Leading the Way: Q&A with MSE Banner Bearer Han Burgess

Leading the Way: Q&A with MSE Banner Bearer Han Burgess

Name: Han Burgess 
Hometown: Rocky River, OH
 
Why did you choose Materials Engineering? 
  • I originally came to Purdue dead-set on Chemical Engineering, but the FYE program helped me figure out that MSE is more of what I was envisioning. I chose MSE because I had an eye-opening conversation with one of the MSE ambassador's freshman year who explained how hands-on and collaborative the major is, having a heavy focus on lab classes and teamwork. I also got involved in undergraduate research with Professor Erk and the blacksmithing club my first year, which allowed me to dive headfirst into MSE and find my passions. The tight-knit vibe with peers and faculty and all of the various industries I could work in were also very appealing to me. I was immediately welcomed into the MSE program by supportive professors and peers who I now have life-long friendships with. 
 
What were you involved in at Purdue?
  • I was involved in PUMA Blacksmithing (4 years, I helped make our competition sword for TMS and our American felling axe for FIERF)
  • MSE 499 Undergraduate Research (4 years, studied the heat transfer properties of foam cement, studied the rheological behavior of extruded cement with expanded polypropylene beads, and studied fly ash as a lightweight aggregate)
  • 3 summer internships (two with Rolls-Royce working as a failure investigation engineer and non-destructive testing engineer, and one with Hexcel working on carbon fiber R&D)
  • Boilermaker Roundnet Club/competitive spikeball (we travel and play against other D1 colleges)
  • MSE Ambassadors where I was Ambassador chair this year, and led a team of 12 ambassadors
  • MSE Mentors where I was a mentor for 10 MSE undergrads
  • I also really enjoyed playing intramural sports with my MSE friends as a good way to decompress. 
 
What do you plan to do after graduation?
  • I will be working for Lincoln Electric back home in Cleveland for their engineering development program. They will send me to weld school where I will learn how to perform each different type of welding. My rotations after weld school will be welding consumables R&D, quality/testing, and additive manufacturing. 
 
What were some of your favorite courses/experiences?
  • One of my favorite courses was MSE 367 with Professor Heichel, our junior level lab class where we made a coin. I made great connections with my teammates, who got tasked with the challenge of making a ceramic knife at the end of the year, and enjoyed how the undergrads were the ones who were doing the experiments in the lab. 
  • I also loved being challenged by our hardest class, MSE 340, known as transport phenomena. Professor Krane challenged us with topics of heat transfer, fluids, and mass diffusion. The difficulty of the class encouraged all of the students to meet in the Academic Success Center and work together before quizzes to understand the complex concepts, and we forged strong connections and would order pizza on late nights studying. 
 
What is your advice to future MSE students?
  • MSE gives us great opportunities for jobs due to our specialized knowledge over other engineers. Go to career fairs and capitalize on the demand for MSE students. One way you can set yourself apart from other students is by getting involved early on- recruiters were elated to see that I was involved in the Blacksmithing club and independent research my freshman year. 
  • Be hungry for opportunities and never count yourself out. I applied to over 300 full-time jobs this year and surprised myself since I was able to get copious interviews with companies such as ATI, TSMC, and Blue Origin.