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EXPERIENCE

INTERNSHIP: HILCORP

Spending the summer as a Field Engineering Intern with Hilcorp Energy at Pecan Island, Louisiana gave me my first opportunity to experience petroleum engineering outside of the classroom. Working a 7-on/7-off schedule alongside production and operations teams, I was able to see firsthand how wells, equipment, and people all come together to keep an offshore asset running.

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Throughout the internship, I learned about offshore production operations, from well performance and pressure changes to separation, compression, water handling, and oil and gas processing. I spent time following the flow of production between platforms and learning how changes in one part of the system can affect the rest of the asset. I also had the opportunity to observe artificial lift operations and see how engineers and operators work through production challenges as they arise.

 

One of my favorite parts of the experience was seeing concepts from my petroleum engineering classes become real. Pressures, flow rates, production decline, and compression were no longer just numbers in a homework problem—they were things I could see and troubleshoot in the field. At the same time, I learned that being a good field engineer involves much more than technical knowledge. Communication, adaptability, attention to safety, and being willing to learn from the people around you are just as important.

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More than anything, this internship gave me a new appreciation for the people who keep offshore operations running every day. Being able to learn directly from experienced engineers and operators, ask questions, and experience life on a production asset helped me better understand the kind of engineer I hope to become. It was an experience that challenged me, taught me a lot, and made me even more excited to continue pursuing a career in the energy industry.

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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT: UT RAPID CONSORTIUM

I joined the UT RAPID Consortium as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the spring of 2026, where I support research focused on improving drilling monitoring and wellbore stability through automation. My work involves reviewing field-tested research and helping document the workflow for a laser-based sensor system designed to automatically identify drill cuttings and cavings. This role has given me the opportunity to explore how data, instrumentation, and drilling engineering come together to improve decision-making in the field. I’m excited to continue learning how emerging technologies can support safer and more efficient drilling operations.

INTERNSHIP: UTMSI

During the summer of 2024, I worked alongside Jack H. Lloyd, a PhD student in Professor Liu's lab, on research exploring the environmental impacts of 6PPD, a widely used tire additive, and its oxidation product 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ), which has been linked to Coho salmon mortality. My work focused on investigating the biodegradation and photodegradation pathways of these chemicals in marine environments, providing critical insights into their persistence and potential mitigation strategies.

Key contributions included:

  • Researched and evaluated project directions after the original proposal was declined, preparing background analyses and presenting a PowerPoint proposal to the professor and PhD mentor.
     

  • Conducted experimental tasks such as measuring and collecting water samples, refining procedures, and supporting ongoing lab projects.
     

  • Collaborated with researchers across multiple labs:
     

    • Performed FTIR analysis of plastic nurdles from beaches to identify polymer composition.
       

    • Assisted with mangrove blue carbon research by preparing and condensing root samples and maintaining lab equipment.
       

  • Applied strong communication and analytical skills to contribute to multidisciplinary environmental research with real-world societal benefits.

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