Mechanical Engineering Intern Story: Clearwater Paper

Gavin Knight

Mechanical Engineering 

What company did you intern with and where are they located?

How did you identify and apply for your co-op? Are there any specific resources you used to find the opportunity (i.e. Handshake, career fairs, other recruitment events)?

What was the application process like?

I interviewed with Clearwater at a TAPPI Career Fair for companies in the paper industry, and then got the offer about 3 months later.

Tell us about your experience. What types of tasks and projects did you engage in? Was there a particular project or part of the experience you learned the most from?

I’m placed in the Pulp Mill of the paper plant, where most of my time has been spent completing chemical studies on the bleaching agent production process, in order to find chemical loss. I’ve also worked on a couple of different projects, but this project in particular has given me a more broad view of engineering, as I’m used to mechanical-based processes. This project led me to learn more about the chemical processes used in not only the bleaching agent production, but also the Pulp Mill in general.

In what ways did this experience help you prepare for your next destination after Auburn?

In what ways did your coursework or other experiences at Auburn prepare you for your co-op? Are there specific topics or skills you learned from classes that you put into practice on the job?