Merve Arslan has always thought like an engineer. Since childhood, she
wanted to figure out how things work, leading to an undergraduate degree in
textile engineering at Marmara University in Turkey and the pursuit of a
master’s in materials science and engineering
at Drexel. With an interest in smart textiles, composites, and quantum dots,
she’s finishing up her
graduate co-op
as a process engineering intern at Kordsa, a global composite technologies
company, where she is helping to create astronaut suits with advanced
fibers.
“I wanted to find a co-op that allows me to combine these two fields and
apply my knowledge in a meaningful way,” Arslan said. “[Kordsa is] a large
company with both a plant and office environment, and I work in both areas
to gain a full understanding of the production process and its challenges.”
So far, her co-op has her spinning a lot of different plates. She’s figuring
out how to increase the speed of textile machinery while maintaining
material quality, analyzing production data, and creating machine
instructions for new equipment to ensure proper operation and safety.
“One project I’m particularly proud of is my analysis of production data,”
Arslan said. The analysis helped uncover inefficiencies, seasonal
variations, and potential areas of improvement. After presenting her
findings, the team knew how to improve.
As with many co-op opportunities, Arslan’s work at Kordsa both connects to
and builds on knowledge gained on campus. Her co-op has created a sort of
loop, connecting threads of classroom concepts and stitching together
real-world knowledge.
“My work directly connects with what I’ve learned in the classroom,” she
said. “My coursework on material properties and processing techniques has
helped me understand how different factors affect production efficiency and
production quality... At the same time, this job has given me hands-on
experience that I can bring back to the classroom. Working on real-world
process optimization, implementing 5S principles, and collaborating with
different teams has deepened my understanding of manufacturing operations
beyond theory.”
As her co-op wraps up, Arslan will be returning to campus this spring to
finish her graduate degree. Since going through the graduate co-op process,
she feels affirmed in her studies and her professional goals.
“Working in an aerospace materials company has allowed me to see firsthand
how materials science and engineering play a critical role in
high-performance applications,” she said. “It reinforced my interest in
advanced materials, especially composites, and showed me how my skills can
be applied in real-world manufacturing... [it] has given me a clearer vision
of the type of industry and roles I want to pursue in the future.”