Chemical Engineering Internship Story: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
Sophia Halstead
Chemical Engineering
What company did you intern with and where are they located?
Georgia-Pacific Corporation in Big Island, Virginia
How did you identify and apply for your internship? Are there any specific resources you used to find the opportunity (i.e. Handshake, career fairs, other recruitment events)?
I learned about the company through the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering Career Fair and Handshake and I applied through the company's application portal.
What was the application process like?
It was fairly smooth-put in your personal information, upload your resume and state which location(s) you would be interested in working at.
Tell us about your internship 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 was a Process Engineering Intern at the paper mill. I mainly conducted internal testing throughout various parts of the mill including stock consistency tests, spectrometer checks and strip thickness caliper tests. This data collection aided in mill equipment purchase decisions. I collaborated with supervisors, operators and other interns and learned to effectively communicate with people in distinct roles.
In what ways did this internship help you prepare for your next destination after Auburn?
This internship helped me solidify my interest in the pulp and paper industry. Since completing this internship, I have become an officer with the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) chapter at Auburn and I have exposed myself to many opportunities to interact with industry leaders. I have also accepted another internship with International Paper for Summer 2025 to increase my experience and knowledge of the industry before I graduate.
In what ways did your coursework or other experiences at Auburn prepare you for your internships? Are there specific topics or skills you learned from classes that you put into practice on the job?
Before my internship, I had pretty much completed all of the pre-requisite classes for my major (math, English and chemistry classes), as well as completed the Principles of Chemical Engineering class. I'd say that the principles class, along with my organic chemistry labs aided me the most for my internship, as they gave me a basic understanding of fundamental chemical engineering processes and chemical testing techniques.
Do you have any advice for other students looking for internships like yours?
My advice for other students looking for engineering internships is to not worry about experiences or knowledge that you don't have, take abundant pride in what skills and experiences you do have. Always express how willing you are to learn new skills. If you are unsure whether an industry would be right for you, intern at a company within that industry and solidify that that answer for yourself. Lastly, TALK WITH THE CDCR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!
