Engineering and Computational Sciences Student Internship Spotlights
Hannah Goldwaith
Design Engineer Intern, Teradyne
Why did you choose to attend Merrimack?
I decided to attend Merrimack College because of its sense of community and small size allowing me to get to know my professors and classmates well. Everyone at Merrimack really wants to help out in any way possible and see everyone succeed.
Why did you choose this internship?
I chose this internship after connecting with a Merrimack alum and having an informational interview with the company. After learning so much about Teradyne, its values, and how much its employees enjoyed working there, I decided to apply to a few internship positions. So far, I have learned so many new engineering concepts, lab equipment used and how a group of several engineers work together on a project.
What advice would you give future students?
Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can while you are at Merrimack. Attend networking events and do informational interviews to learn more about companies and meet Merrimack alumni who were in your position not too long ago. Get involved in programs and clubs you are interested in to enhance your experience and work hard in your classes, ask questions and have fun too.
Hannah Leopold-Brandt
Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)
Why did you choose to attend Merrimack?
I chose to transfer to Merrimack because it was a little closer to home while also still allowing me to find my independence. I liked the smaller size of the campus. I was a little nervous when I first made the decision to come to Merrimack, but since day one, everyone has been really welcoming and supportive. Despite transferring during a pandemic, I still feel like Merrimack is my home away from home.
What is your favorite thing about Merrimack?
My favorite thing about Merrimack is how supportive the professors are. All of my professors have been more than willing to help me when it came to applying for my internship, getting ready to apply to grad school, and, of course, with my classes. That kind of support really goes a long and has definitely helped in my college success.
Why did you choose this internship?
I chose this internship because I wanted to do something different. Many internship programs for math majors are within the insurance industry. I knew that was something I wasn’t very interested in. So when I found this program, I decided to apply.
What advice would you give future students?
Jump at any opportunity you are given. Even if you don’t think you are qualified or aren’t sure it’s something you want to do, try it. You never know what could happen and the result may just surprise you!
Ben Forest
Albany Molecular Research Inc.
What’s your advice for Merrimack students about career development, interviewing or applying for positions?
Always be open-minded about the type of experiences you are willing to pursue. I wouldn’t recommend being dead set on one type of internship or one specific company. If you are upfront and honest about what your interests are and what you’d like to be exposed to, your internship manager may be willing to shape your experience around that. But, you need to be open about it, because they won’t be able to read your mind.
My internship did not pop up when I searched for, “mechanical engineering internships.” Really do your research on the different types of fields and titles that people with your desired degree typically take on. This can really help to broaden your search beyond the name of your major plus “internship.”
How was Merrimack College able to help prepare you for this internship?
The O’Brien Center and Laura Thibodeau, assistant director of career advising, were a huge help in making sure I was ready for my search. Laura was always willing to look over my resume and cover letters to ensure they looked their best before I sent them out. Before and after landing an internship, Laura gave me helpful advice to stand out to future employers including creating an online portfolio and using LinkedIn Learning.
