Mia Miller is a Bachelor's Accelerated Master's (BAM) student in Mechanical Engineering and an ME Student Apprentice. She interned during summer 2021 with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
Where are you working this summer?
This summer I've been working as a Wind Turbine Blade Design Intern at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE). I originally started as a student contractor in July 2020. Since then I have worked part-time with the Aerodynamics team and worked with SGRE for my senior design project.
What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on over the summer?
I have been heavily focused on computational tool development this summer. I'm learning about genetic algorithms and the optimization of blade designs. I am mostly coding in Python with meetings to connect with the other interns and my current team. The interns are from a wide range of disciplines and located nationwide so it has been really great to connect with them when I can.
How did what you've learned through classes show up in your work? Did you have any "aha!" moments when you realized that you could use an equation or skill that you'd learned in class?
Last semester I got to take Automated Mechanical Design Synthesis with Professor MacCurdy which helped prepare me for the algorithms I'm working with this summer. It was an incredible class and has been really fun to learn more about the concepts through my work this summer.
What advice do you have for other students interested in working or interning in a related field?
For those interested in renewable energy there are a lot of opportunities to start learning more about companies that are renewable energy focused. I was really passionate about working in renewable energy and was able to network with people in the industry through MCEN 2000 and the Society of Women Engineers. I think showing a company how passionate you are about the industry can go a long way and having additional background on new advancements in the industry helps demonstrate that.