John Fischer
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Interned for: Southern Company Services, Electrical Design South

Most of what I have been exposed to in this year you cannot find within a classroom. There is just too much industry level knowledge to be taught. And although you might not be doing triple integrals in your day to day, it makes you understand the value of being able to deal with and learn difficult topics in industry.

But more importantly it transforms you from a kid with an engineering education into a young professional.

Will McAskill
Civil Engineering

Interned for: Brasfield & Gorrie

My time with Brasfield & Gorrie at Plant Yates has been one full of learning experiences. I have learned more than anything that succeeding in an internship is not solely about skill in STEM subjects, though that is important also . Success is from the skills that you learn in the process, intentionality, organization, communication, and curiosity. These are all skills you learn unintentionally when you go through engineering courses. And success stems from learning to applying these skills.

Alyson Goodwin
Biomedical Engineering

Interned for: BioCryst

This summer, I interned with the CMC Product Development team at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. I worked on formulation development projects, applying design of experiments to test excipient combinations and contribute to patient-driven drug product development.

I also interacted cross-functionally with other interns and teams, learning from their diverse experiences while building lasting professional connections. This experience strengthened my technical, communication, and teamwork skills, and gave me a deeper appreciation for how innovation and collaboration drive progress in healthcare.

Kamari Marzette
Biomedical Engineering

Interned for: Organogenesis

This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to intern at Organogenesis, a tissue engineering company that focuses primarily on wound healing. Within the R&D department here in the heart of Birmingham, I was able to apply what I had learned from my previous cancer research experiences to the new and exciting field of tissue engineering. On just my second day, I witnessed the complete processing of a placental donor from start to finish, which was truly an eye-opening experience. Throughout the summer, I not only observed donor processing and assisted my mentor with her project, but I also had the opportunity to independently develop and lead two key components of that project from start to finish. This included researching which growth factors to use, determining the most optimal concentrations and time points, running several pilot studies, and ultimately testing and presenting my findings. This experience—and my continued work since then—has given me a more holistic understanding of biomaterials and industrial research as a whole. I gained insight not only into the lab side of things, but also into the internal structure of biotech companies and the many FDA regulations that medical device companies must follow. I am truly grateful to the UAB School of Engineering and Organogenesis for this incredible experience and the opportunity to continue growing in my career.

Nicole Bawardi
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Interned for: Southern Company

I was incredibly excited to receive this opportunity from Alabama Power. Before this co-op I had always wanted to gain experience working with power systems, especially out in the field so I could gain a better understanding of the bigger picture behind providing power to such a large amount of people. It was very inspiring to be involved with a company that cares so much about the people it provides power to and shows so much appreciation for its employees. I look forward to going back in the spring and seeing what new lessons I may learn!

Morgan Arbitelle
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Interned for: Southern Company Services, Bulk Power Operations

My co-op experience with Southern Company has been an invaluable part of my education and jump start to my career. Through multiple rotations, I’ve been able to connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications, gaining hands-on insight into how transmission grids are planned, operated, and projected to evolve in the future. This opportunity has not only strengthened my technical foundation but also shaped my journey as a young professional.