International Opportunities

An International Twist to Internships: Student Spends Summer in Germany

Connecting culturally and scientifically with people from different backgrounds and regions of the world, junior Ellen Zwickl, an engineering science student and triple major, will be interning among the international scientific community this summer in Duisburg, Germany.

Inspired by a study abroad experience in Hanover in the summer of 2004, Ellen returned to CSU not only an engineering student, but also a European studies and German language student. This summer, Ellen will be expanding her skills even further through an internship at the Institute for Combustion and Gasdynamics at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Working alongside a Ph.D. student, Ellen will support research on measuring velocities and temperatures in boundary layer flows using laser-induced fluorescence. Ellen chose the internship not only due to her interest in the subject, but as a means of improving her communication and German language skills.

Noting the advantages of an international internship, Ellen emphasizes, "Not only will I experience the history from churches and other historical monuments, but I will also be able to experience Germany's modern scientific community, and I think that it will be really interesting to see what advancements they have made compared to how we do things in America."

Combining her German, international studies and engineering backgrounds, Ellen intends to work and travel abroad for several years after college. Eventually, she hopes to pursue a career in astronautics, serving as a mission analyst for NASA, and working far beyond the confines of America, even the atmosphere. With internship opportunities this summer in Germany combined with her astronaut aspirations, Ellen Zwickl will undoubtedly make her mark on this planet, or the next!