.

My favorite part was getting to know the guys I was working with, hiking with them in the mountains, sharing meals, and building relationships that I know will last outside of Italy.

Last year, I worked as a process improvement intern in chemical manufacturing, where I gained valuable experience working directly in a plant and industrial environment. While it was an incredibly formative experience, it also helped me realize that I wanted to work closer to the product and have a clearer line of sight to the consumer. That realization led me to explore the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and food industry, where I found a unique intersection of technical problem-solving, consumer insight, and business strategy. More than anything, I wanted my summer experience to be one where I could make a tangible impact. Through this internship, I’ve learned how to connect technical problem-solving with consumer needs as well as how to work cross-functionally across teams – from marketing and sales to operations and corporate finance.

Through this experience, I’ve really learned what it means to find work that you genuinely enjoy and feel passionate about. Chemical engineering is a famously versatile field, and that’s one of the things I love about it – it opens the door to so many different industries and career opportunities. At the same time, that breadth can also make it difficult to figure out where you want to build your career. Throughout my time at Brown, I explored several different paths, from plastics and manufacturing to biotech and pharmaceuticals, before realizing how strongly I was drawn to CPG. This summer has only further cemented my interest in food engineering and shown me how I can apply my technical skill set to products that I interact with every day and genuinely care about. More than anything, this experience has given me a much clearer sense of the kind of work I want to pursue and the impact I want my engineering career to have.

I had the opportunity to work on one of Kraft Heinz’s most iconic legacy products: Kraft Blue Box Mac & Cheese. My work focused on plant processing and scalability for pasta production, giving me the opportunity to work across multiple stages of product development. Throughout the summer, I strengthened my ability to collaborate with consumer insights and marketing, evaluate product quality specifications, and design and execute experiments ranging from benchtop testing to even conducting my own pilot plant trials! It was an incredibly rewarding experience to take concepts from the lab and see how they translate to a real manufacturing environment.

It definitely reinvigorated my love for processing and optimization. I’ve realized that I’m especially energized by challenges that require figuring out how to get from “A” to “B” in the most effective and efficient way possible. What I find so exciting about this kind of work is that it often feels like solving a complex puzzle – there isn’t always an immediate or obvious answer, even for the most experienced experts. That challenge is what makes it so rewarding. Beyond technical work, this experience also sparked my interest in the CPG industry, where I can stay close to the consumer while collaborating with people across a wide range of business functions.

Definitely the team tastings! A key part of my project involved assessing pasta quality, which is partially evaluated through sensory/consumer testing. I spent several weeks preparing and cooking mac & cheese as part of that process, and I never got tired of eating it! 

My primary goal was to develop technical skills in computer-aided design (CAD) and gain a firsthand understanding of the product design and development process. I also wanted to experience what it is like to work in an early-stage startup, where employees take on diverse responsibilities and contribute directly to the company's growth. In addition, I had the opportunity to take on a dual role as both a business development intern and an engineering intern at Flexpenser, a Swedish technology company and patented valve system designed to revolutionize how liquids and semi-liquids are stored, dispensed, and preserved. This allowed me to gain exposure to both the technical and commercial sides of the company. Additionally, I hoped to learn how an international team collaborates and makes decisions in a fast-paced environment.

This experience aligned closely with my long-term aspiration of one day helping build and lead a company. Working alongside the CEO gave me valuable insight into how strategic decisions are made, how leaders prioritize competing demands, and how a startup navigates uncertainty while pursuing growth. It also exposed me to workplace norms in a different country, allowing me to observe differences in communication, collaboration, and organizational culture. These experiences broadened my perspective on leadership and reinforced my interest in combining technical and business expertise throughout my career.

Because I worked in a startup, I had the opportunity to wear many hats and contribute across a wide range of projects. My responsibilities included designing product components in CAD, brainstorming and troubleshooting design challenges, producing and testing prototypes through 3D printing, and iterating designs based on feedback. I also prepared products for client shipments, participated in client meetings, supported product development discussions, created media content, conducted market and materials research to support future expansion, and even had the opportunity to participate in the process of writing legal reports related to the patent of the technology. The dynamic nature of the role gave me exposure to both engineering and business functions and showed me how closely they interact in an entrepreneurial environment.

The internship strengthened my interest in working at the intersection of engineering, product development, and business. Experiencing the realities of a startup highlighted both the challenges and the opportunities that come with building a company from the ground up. It also changed how I think about my education. Beyond technical knowledge, I realized the importance of developing transferable skills such as CAD, Excel, structured problem-solving, and the ability to learn unfamiliar tools independently, as those are the skills that are not always emphasized in the classroom but are essential in practice. The experience also reinforced the value of pursuing a rigorous academic workload. I found that balancing multiple engineering projects, business tasks, and shifting priorities required the same resilience and organizational skills I have developed through challenging coursework, extracurricular leadership, and part-time work. Rather than discouraging me, the experience increased my confidence that tackling demanding academic and professional challenges now will prepare me to navigate uncertainty, adapt quickly, and solve complex problems throughout my career.

I hoped to gain hands-on research experience in a real laboratory setting in an emerging field (cryobiology). As I had not had a research experience before this one, I wanted to know what engaging in research would be like and if I wanted to pursue it in the future.

