Materials science and engineering is a creative blend of physics, chemistry, and mathematics to create and improve materials that make up the world around us: ceramics, metals, polymers, and biomaterials. A material scientist might ask why something broke and then figure out how to make it stronger so that does not happen again.
Name: Monica Paul
What inspired you to decide to pursue your specific major?
I always knew that I wanted to study engineering, but I didn’t choose MatSE until I went to a Women in Engineering camp during high school. That was when I first discovered MatSE. The demonstration covered shape memory alloys, and it made me think about how often I wonder what things are made of or how things are made. As I did more research about the major, I realized that there are so many possibilities for a career path or industry to choose as well.
What has surprised you most about your major that you didn’t realize a few years ago?
The huge number of objects in our daily lives that are made of carefully engineered materials!!
How have you “used engineering” so far as a student?
I’ve had three very different internships throughout college. The first was at Stratasys, a 3D printing company, where I worked on the development of the next generation of additive manufacturing support and model materials. The second was at Chevron, where I modeled and monitored corrosion in a refinery, along with working on failure analysis. The third was with The Clorox Company where I worked for Glad, and helped design the future of trash bags.
What are your career goals?
I’ve loved my internship experiences in Research and Development, and I hope to continue working on the cutting edge of materials development.