- Major: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
- Company: The Chemours Company - Spring and Fall 2019; Strata-G - Summer 2021
- Graduation Year: May 2022
- E-mail: bchu2@vols.utk.edu
Profile
Knoxville, TN
I did my co-op with The Chemours Company, in their Titanium Technologies division in New Johnsonville, TN. This division of Chemours is the world's largest manufacturer of Titanium dioxide, a pigment that is used in coatings, plastics, and laminates. I participated in two rotations with Chemours. During my rotations, I worked in their Research and Development department. Most of my projects revolved around product development and process improvement. This involved participating in plant trials, collaborating with different areas within the chemical plant, and doing some laboratory work on samples taken from the manufacturing process. I decided to co-op because the experience you can get from working full-time for two or three rotations is truly invaluable. I learned so much during my 10 months with Chemours. It was also nice taking a little break from school and working full time!
An important lesson I learned during my co-op terms was how to be bold. During my first rotation, especially with no prior industry experience, I was timid in taking action. This prevented me from being efficient and ultimately prevented me from getting things done. I have learned that being bold with your actions and not being afraid of failure is 1) a very effective way to get things done and 2) the best way to learn. When you are ambitious and take initiative with the projects you are assigned, you are putting yourself in the best position to learn while also making progress with the tasks you are assigned.
Something a co-op is particularly useful for is learning how to apply the knowledge learned in school to industry practices. It's one thing knowing how to perform calculations during a test; it is a completely different thing learning how to apply classroom knowledge to real-world applications. A co-op is a fantastic place to learn this.
As I mentioned before, participating in a co-op is priceless experience. The amount of knowledge you will gain from working as a co-op is extremely valuable and will help you stand out when applying for full time jobs during senior year. I strongly recommend doing a co-op to anyone who wants to set themselves apart from their peers, make the most of their college experience, and push themselves to be the best they can be.
In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and staying active at the TRECS. I also enjoy reading and learning.
