April 2018 Student of the Month
Madeline Wimmer
Senior
When and where were your undergraduate research experiences?
My first and sophomore year, I worked with a group on campus studying fuel cells. After this, I interned at a local company that makes airbag inflators for cars before I ended up leaving for a summer research opportunity studying corrosion in the Materials Science and Technology Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
Tell us about your research.
Obviously, all three experiences were incredibly different and showed me different sides of what MSE is and does. With the fuel cells group, I would mix platinum solutions to apply to the cell as a catalyst for the reaction. At ARC Automotive, I helped examine welds and developed test plans to change the materials used in the airbag inflator for various reasons. When I was at ORNL my project was studying corrosion cracking in radiation where I worked to develop a way the crack growth could be studied while exposed to radiation in ORNL High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR).
How did you go about finding these research opportunities?
My first opportunity came from talking to my SWEetie (an upper-classman engineering mentor through the Society of Women Engineers) about her work with the same group. They had an open position, I applied, and started November of my first semester at college. The second two came from talking with professors in the MSE department who have connections and were willing to recommend me.
How did the experiences benefit you?
Aside from the skills gained and getting paid, I was able to figure out what I liked. While at ORNL, I was able to tour most every major program and facility they have and met so many amazing people doing things I didn’t know existed. While working on campus, I was able to make connections between classes and research with gave more meaning to what I was learning in lectures.
Do you have any advice for other students considering undergraduate research?
If you have the opportunity, go for it. It is never too early to get involved and even if you realize you don’t like the work you are doing, you know that and can figure out what it is you do like. Plus, most groups work with your schedule, let you take time off to study for exams, AND pay you, so there really is nothing to lose.
What else are you involved in?
I spend most of my time not in class at the Wesley Foundation, the Methodist student center on campus. I also serve at the lead MSE Ambassador – if you want to come learn more about the department, we can talk to you via email, phone, or take you out to lunch if you are local ([email protected]) – and Materials Advantage Outreach Chair. I do also like to hang out with friends (and do things like go to the zoo), watch a movie, take exercise classes at the TRECS, and lay in a hammock whenever I have the chance though!
