Jack Gilchrist says the ability to work together with fellow students set him up for success academically and beyond.
鈥溇笆 State introduced me to some of the most important people in my life,鈥 he said. He met his wife there and remains close with a number of his classmates.
鈥淒r. Phil Harding鈥檚 senior project in particular taught me to operate on a team, set goals, and communicate with project stakeholders,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t helped me to use concepts from class in a real-world environment, providing a glimpse into what life would look like in industry.鈥
Starting as a process engineering intern, Gilchrist has worked with MSEI, a company miniaturizing medical devices, for 12 years. He now manages a team of technical specialists and engineers focused on sustaining the factory operations and optimizing manufacturing systems, reviewing manufacturing processes to determine where assembly costs can be reduced.
鈥淭he field of implantable medical devices is rapidly growing, with a number of exciting new therapies being offered,鈥 he said. 鈥淚n parallel, patients also want their devices to impact their daily lives as little as possible, especially in the age of wearable monitors like the Apple Watch.鈥
As a student, Gilchrist served as an undergraduate mentor, assisting students in their engineering coursework. He now enjoys helping team members reach their goals in education, professional development, and career growth.
鈥淟earning how to understand difficult concepts, finding the positives in disappointing outcomes, and persevering through challenging situations carries value far beyond academia,鈥 he said.
Degrees
- B.S., CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, 2013