Structural Engineering InternIn Summer 2011, I interned with Walter P Moore, an engineering firm headquartered in Houston, TX. I was hired as a Structural Engineering Intern, and worked on the design of numerous major projects around the Houston area. The experience taught me a lot about the structural engineering world, and was a great chance for me to begin applying everything I learned at Rice. It was also a nice peek into the structural consulting field, which has given more direction to my pursuit of a Master's Degree. The experience was also a lot of fun, as I was able to participate in the company bowling team and with the sandcastle competition in Galveston, TX. The "Angry Shuttles" sand castle that the team built. Undergraduate Research AssistantBeginning in Summer 2009, I worked with Dr. Jamie Padgett in the Rice University Civil and Environmental Engineering Department as a research assistant. My first project studied the impact of storm surge and wave loading on coastal bridges during hurricanes. In the Gulf of Mexico, a large problem that occurs during hurricanes is the storm surge and waves loading on critical bridges, wiping out major roads and potentially resulting in a delay in relief efforts. This study aimed at predicting the forces that these waves and surges impart on the bridge structures and developing a probabilistic study to find the most influential storm and bridge parameters in mitigating the risk of failure. For more information on the results of this study, visit the Transportation Research Board. My next project involved a synthesis of the bridge damage data from Hurricane Ike in 2008. Through the study, I categorized the failure modes of the bridges affected by the storm and provided recommendations for courses of action that would best prevent future damage of similar magnitude. The study will hopefully be used as a tool for engineers and policy-makers in determining the best way to protect the coastal infrastructure in Texas. For more information about this project, visit ASCE's Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilites.  The research group at dinner at Dr. Padgett's house. Sandwich Crafter, Sales Associate and MoreI have also had a variety of other working experiences that I would like to think have given me a more well-rounded perspective on the world. I worked during middle school in the warehouse of a label supply company putting together packets, accepting shipments, and improving inventory management systems. In high school, I worked as an assistant manager at a local deli, leading a team of four to five employees each shift and running the cash register. At various times during the first two years of college I worked as a sales associate at JC Penney, a warehouse associate at The Sports Authority, and a tutor for local high school students. Needless to say, I have had many diverse experiences, and I am always looking for the next great opportunity to be able to continue my professional development. |
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