Going to co-op for what would have been my senior year was a somewhat terrifying decision at the time but ended up being one of the best decisions of my time at UMD.
Name: Robert Fink IV
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Employer: Naval Research Lab
Location: Washington, DC
How did you find the internship/co-op? What was the interview process like? The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) was one of many companies I talked to and gave a resume to at the main career fair my junior year. Eventually my resume got passed to the right person within NRL, and I got an email to set up a phone interview. Two engineers interviewed me for about an hour asking some questions, but mainly had me talk about my experience and answer questions based on my projects. The first interview went well so I had a second phone interview with my supervisor and the two engineers from before. A week or so later I received an offer and negotiated to get a year-long co-op to fit my school schedule since they could not do a short summer internship.
What have been the most interesting aspects of your internship? I think the most interesting aspect has been all the new things I have gotten to learn and integrating things I have already learned into new applications. There is so much detail and nuance that goes into the design of an aerospace system from ideation to integration and test. I talked to countless engineers and technicians with different backgrounds about their programs and because everyone has a different story to tell I was always learning something new. Additionally, I worked on a development program that was in its early stages, so my drawing board was blank. There was an objective and constraints, but after that it was up to the theory I learned in class and my creativity to solve the problem. Seeing the theory from class turn into real concepts with hard numbers, some of which may influence the path forward in this growing field was also very rewarding.
What campus activities or courses do you think helped you, or would have helped you, with this internship? Several things helped me in different aspects of this co-op in spacecraft mechanisms. First, my research experience at the Space Systems Laboratory with Dr. Akin provided me with a solid base in mechanical design, using CAD, designing for manufacturability, and communicating designs effectively. Without this experience, I likely would not have gotten this position or been anywhere near as successful as I was during my co-op. I also found myself, almost daily, calling upon content learned in Structures I, Structures II, and Aerospace Structures. Being able to do basic friction, bending, and stress analysis quickly and efficiently proved very valuable. Finally, for some of my work, Compressible Flow, Dynamics, and Controls all were invaluable. Because of the knowledge gained in these courses, I was able to participate in the more theoretical aspects of research and development. I was able to hold my own and contribute in meetings between multiple federal agencies because of the base these classes built.
How would you describe the company culture? What was the most helpful thing your supervisor did to make you feel comfortable at the organization? Everyone was super friendly and helpful. They are glad to see new engineers and want you to enjoy your work, become a better engineer, and succeed. You are working for them, but in the broader picture, you benefit from them so much.
Was there a formal program for all interns at the company? Was peer support available throughout the internship? NRL does have a formal internship/co-op program called the STEM Student Employment Program (SSEP). It is open to students enrolled on at least a half time basis (being enrolled in co-op counts as full time at UMD). Students are often welcome to return in later semesters or over breaks to continue work until graduation. Upon graduation, students may be converted to permanent employees. Additionally, while taking classes students can be recommended for tuition assistance by their supervisor. There was lots of support available throughout the co-op. When I first arrived, I was paired with an engineer who got me set up and started on work. There were also other co-ops who had been there awhile that helped me to get oriented and learn how things work. As my co-op progressed and I needed help with various things, people were always glad to point me to the right person for help. I also had good, non-technical conversations with many of the engineers about things like grad school and a future career path. Even busy individuals like my program manager took the time to offer their thoughts. There were also several intern/co-op activities throughout the year to go to and meet other interns & socialize.
How have your career or academic goals changed as a result of this internship experience? Originally, I thought I would go right to grad school after undergrad to get my master’s in space systems or robotics. After this co-op, I decided to work for awhile to figure out exactly what I want to specialize in. There are so many interesting fields from tribology to the control of hypersonic vehicles that I could study. I still think I will get a grad degree eventually, but it will be more thought out when I do. In terms of my career, I still want to work on spaceflight hardware, but the field of hypersonics is something I have become more interested in and will likely also pursue.
Additonal Comments: Be persistent; I knew NRL did some fascinating work and wanted to intern there. Between online applications and attending career fairs starting my freshman year, it took 3-4 tries before I heard anything back and then I was prompt on following up.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate to get a schedule that works for you. Originally, I was looking for a summer internship, but they offered me a summer through fall co-op. Being an aerospace major, taking a single semester off messes up your entire school schedule so I simply asked if I could co-op for both semesters. To my slight surprise, they had no problem doing so, and now I could work at NRL and not have to pay for an extra semester.
Take time off and do a co-op. Going to co-op for what would have been my senior year was a somewhat terrifying decision at the time but ended up being one of the best decisions of my time at UMD. Yes, everyone I knew was graduating, I was going to be in school another year, and there was the possibility of losing UMD scholarship (many like mine can be held and applied later). The co-op provided a much-needed break from classes allowing me to come back and finish senior year strong and enjoyably rather than just surviving. Additionally, it gave me a better perspective on what I want to do after undergrad, and a lot of marketable experience. I left my co-op confident that I had the experience to land a full-time job. Unlike most of my fellow students, who just did summer internships, by co-oping for a year I developed skills to a higher level, setting me apart from everyone else. And yes, I technically am graduating a year later but given all the benefits I forgot what my original problem was with that.
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