Mechanical engineering student finds internships even more than they're cracked up to be

On any given afternoon, you might find mechanical engineering senior Kelsey Long collaborating with Battlebot team members on their remote-controlled combat robot, or tutoring fellow students in statics, math, or physics at Ohio University's Academic Advancement Center.

Another accomplishment under her belt? A project she completed during one of her four internship rotations at Chemours in Parkersburg, West Virginia. It'll save the company $200,000 over two years — and it earned her a Six Sigma certification.

Long originally set her sights on becoming a math teacher, but her brother, a civil engineering major at OHIO, encouraged her to consider the Russ College. Now planning to pursue graduate studies as a Bobcat, she learned at Chemours about fracture mechanics, or the study of cracks in materials.

Before Chemours, I didn't even know this side of mechanical engineering existed, says Long, whose project brought radiographic inspections for welds in-house to eliminate the need for outside contractors. She was assigned to work with the mechanical development group that was in charge of inspecting and maintaining the integrity of equipment throughout the plant.

I was able to apply concepts I had learned from strength of materials, machine design, and a few other classes, she says.

The experience helped her understand the job market and what she'd like to learn more about in her field, she explained, citing welding and metallurgy as new interests that she'll explore in her upcoming studies.

Colleen Carow contributed to this story.