International Students Day 2021

Jessica Mistry
Product Development Intern

"I joined Micronclean as a Product Development Intern in August 2021. As an Aerospace Engineering student, the world of cleanroom technology felt quite alien to me at first, however my worries quickly disappeared when I was given my first project.

I was tasked with the project of re-designing a piece of equipment used within Micronclean’s laundry. This involved producing several Computer-Aided Design (CAD) ideas, whilst applying my knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes.

During any design project, it is extremely important to produce prototype models to assess how an object will look and perform. Fortunately, as a student at the University of Sheffield, I was able to make use of their student makerspace. The makerspace contains several pieces of equipment, including 3D printers. I sent my CAD designs to a student makerspace volunteer, who then supervised the 3D printing process. Working with the University of Sheffield highlighted the importance of creating technical product drawings that manufacturers will be able to understand.

However, producing a prototype each time you make a slight change can be a time-consuming and costly process. Therefore, I applied my knowledge of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to the situation. CFD and FEA are both tools which allow engineers to simulate how an object will perform under specific conditions.

During this project, I believe that I have become more independent. Typically, at University, I will email my lecturer or turn to my peers in the lecture theatre if I do not understand something. However, at Micronclean, I have found a desire to explore and learn through investigation and experimentation rather than immediately turning to my colleagues. My time so far at Micronclean has also allowed me to develop my softer skills. I believe that my time management, communication and decision-making skills have greatly improved whilst leading a design project.

Overall, my experience with the Product Development team, and Micronclean as a whole, has been extremely positive so far. I am looking forward to being able to develop my knowledge and skills through future projects that I will be working on."

Annabelle Sclater
Marketing Intern

"National student's day is a celebration of multiculturalism, diversity, and access to education around the world, being away from campus on a yearlong placement in the marketing department of Micronclean has made me feel more like an employee than a student in the time I have been here. The different roles and responsibilities I have taken on in such a short amount of time, the people I have met and the invaluable experiences and things I have learnt has taught me a lot about myself, working and Micronclean, which I would never have learnt without doing a year in industry at Micronclean. The support from Micronclean and all my colleagues has definitely made this such a positive experience, which I will be able to take with me for the future when I am no longer a student."