Q&A with ChE peer mentor Jacob Robins
Jacob discusses why he chose Chemical Engineering, helpful resources, and his favorite class.
Jacob Robins is a Chemical Engineering junior interested in computer science, biopharmaceuticals, and consulting. He has worked in the Min Lab on nanotechnology research, interned as a Software Engineer at CME Group and Paramount, and participated in an externship with AbbVie. Additionally, he is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with Jackson Community Ambulance and is actively involved in Alpha Epsilon Delta, Kids in Science, and Organic Chemistry Bootcamp.
How did you choose ChE as your major?
“From the first day of school freshman year, I knew I wanted to be a Chemical Engineering major! I have always been fascinated by the applications of math and science in solving real world problems in a variety of academic and industrial disciplines. I enjoy how chemical engineers consider factors such as cost and scale-up, while implementing an idealized process. I love how versatile chemical engineering is as a major as shown through the diverse careers that chemical engineers enter and all of the products and processes they contribute to.”
Are you involved in a minor program? If so, which one?
“Currently, I am pursuing a Computer Science minor.”
What advice would you give to first or second-year students considering ChE?
“I would tell students interested in pursuing a major in ChE to get involved in research, join project teams, and find internships related to chemical engineering to figure out what they are interested in! Additionally, I would recommend finding a current ChE student with a similar area of focus to talk to about their experience. You can utilize the ChE peer mentors who are all current undergraduate students and can read their individual bios on the ChE website.”
What are some of your favorite or most interesting ChE classes you’ve taken?
“My favorite ChE class so far has been ChE 342 (Mass and Heat Transfer). We learned about the theoretical background of mass and heat transfer in great depth and then applied it to real scenarios. I was very surprised at the end of the class when I was able to solve computational mass and heat transfer problems using the conceptual knowledge we developed throughout the class. I also enjoyed getting to work with my peers on our group projects.”
What are some resources or support systems that have been the most helpful to you during your time as a ChE student?
“The Chemical Engineering advising team including Lisa Clark has been invaluable. Lisa regularly helps me plan courses and connects me with resources I have needed to succeed at Michigan. Additionally, Dr. Jouha Min, the PI of the research lab that I am part of, has been an inspiration to my chemical engineering journey. She constantly finds professional development opportunities for me and always pushes me to succeed. Lastly, the teaching teams of every chemical engineering class have been super helpful in clarifying course content and helping me plan my ChE path.”
What opportunities would you recommend to students looking to get involved with chemical engineering outside of the classroom?
“I would recommend joining a research lab to gain a perspective of what a career in research involves and what fields within chemical engineering interest you. Most importantly, I truly recommend getting involved in some form of volunteering or outreach activity to give back to the ChE and Michigan communities!”
Do you have any tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance for students in a rigorous program like chemical engineering?
“Prioritizing time with friends and family has helped me manage stress associated with pursuing a difficult major. Additionally, utilizing every opportunity that ChE classes offer when struggling (e.g. office hours, Sunday reviews, etc.) has positively impacted my college experience. Finally, I would recommend finding activities outside of school to take a break from learning. I love playing pickup basketball at the IMSB and playing video games with friends.”
What are your future plans or aspirations within the field of chemical engineering?
“I am applying to medical school this summer! I hope to become a physician in order to engineer solutions to the most difficult problems in healthcare.”