Track: Polymer Science
Undergrad: Willamette University, Salem, OR - Chemistry
Internship: Bend Research
Current Job Title: R&D Group Leader at Willamette Valley Company
It’s hard to believe that a decade has passed since my first student bio for the U of O Master’s program. I'm so old that the program had a totally different name when I applied, and after the polymer track I came back for another summer of punishment in a track that doesn’t even exist anymore!
I can still remember the questions and uncertainty of what happens after graduation. What will my life look like once I grow up? What kind of careers out there need chemistry majors? Will I even be able to get a job at all? (2008 had just happened)
Surely some of you reading this and considering what to do after graduation can relate.
It was true then and it’s true now: If you want to learn relevant science in areas that are focused directly on industrial applications for real chemistry jobs, you should check out this program. If the industrial internship program could land me a great job back in 2009, you better believe it can do the same today. The professional development and networking opportunities provided by this program get better every year, not to mention the improving quality of the coursework and instruction. I think so highly of the program that I am telling my younger brother (chem major) to check it out. ‘Nuff said.
Nowadays I work in research and development for a Eugene company and use my degree every day with my polymer chemist teammates. Four of my current coworkers also came from the UO program. We formulate and develop products using various 1 and 2K reactive chemistries (urethane, urea, epoxy, silane, etc) to solve industrial challenges with creative and practical approaches using our chemistry and material science skills. No two weeks of work ever look exactly the same for us. As soon as we prove out a new or improved product in the lab with our variety of analytical and physical testing equipment, we transfer the technology to large scale production and after that we work with sales and customers to ensure the end user successfully applies the product. In my case and the case of my coworkers, the UO Master’s Industrial Internship Program provided the foundation needed for a career in industry.
