What an amazing experience so far! I am a little more than half way through my ten-week internship here at Indium Corporation, and I have learned so much. Coming from a heavy academia background at SUNY ESF with a large course load, I was a bit nervous about what the "real-world" experience may bring. While it was definitely daunting in the beginning days, I have become much more comfortable in the work place after just a few weeks. 

Here at Indium Corporation, I work as a Materials Project Engineer, updating the Solder Alloy Directory with the various physical properties that are listed. During my first few weeks, I have worked closely with many engineers at the different New York State facilities, gaining so much knowledge and information about the industry.

Aside from working as a team with these engineers, I have had the opportunity to hone my organizational and analytical techniques. The Solder Alloy Directory has more than 300 alloys and, having access to several alloy samples at a time, it is crucial to keep everything in line, from the physical alloys themselves, as well as the data you collect on them. Since I have been putting each alloy through several different tests, analyzing data and figuring out what works and what doesn't is a skill that is necessary for my position. Some samples just do not work for some reason, whether it is a sizing issue or a mechanical issue with the machine. But being able to notice this and make necessary adjustments is part of the job and to me one of the most challenging yet rewarding parts. 

So far, my time here at Indium Corporation has been nothing shy of exceptional. I have had a lot of fun gaining this real world experience and cannot wait to continue my last few weeks here. I am excited to see what Indium Corporation has in store for me! 

See you soon, 

Brendan Zych