My research focused on the calorimetry of aqueous cryoprotective agent (CPA) emulsions. Using differential scanning calorimetry, my mentor and I were able to directly measure the exothermic heat flow of different samples as they crystallized. This crystallization exotherm took the form of a curve similar in shape to a bell curve. From these exotherms, we were able to estimate the nucleation rate of each CPA we tested to see at what temperature nucleation occurs. The research culminated in a poster, which was presented at both a virtual conference and an in-person conference, and where I got to both discuss my research and network with peers.

My favorite part about my experience was collecting the data and seeing the patterns emerge, allowing for the refinement of my theories. Developing the method of using emulsions instead of bulk solutions was probably the biggest breakthrough I had during my experience, since each droplet in the emulsion acted as its own crystallization event. As such, emulsions allowed me to essentially measure millions of crystallization events in one DSC run.

Although I have done a lot of basic science research in the past, I wanted to gain some experience with research that has a direct link to the clinic. I was also looking to learn more about the design and application of lipid nanoparticles, which (since their use in the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines) are starting to be used in all sorts of therapies. Finally, I've never been to the American Southwest, and I was excited to explore the city of Phoenix.

More so than ever before, I realized just how frustrating yet rewarding research can be. When I arrived in Phoenix, the project I was working on was still in its infancy. That was exciting because I had a lot of input in the direction of the project and personally designed many of the key experiments. However, because we were just starting out, there was a lot of failure, which was certainly challenging. And yet, all the setbacks only made me more determined to troubleshoot and get the project off of the ground. Because I was working on a therapy for breast cancer, the work felt important and I was extremely passionate about the research, which was very fulfilling.

Most certainly, my favorite part of the experience was all of the awesome people I met! Everyone in my lab got along very well. Outside of the lab, I really enjoyed getting to know the other undergraduates in the Mayo SURF program, and we got quite close. Three other students and I took a weekend trip down to Tucson where we hiked Mount Lemmon!

I had bounced around between different mechanical internships before this summer and had not really found the niche I wanted to go into after college. Mechanical is super versatile which is awesome, but it also leaves a lot of room for exploration with only so many summers in college. I was looking for a fast paced, hands-on environment when a professor from Brown recommended I look into aerospace launch or test for my junior summer. Having the opportunity to intern at a launch site this summer confirmed this was truly an awesome experience that helped me find exactly what I hope to do in the future.

Totally!! I now know that I want to go into the aerospace industry right out of undergrad. I would not have found this type of clarity without this internship. Getting to jump right into launch site work was the most effective way to figure out what I want to pursue after Brown. 

Getting to see one or two launches a week was the highlight of my summer. Being able to see the projects I was working on put into action and then eventually fly was a very cool experience. 

I hoped to understand the complex process of mining, because it’s where everything begins. Every product, from phones to bridges, starts as material pulled from the ground.

Working alongside metallurgists, geologists, and mining engineers showed me how environmental compliance shapes every stage of a mine’s life. Whether I stay in mining or move into another heavy industry, understanding how regulation, engineering, and operations intersect will be central to my career. My project work spanned the full life of a mine. I analyzed the chemical processes used to extract gold, silver, and tungsten, and conducted water quality testing on monitoring wells using a pump controller, nitrogen gas, and an Aqua Troll 600. I studied the industrial milling process and built Excel tools to calculate daily ore and waste production totals and load weighted haul metrics from truck dispatch data. I also worked with federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, on permit approvals for mines in early development.

No, I still plan to finish my degree in mechanical engineering. I’m a non-traditional student who came to Brown after ten years in the U.S. Navy, so my career plans have always been a little different. At the end of the day, my goal is to build my own house and live in peace with my wife and our dog.

My favorite part was holding $1.2 million in gold. I got to hold a freshly poured doré bar, and I can tell you those bars are a lot heavier than they look!

It expanded my interest in learning about the pharmaceutical industry, specifically formulation development. 

I validated and expanded the scope of a novel method using UPLC to analyze the concentration of one of the excipients in the drug product. 

My favorite part was troubleshooting experiments and learning to think critically about the data we collected. Since the method was newly developed internally, we had to scrutinize the validity (such as repeatability and accuracy) of the analytical process.

I hoped to gain real-world experience in the field of audio electronics and signal processing! I have always wanted to work in a position that combines electrical engineering, computer science, and audio/music, and I wanted to experience what that would be like.

I worked on four different projects over the course of the internship. One involved prototyping a comprehensive HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) estimation pipeline using machine learning models. Another involved researching, designing, and implementing parametric EQ firmware for wireless earphones. The other two involved DSP and utilizing psychoacoustic models to analyze audio test measurements.

This experience really solidified my interest in audio electronics and applying engineering to audio and sound solutions. I felt I was able to reconfirm my passion for the industry and formally consider it as a career option.

My favorite part of the experience was testing out the company’s products, specifically their magnetic planar headphone designs and personalized audio technology. They sounded so good I couldn’t help but smile when I first tried them.

I hoped to gain a broader understanding of the production process beyond my previous internship experience in manufacturing. I was excited for the opportunity to explore different facets of engineering and gain hands-on experience in a new industry.

This experience broadened my career perspective and showed me the value of being open to new opportunities. As a woman entering a field where women have not always been strongly represented, it meant a lot to feel welcomed and supported by Gulf States Toyota and The Friedkin Group. It definitely showed me that the culture of my future workplace will be just as important to me as the work itself.

My main project involved developing an object detection model that assists dealership technicians in their inspection processes.