Looking to gain hands-on experience assisting experienced supervisors and design teams with a range of ongoing engineering lab and research projects? Then an Engineering Internship in Thessaloniki, Greece is ideal for you! Read on to see how Scott and Mila found their internship abroad and how you could have a similar experience of your own!
Hi Scott and Mila! What tasks were you involved in during your Engineering internships?
Scott - I was tasked with modifying and developing a remote-control aerial drone and Arduino coding. This involved carrying out precise instructions for utilization in various technical applications, such as environmental surveying and automated personal assistants.
Mila – My assignment surrounded the software design and monitoring of a remotely operated underwater vehicle. I spent most of my time using Python programming language to establish a network between two computers (one onboard the vehicle and one belonging to the user), read and send sensor values across the connection, and collect this data by writing it to a readable file for the user. Throughout this process, I researched solutions for interfacing processors and sensors and tested and validated the hardware and software setup. Before working on this assignment, I repaired and maintained broken or compromised hardware on an aerial drone, and I used a C++-based language to generate data files collected by the aircraft.
How have your internships helped progress your career goals?
Scott - My internship role directly improved my skill in programming and troubleshooting, both of which are extremely common in any engineering field. I experienced issues and things did not always go smoothly the first time around. This applies to any career, but especially in engineering, as troubleshooting and problem solving are extremely important skills to develop.
Mila - As someone who’s interested in the structure and mechanisms of spacecrafts, as well as satellite design, my work with a submersible vehicle on the internship went a long way in allowing me to better understand vehicle health, attitude control, and propulsion. In the long term this will help me if I choose to specialize in spacecraft life systems, attitude determination systems, or propulsion subsystems because both types of technology share those common systems.
What were some of your highlights from your experience?
Scott - My placement held a barbeque for those working in their department. At this meal, we cooked, ate and drank together. It showed me that Greek culture is extremely friendly and kind. I also really enjoyed doing a cooking class with a local Greek family. It helped me learn to live locally, rather than just living like a tourist. We learned to cook Tzatziki sauce, Moussaka, and Bougatsa. We also learned some local dances and some history.
Mila - My favorite memory was also the barbecue. I was so flattered to be invited, and I loved trying traditional Greek and Cyprus meats and drinks. Though everyone went out of their way to speak English to me when they could, I loved practicing new Greek words with the students and professors. Being able to bond with the people I worked with in a social setting made me feel more comfortable. Before beginning my internship, my worst fear was being completely alone in a place I’d never been. I definitely did not expect to have such a social experience, and it was the most pleasant surprise. I’ve been very fortunate to make friends with my fellow interns, so exploring the town, trying new foods, and even going grocery-shopping together has been more exciting than I anticipated.
What were some of the biggest takeaways from your internship experiences?
Scott - I will miss the new friends I made in Greece as we got very close during our time together. I feel more competent in communicating with those who don’t necessarily speak the same language as me. This is a very important skill in engineering as ideas need to be communicated clearly regardless of any language or cultural differences.
Mila - Having completed my internship, I think the most significant change is around my work-life balance. I am much more likely to follow the lead of the professors and students at my internship now to stop and smell the roses. Also, because my particular field is space systems engineering, I feel even more confident that space is what I want to do with my life. While I feel more well-rounded by my exposure to seacraft, my love of space was reaffirmed by the enthusiasm I had toward coming back to my space systems gig with newly honed skills. This experience has empowered me to work harder to succeed in that path. My goal is to intern at NASA next summer. While I’m nervous about the process, this experience has made me more confident and given me more on which to speak in an interview.
What advice would you give others who are interested in doing this internship?
Scott - Going into a task, it’s important to be open-minded and ready for things to go wrong and for obstacles to arise. Try not to expect anything, but rather, be open and ready for everything. I think it’s also important to learn key phrases of the Greek language, but don’t stress about learning extensive vocabulary. Work instead on becoming comfortable with the discomfort it may require to establish a mutual understanding. Work on learning how to talk without using words, because that is the most important and effective way to cross a language barrier.
Mila - While I would initially get nervous about my performance as I arrived at work each day, I learned that the expectations others had for me were just to learn. To the professors at my internship, progress was more than enough. I would advise that it’s okay not to know all the answers; they in no way expect this! If you already knew, there’d be no point in interning. I would also say that it’s important to be appreciative of the gift that is this opportunity. Everyone around you including your local team, bosses, and the person picking you up from the airport is going out of their way to support you and give you the experience of a lifetime, so cherish and take advantage of this adventure!
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