I really enjoyed the variety of work that took place that allowed me to expand my knowledge. I also really enjoyed getting to work with a close small group of engineers that were very helpful whenever I had questions. One of the best parts about working here was the people everyone was very welcoming as soon as I got here and I felt like it was a great fit. Another major benefit to working here was the flexibility with classes as they emphasized that school takes priority which not everywhere has that emphasis. The final part of this job that I really enjoyed was that at the beginning I was assigned my own project working with cable management on a large robot which really let me expand my horizons in research and working with other people to complete this.
What I wish was different
There are several things I wish would have been different. The first main difference I wish I had was I wish I didn't have summer classes at the same time as it limited my work time. I was still able to work a full time schedule which was beneficial. The second thing I wish was different was the workload. By that I mean there were times where I had many things to do which was great however there were times were there wasn't anything to do which can be frustrating at times. The final thing I wish would have been different was that there was construction going on in the area I worked which definitely got distracting at times
Advice
There are several things I would like to share abt out this experience. The first is, if you get an opportunity to work here take it it is an amazing place to work and the people are amazing as well. The second is to talk to your coworkers get to know them as there are so many great people here. Another piece of advice is to ask questions its better to ask questions to more knowledgeable people than just struggling with it on your own. The final piece of advice I want to share is to take every opportunity to learn you can as there are so many opportunities here.
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Advanced Composites Research Co-op
May - August 2023 • Dayton, OH
What I liked
I liked the flexibility of this position, there were many different learning opportunities and the hours are fluid. There is a strong sense of teamwork in the division, and everyone is willing to help. Learned how research is conducted from the preparation to the final report. Very nice facilities and state of the art testing machinery made conducting research a clean and organized experience.
What I wish was different
I wish I would had been given more involvement in projects, but understand that my term was right after the closing of many big projects. Would have liked to do some more CAD or programming. Would have liked to interact with customers more to understand how customer relations works. Sometimes was bogged down with lots of excel, but that is normal for engineers.
Advice
If you are interested in materials research do not pass up this experience. The division is made up of professionals who are passionate about materials and are all willing and able to help you become as knowledgeable as they are. Meet as many people as you can as they can ask for your help even if they are not in your direct chain of command, I did this and got to do some electrical work and machine refurbishing which was cool. Take classes during your term if possible, it will get you ahead and is not too much of a commitment as there is no take home work with this position.
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Advanced Manufacturing Intern
May 2023 • Dayton, OH
What I liked
I have enjoyed my time in the RAAM Team at UDRI very much so far. Our team has a perfect balance of theoretical and practical tasks that allowed me to work with my hands when I needed a break from academic theory. I enjoyed the professionally work environment that was cultivated by my coworkers. The culture at UDRI promotes interpersonal relationships and an appropriate bond between coworkers.
What I wish was different
While I did greatly enjoy my time at UDRI there were a couple parts of the job that could have been improved. During most of my time at UDRI the section of the building that I have been working in has been under construction. This was unpreventable but still very distracting. The lab that I was working in was also very loud and overwhelming witch made it difficult to do work that was not directly associated with the lab.
Advice
The piece of advice I would like to share about this experience is to ask questions and talk to people. The biggest resource you have at any job is your coworkers. As an intern the majority of your job is just learning, so lean on your coworkers to learn what success looks like in your field.
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Co-Op Student
January 2022 • Dayton, OH
What I liked
What I liked most about my co-op with UDRI was that I got to opportunity to work on actual projects with my co-worker. The work that I did was not busy-work, I got to work on projects that was being used on research programs. I was usually given a task to complete and was expected to have it done before a deadline. I also liked that I had a very flexible schedule. It allowed me to have a work life and a student campus life.
What I wish was different
I wished that my co-op had more students in my department. Due to Covid there was a limited capacity of students that could be hired. This lead for me to have to work on assignments by myself. Having another co-op student would have made it an easier experience.
Advice
An advise that I would give future co-op students would be to be patient with the research that is being done. This job requires the student to be familiar not only with material structures but also with the laboratory equipment. There are multiple equipments that you will need to learn how to operate. On top of that there is also a lot of safety training to complete.
