May/June_AMP_Digital

HIGHL IGHTS A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | M A Y / J U N E 2 0 1 8 5 2  WOMEN IN ENGINEERING Before I go any further, allow me to introduce myself. I am Carrie Wilson, executive director of the ASM Materials Education Foundation, as of April 1. I started working with the Foundation last July and was honored to step into the director’s position. My experience includes over 20 years with nonprofit administration and fundraising, as well as a passion for STEM education. The dedication and passion of the Foundation’s board and volunteers is inspiring. I have been continually impressed with the individuals who serve the Foundation— although there is always room for more. Some volunteers help to bring in the funds needed for our programs, others help to promote and operate Foundation programs, and the super organized ones help to keep everything on track. A variety of jobs are available—maybe one is right for you. Please contact me at carrie.wilson@asminternational.org if you are interested in finding a way to bring your passion for materials science to the Foundation and help shape the future of the field and the Foundation. Together we are developing a strategic plan to guide the Foundation through the next several years. We are exploring many ways to shape the future by reaching out in new directions to build stronger relationships with partners, supporters, and educators; and by enhancing our programs to fully support hands-on STEM learning through materials science across a variety of grade levels and environments. Once the plan is finalized, we will share it widely and focus our work on accomplishing our goals. There is much to be excited about here at the ASM Materials Education Foundation. We look forward to shar- ing each step of our journey forward with you. Carrie Wilson Executive Director ASM Materials Education Foundation WOMEN IN ENGINEERING This profile series introduces lead- ing materials scientists from around the world who happen to be females. Here we speak with Kelsey Torboli, applica- tions engineer at Struers Inc. What does a typical workday look like? My typical workday is constantly changing. As an applications engineer at Struers Inc. in Westlake, Ohio, my main focus is to provide technical sup- port to the sales team and our customers. For example, tomorrow I will host a WebEx demonstration of a hardness tester followed by a troubleshooting call with a customer on their image analysis system. If I’m on call for lab equipment, I’ll help sales representatives and customers choose the best cutoff wheel or preparation process for their material. In the afternoon, I might need to beta test a new version of software and provide feedback to headquarters. I will also work on a customer lab sample to help them determine the best preparation method for their material that fits their budget and time constraints. Before I leave for the day, I might need to email a customer to setup their onsite train- ing on new equipment and make travel arrangements. No two days are ever the same. What is your engineering background? I attended The Ohio State University for a B.S. in mate- rials science and engineering. In college, I interned as an engineer at Daimler Trucks North America in Portland, Ore., and as a metallurgist at Ridge Tool Company in Elyria, Ohio. After college, I worked as a metallurgist at ESM Group Inc. and visited steel mills across the Midwest. I’ve been with Struers as an application engineer for the past five years. What attracted you to engineering? Both of my parents have undergraduate degrees in chemical engineering. My father also has an MBA and my mother received her master’s and Ph.D. in mechanical engi- neering. Growing up, I was often enrolled in Science Olym- piad, Odyssey of the Mind, math competitions, and Camp Invention. In high school, I shadowed my mother’s col- leagues at NASA to learn more about engineering careers. If a young person approached you for career advice about pursuing engineering, what would you tell them? I would strongly encourage young people to take advantage of shadowing opportunities in high school and internships/co-ops throughout college. These experiences are invaluable to help evaluate a potential career. I would ask if they see themselves working in this field for the next five, 10, or 20 years. Internships and co-ops also help in discovering your ideal work environment. Through my internships, I learned that I cannot spend 100% of my time in the office. Taking test drives in the semi-trucks at Daimler and visiting Ridge Tool’s foundries helpedme understand that I need variety in my work environment. I also need social interaction in addi- tion to technical knowledge to stay engaged. I am not cut out to work alone in a lab for eight hours a day. Hobbies? Running, hiking in Cuyahoga Valley, black belt in karate, reading, and cooking. Last book read? “Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers” by Mary Roach. Do you know someone who should be featured in an upcoming Women in Engineering profile? Contact Vicki Burt at vicki.burt@asminternational.org . Kelsey Torboli