Houston – 10 August 11
Lin Wang: USRP STEM Pipeline Success
By: Heather L. Ogletree
Lin Wang made it! He is yet another Undergraduate Student Research Program (USRP) intern who successfully journeyed through the STEM Pipeline, landed a job in the aerospace industry, and is now part of the 95% of USRP Alumni who are employed in STEM. Wang interned with USRP in the fall of 2009 at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and as of January, he is a Structural Analysis Engineer at Boeing Headquarters in St. Louis, Mo.
While at Glenn, Wang gained 15 weeks of invaluable hands-on experience working with his NASA Mentor Dennis Stocker on Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments, performing hardware upgrades and leak tests on the control system. And although his internship was not specifically related to his major, aerospace engineering, he indicated that it increased his professional self-confidence, his understanding of work culture, and his organizational skills.
The interview below contains the story of Wang’s journey from intern to Boeing employee and contains advice for future STEM industry hopefuls:
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1. Can you give a brief description of your position?
My position title is Structural Analysis Engineer. I work on the F/A – 18 Super Hornet. Basically I support production changes on parts such as cost reduction initiatives. Also, I support production salvages.
2. How does your position impact or contribute to the overall Aerospace Industry?
My work maintains and ensures the structural stability and integrity of the Super Hornet, which is a highly capable and advanced multi-role strike fighter, a cornerstone of US Naval Aviation, and a collaboration of numerous companies in the Aerospace industry.
3. Describe your journey from interning with USRP to obtaining your current/future position?
After my USRP internship, I was able to secure an internship with Boeing in Huntsville, Alabama working on the 787. I worked part time for Boeing virtually while I was back in school and was able to land a full time position at St. Louis.
4. How has USRP influenced your life/career?
My USRP internship was the first experience I had in the Aerospace industry and it was a great one. I learned a great deal about my work and the overall Aerospace industry. It was a unique opportunity which provided me with life-long lessons and experiences that I still reflect upon today. I was able to interact and work with some of the brightest and most interesting individuals at NASA as well as work on challenging yet fun projects.
5. What words of advice/encouragement do you have for current/future interns who hope to work in the Aerospace Industry?
I would say to make the most out of your time. Internships only last a few months so you must strive to learn as much as you can while working hard on your task. Be proactive during this time and try to experience as much as possible. The USRP tours/presentations/activities definitely made my internship more interesting and whole. Finally, start making connections with both fellow interns and coworkers at NASA, networking is an important tool for the future.