Last summer I worked at the University of Maryland Combustion Laboratory (UMCL) for my practicum project. I worked part time for the majority of the summer, investigating various types of combustion and their practicality. I originally found this site from an email that was sent around the engineering department. The Principal Investigator (PI) of this combustion laboratory was looking for a couple of summer interns to help out with his research. I quickly responded to his email, letting him know I was interested in working in his lab. A couple days later I went into his office for an informal interview. He told me afterwards that he would be happy to have me join the team in the lab. I would advise future SGC scholars looking for practicum sites to get on mailing lists for any fields you are interested in. Additionally, you can look online to see all of the UMD labs and the research currently being done at the university. Many of these labs have application processes you can go through, but others will just have someone's contact information. Sending a direct email is another good option—let them know of your interest in their research and ask if they have any spots available for summer interns. I have many friends who received internship positions this way.
My main task at the laboratory was to perform a temperature analysis of the combustion of methane and hydrogen combinations. The end goal was to test the combustion of these fuels to determine if there would be any moisture damage on the combustion chamber. However, there were many preliminary steps that needed to happen—one of which being the determination of the temperature of combustion for each of these fuels. My job consisted of learning how to use software to calculate combustion temperatures based on hydrogen to methane mole ratios. I then compiled all of this data and graphed it. This information would later be used for actual testing in the combustor.
While working in the lab, I learned a lot about combustion. I had no previous experience in the area, so I was starting from scratch. The first week or so I went through a literature review to learn all the information I would need in the lab. I learned about the possibilities of infusing methane with hydrogen as a way to decrease carbon emissions in combustion. With higher hydrogen content, however, there was a chance of the combustion chamber getting moisture damage. The lab wanted to determine the extent of the moisture damage, and how it correlates to hydrogen mole percentage of the fuel.
My time at the lab taught me a lot about the importance of science for society. The lab's research was directly related to sustainability and efforts to decrease carbon emissions. While the research in of itself was very cool, it also had huge implications on society. If experimental results ended up being successful, it could potentially change the way jet engines are built in the future. It felt really amazing to be a part of something directly aimed at tackling global warming. The people I worked with inspired me with their talent and passion for sustainability, and I definitely want to stay involved in similar areas of research in the future. However, I don't plan on working in a lab immediately after college. I would like to get at least a couple years of industry experience right out of school. I am still keeping the option of graduate school open, but at this point I don't plan on applying for a couple years.
The combustion laboratory was my first experience in a research setting, and I learned so much from everyone working there. I am really happy to have had this opportunity, and I know it has had a strong impact on me and will definitely come into consideration when I make career choices in the future. Whether or not I end up continuing with research, I am glad to have been exposed to it. I now have a better understanding of some of the career paths ahead of me.