In 2019, 26 students from a diverse set of RAPID member organizations participated in the RAPID Intern Program. Edmund Sam-Gyandoh completed the program in the fall, and in the first of a series of intern spotlights here on ChEnected, he introduces himself, discussing his technical project work as well as how the RAPID Intern Program has contributed to his professional development and future career plans.
Tell us about you.
I am a U.S. Army Veteran, a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and currently an MS Chemical Engineering student on schedule to graduate in the spring of 2020. My professionalism and versatility span the realms of engineering and business, with multiple accounts of project management experiences (scoping, scheduling, implementation, closing, etc.).
Describe the project you worked on.
My project was focused on the transition from batch to continuous process in the specialty chemical industry; looking at modularized and intensified tubular reactor and the unconventional (largely unknown) cavitation reactor processing schemes, while advancing mixing and heating techniques. My direct work involved deriving robust kinetics of a dispersant chemistry, forming the baseline milestone for the multi-step industrially/academically driven project approach.
How do you think the RAPID Intern Program will impact your future career?
This program taught me leadership, teamwork, and above all, how to rethink chemical processes and communicate them effectively to solicit solutions for process intensification (PI). As an aspiring business, engineering and project leader, these new skills impact my career by helping me to stand out as a critical thinker and helping me value the importance of having a hypothesis and testing it; and ultimately, this experience helps develop my creativity. Industry thrives on creativity and innovation, and I see myself making not just a direct impact, but also making one quickly in the professional world.
What's next after the RAPID Intern Program?
I plan to continue my research at the University of Pittsburgh through curious application of process intensification tools, while I search for a job in industry after I graduate in spring 2020.
Learn more about the RAPID Intern Program
The RAPID Intern Program is an exciting opportunity for students working with RAPID members. It is a virtual PI leadership program which overlays on the work students are already doing at RAPID member organizations and provides students with PI leadership training and professional development skill-building opportunities like networking, career discovery, and public speaking/presenting. To learn more or to nominate a student for an upcoming program, click here.