Name: Duy Pham
Major and College: Mechanical Engineering at University of Maryland College Park
Internship Title: Mechanical Engineering Intern
Internship Site: Gaiaxus
1) Please tell us about your career goals.
My primary career goals are to gain hands-on experience and develop a deeper understanding of the work industry. I want to contribute to meaningful projects and tasks by applying my skills and knowledge to real-world problems. I hope that my work can make a positive impact and demonstrate my capabilities. More importantly, I aim to apply what I learned to make the world a better place.
2) Tell us about your internship (i.e. day-to-day responsibilities, special projects/clients and work culture).
As an intern, I was responsible for designing and programming two waterproof devices: one to measure pH and the other to measure dissolved oxygen (DO). I spent the first half of my internship designing these devices using Fusion 360, and the second half programming them. However, I also need to make adjustments to the designs after some testing. In addition to my main project, I assisted other engineers with side projects, such as writing code to monitor battery performance and testing sensors. Every two weeks, I need to schedule a meeting to report what I have done. Those meetings let my supervisor know where I’m at for my project, the challenges that I faced, and what I have learned. To prepare for those meetings, I kept a work diary recording daily tasks and issues, which helped me stay on track and complete my project.
3) Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I heard about this position through a career fair in September 2023. Although I didn’t know much about the startup initially, my interest grew after speaking with the recruiters. I submitted my resume both in person and through their website. A week later, I received an email to schedule my interview. Since the company was a startup with a small team, I was interviewed by the CEO and the CTO. There were one or two questions I answered badly, but otherwise, everything went smoothly. A month later, the CTO contacted me with an internship offer.
4) Which of the following resources did you use to find your current experience?
Career Fairs
5) What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
6) How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I believe that I have made a great impact through my work. By the end of the internship, I had successfully completed my main project of creating two waterproof devices: one for measuring pH and the other for measuring dissolved oxygen. Even though these designs are prototypes for testing, I’m proud that they serve as a foundation for future work. Besides my main project, I also made an impact through my side projects. For instance, the code I developed to monitor battery performance simplified their tasks by eliminating the need for manual measurements of current and voltage. With my code, engineers could easily run the program and access the data whenever needed, making their work more efficient.
7) What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience (i.e. Internship search, Resume or Interview tips)?
For those searching for an internship, I recommend considering small companies or startups in addition to big tech firms. At smaller companies, you often have more opportunities to work on a variety of projects due to their smaller team size. This can lead to gaining a broader range of experiences and taking on more responsibilities than you might expect. These companies usually try their best to help you learn and grow as much as possible. Another piece of advice I would like to give is to update LinkedIn regularly. I have neglected working on LinkedIn for a while. However, after talking to a senior engineer at my internship, I realized how important it is for networking and showcasing your professional abilities. A well-maintained LinkedIn profile can help you build connections and present yourself more effectively to potential employers.