Youssef Salib, Class of 2021
Designer and development intern for Husky Injection Molding Systems
“If you don’t put yourself out there, someone else will be, so take
that opportunity!”
What is your level and specialization (if applicable) in the materials engineering program?
I just finished Materials Engineering III (Co-op) this past winter term.
What drew you to materials engineering? McMaster specifically?
I honestly was never drawn to Materials Engineering at first. I actually never knew it existed until I took MATLS 1M03. From that course, after having after-class conversations with Dr. Grandfield and attending materials events, I was instantly drawn to Materials Engineering. I attended McMaster specifically because of its general first-year program, which turned out good for me because I never knew that I would love Materials Engineering.
Why were you interested in pursuing a co-op/internship position?
I was interested in pursuing a co-op/internship position because I wanted to apply my knowledge that I learned in class to the manufacturing industry (as cliché as that sounds). I also wanted to gain valuable experience that I simply can’t get in a class setting, before I graduated.
What company are you working in? What is your job title?
I work for Husky Injection Molding Systems, and my job title is “Designer, Development (Engineering Analysis) Intern”.
How did you find your internship? (OscarPlus, networking, Indeed, etc.)
I found this posting on OscarPlus around October 2018.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day involves various test methods and metallurgical tests that will move me one step closer to my project being completed before my departure in August 2020. This includes: metallography for microstructural analysis, electrochemical testing for corrosion evaluation, hardness and mechanical testing, among many others. Typically I give updates to my team leaders and managers on the project that I am working on, which includes prepping a PowerPoint presentation that can effectively communicate my findings. This is essential because 90% of my work is independent, which means constant updates are imperative. Other than that, other days, you could see me at McMaster in the MSE wing performing heat treatment experiments i collaboration with Dr. Zurob’s lab on behalf of Husky. Additionally, other days I could be spending on the shop floor working with molds hands on. It’s always a changing environment here at Husky.
How has materials engineering prepared you for this position? What concepts have you learned in school that apply to your job?
A big part of my work at Husky involves heat treatments. Knowledge from courses including Mass Transfer 3E04, Heat Transfer 3A04, and Phase Transformations 3T04 have equipped me with the knowledge that has helped me along my journey at Husky. Understanding the kinetics of heat/mass transfer and how different phases form in a steel is very crucial when working on a project pertaining to the heat treatment of steels. The MSE department at McMaster has done a good job in preparing to equip me for this.
What skills have you learned that you will be able to apply to the rest of your engineering studies? In your next job?
I’ve learned how to make something out of nothing. Sometimes, there is no existing solution to a problem at hand, so sometimes we just have to make something ourselves. It may be challenging at times, but through the process of making something out of nothing, you learn a lot. This is definitely something that can be used during my 4th year this coming fall and in my next job.
What has been the most memorable experience?
The most memorable experience of this job, without going into detail due to NDA restrictions, would have to be seeing one of my experiments yield results that could one day potentially impact the way Husky manufactures its products. The day I saw that my experiments were going in a positive direction, the joy that it brought me can’t be described in words.
What advice would you give to other materials engineering students considering doing an internship?
My advice is that you apply with tailored resumes. If your resume doesn’t seem like it has been edited for a specific job, your chances drop dramatically with a company. But more importantly, please network. Go out to AIST events, career fairs, and co-op events. The ECCS offers many events where you can potentially meet a strong mentor that can help you professionally, or you might meet your next employer. If you don’t put yourself out there, someone else will be, so take that opportunity!
