Ransben Addy, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2027

Where are you interning, and what is your role?

I'm interning at DCO Energy as a mechanical engineering intern, supporting the design team on a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant project.

What projects or assignments are you working on?

I'm currently working on the CHP plant being built for Middlesex College, reviewing drawings, P&IDs, and equipment specifications, and flagging things from an operations standpoint like operability, isolation, and startup/shutdown behavior.

What does a typical day look like?

Most days I'm reviewing design documents, checking them against specs, and meeting with engineers to work through questions.

What Rowan class or experience has helped you most?

My thermodynamics coursework, understanding Brayton and Rankine cycles has made it much easier to follow how the CHP plant is designed to perform.

What new technical or professional skills have you developed?

I've gotten much stronger at reading and cross-checking P&IDs and design specifications, which is a different skill set than operating equipment in the field.

What has surprised you about working in the Mechanical engineering field?

How much engineering happens before anything is built. I came from operations, so seeing how many decisions get locked in at the design stage and how much they shape day-to-day operation later has been an eye-opening to me.

How has a faculty member or mentor supported you?

My supervisor, Theo, encouraged me to speak up and use my plant operations background as a strength on a mostly design-focused team.

What advice would you give another student pursuing an internship?

I will say be reliable and easy to work with that matters as much as technical skill. And don't hide your experience if you do have one; it's often what makes you useful. For instance, works are assigned to me with little or no supervision since I’ve built experience over the past years.

Complete the sentence: “This summer, I am helping to…”

… design and build a Combined Heat and Power plant that will provide cleaner, more efficient energy for Middlesex College.