I loved having such a wide variety of experiences. During my term I was able to work with different kinds of laboratory and production equipment depending on what tests were needed at the time. In addition to being hands on, I also spent time compiling data and discussing it with the team. Sometimes this involved moving data or utilizing code to automate processes and creating visuals to identify trends. Additionally, the people at Renegade Materials are amazing. They were always eager to answer all of my questions and they do a great job of making you feel like you belong.
What I wish was different
I wish I knew more about the application of products sooner. I think I could have been more efficient at conveying information sooner because the applications are what made the pieces fit together for me. The supervisors here readily give you resources, research, and articles to help you understand, but the material is dense and niche so it can still be difficult to contextualize. I found that the more I learned about the proccesses and product applications, the more excited I was about the internship.
Advice
Be open to making friends! Due to the super flexible nature of this co-op you'll often interface with someone new. It was helpful to know names so that there was always someone around who could answer any questions I had when working with new processes or tehcnology. Also, ask questions early and as you come across them. As mentioned in the previous prompt- there's a lot to learn here. I found the longer I waited to ask, the easier it was overload on information.
