Summer Spotlight: Alex Siegel
Alex Siegel
Year: Fourth-year
Major: Chemical Engineering
This summer and throughout last semester Siegel is has been at a co-op at Intel. Here's what he shared about her experience...
Explain the details of your internship.
I work for the Ultrapure Water (UPW) team that supplies water over 1,000,000 times more pure than drinking water to the fab where semiconductor chips are made. I have been involved in several projects including the qualification of next generation metrology tools, testing a novel pipe material and optimizing a reverse osmosis membrane cleaning procedure.
How did you find this opportunity?
I was an intern at Intel last summer and I applied for that position through Intel's website.
What has been the best experience so far?
Making new friends and hiking around Oregon.
What're you looking to get out of this experience?
I have received many different perspectives from various coworkers career journeys following college. I gained more clarity on the education I'd like to pursue (an accelerated master's in chemical engineering) and the opportunities that come with that.
What's your best piece of advice for students who might be looking for a similar opportunity?
CWRU is an excellent place to develop niche, technical knowledge that can help you pursue careers in specialized fields. I believe that taking specialized classes, getting involved in lab work, engaging with professors, other students, and alumni in fields that interest you are all great ways to discover opportunities that you may not have considered. Also, apply to as many internships as you can; you never know which company will choose you.
How did CWRU and CSE prepare you?
I took a class on Microfabrication and Devices in my sophomore year that gave me a solid foundation in semiconductor manufacturing. I spoke with staff in the career center to learn how best to highlight this experience in my resume. Last but not least, I participated in a mock interview which made me much more confident during the process.