Max Taylor conducted research and data analysis on metal debris in oil samples to support advancements in lubrication technology for hydraulic systems.
Why did you choose this internship?
I chose to work with Lubrication Expert because of the potential for mentorship that I recognized in my supervisor's attitude during our initial Zoom calls. He was extremely friendly and made me feel comfortable asking lots of questions. I could tell immediately that we would work well together and he emphasized offering many of the things I was looking for in an internship, like creative freedom over projects and a welcoming work environment. On top of this, I thought it would be a great reason to travel internationally and get to live in Melbourne.
What is an example of a project you worked on?
The first step of my project was analyzing a spreadsheet with 1,300 oil patch samples to find correlations between what kind of metals were present in the samples and the color of the patch. I found many interesting similarities, which led me to do an extensive review of current scientific literature about the color of these patches to back up my findings. I then sent several patches to a lab for an analysis to determine exactly what particles were present in them. After all of this I was confident that the correlations I had found were accurate and spent the last few weeks of my internship creating a website that predicts the condition of an oil sample by looking at the color of its patch and determining the metal debris present.
What new knowledge and skills did you develop during this internship?
I learned so much about what it means to have professional responsibility. Since I was given a great deal of freedom to choose the direction I wanted to take my project, any successes or mistakes were on me. This was definitely stressful at first, but it made me so much more confident making important decisions after conducting thorough research and reaching out whenever I needed help. I also got better at so many more related niche skills like data analysis, literature review, and web design.
How did your Applied Humanities major coursework help prepare you for the internship experience?
My Applied Humanities major significantly helped me in securing my internship. I used many concepts I learned in the Pre-Internship course, PAH 383, to get ready for my first Zoom call with my site supervisor. Even though it wasn’t a formal interview, I prepared several questions to ask him and well thought-out responses to common questions he might ask. This made me incredibly confident going into my meeting, which ended up landing me the internship.
What was your favorite part of your internship?
My favorite part of my internship was getting a chance to attend the Brisbane Lubrication Academy. I was able to meet countless bright minds and learn from industry pioneers, which taught me so much and gave me first hand experience getting to network in a professional setting. It was intimidating standing in a room surrounded by some of the leaders of the lubrication industry, but was an experience I’ll never forget.
What was the most significant contribution you made?
The biggest contribution I made was by finding conclusive correlations through my research and analysis. I spent so much time looking at my patch sample spreadsheet without any guarantee that I would find anything useful, so when I finally did it was so relieving. It was an amazing feeling to feel like I was adding something meaningful to the industry. Being able to tell my supervisor I finally found something conclusive was something I’m proud of, and the feedback he gave me helped progress the project further.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for their internship?
My biggest piece of advice for other students is to go out of your comfort zone and explore fields you wouldn’t initially consider. It can be an amazing experience working in an industry you weren’t even considering. I never thought I’d get an internship in oil lubrication, but it taught me so many transferable skills I’ll use regardless of what industry I work in post graduation.