“My favorite part about working there was seeing all the different types of machines they have in their lab,” said Belsen (Brandon) Lee ’25. “They had resin printers, desktop CNC routers, laser cutters, and even a 3D printer the size of a small car. And I got to use every single one of them.” 

Lee is talking about his summer as an intern at MatterHackers, Inc., one of the world’s leading digital fabrication companies. MatterHackers, located in Lake Forest, California, has particular strengths in 3D printing. Under the mentorship of company vice president Dave Gaylord, Brandon carried out evaluations of printer filaments and resins to assess their quality and helped to manage the print services department. 

“I learned so much from interning at MatterHackers,” said Lee, who honed his skill at prioritizing tasks in a busy environment. “I had a bunch of 3D printer filaments I needed to evaluate, so I made an efficient plan to tackle each one,” he said. 

Lee’s internship was one of three made possible by  Phillips 66 with the support of Juliana Moreno (M.A. International Studies ’11). Moreno works for Phillips 66 as a change management consultant and serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council in Schmid College.

“I had the pleasure of working at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium this past summer, home to some of the most passionate and kind people you could hope to meet at your first professional job.”

“I had the pleasure of working at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium this past summer, home to some of the most passionate and kind people you could hope to meet at your first professional job,” said Joseph Ellis ’24. Ellis, along with David Yang ’23, worked with Dr. Brenton Spies, the aquarium’s conservation and research curator.

Yang, who studied biological sciences at Schmid, worked on a project to describe the biodiversity of the tidal salt marshes surrounding the aquarium. Ellis, who is studying data analytics, helped to develop a new digital dashboard for the aquarium’s staff to track the health of the animals under their care. Yang and Ellis presented their work to aquarium staff at the end of the summer.  

“While I spent the majority of my time creating visualizations for their data, I was also given the opportunity to experience many of the activities they do on a weekly basis,” said Ellis. “From going out in high tide to collect fresh eel grass to scouring sand for crabs to fill exhibits, I was constantly encouraged to step out of my comfort zone. I was not expecting to come out of this summer with aquarist activities being my favorite memory, but it was a welcome surprise.”  

“Internships play an important role in a student’s academic and career development,” said Career Advisor Jose Bejar. “These opportunities provide hands-on, real-world experience, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations and gain valuable industry insights. They also offer networking opportunities, fostering connections with professionals and researchers that can significantly enhance future career prospects and open doors to further educational opportunities.”

“Our collaboration with Phillips 66 provides students with the opportunity to put what they have learned in the classroom into action while exploring potential career paths and building practical experience.”

“Our collaboration with Phillips 66 provides students with the opportunity to put what they have learned in the classroom into action while exploring potential career paths and building practical experience,” said Michael Ibba, Dean of Schmid College.

Lee is putting his experience at MatterHackers to good use. As a student assistant in the college’s Grand Challenges Initiative Makerspace, Lee has immediately gone right back to work fixing 3D printers and helping students make their ideas come to life.