Chemical Engineering Major Finds Friends among Future Engineers
03/03/2020
By Salwa Alhawi
The RAMP program affected all aspects of my life – making me a better student, individual and leader. Academically, the program prepared me for the environment I would be experiencing in the Fall.
Socially, the program helped me form strong friendships with like-minded, hard-working women interested in engineering. One of my favorite aspects of the program was how we were able to meet with current engineers in our fields, visit their companies, and learn what it was like to be an engineer. Professor Chandra encouraged and pushed us to get interested in a topic and learn more about it. Her influence led me to dive into research in my first full semester at UML.
Currently, I am a member of a chemical engineering research lab. In my lab we experiment on Chinese hamster ovary cells to test out therapeutic proteins that are used for pharmaceutical production. I believe that RAMP has helped me to realize that I can achieve great things if I work hard. I am receiving very high marks in class while doing research and holding a job on campus.
Additionally, I, along with a fellow RAMP member who is now my best friend, participated in a backpack hackathon competition in the fall. We won an award and prize money, were featured in an article for UML news, and got to meet many interesting and influential mentors. We were very proud of our accomplishments because we were one of the smallest groups (with only two members) and one of the youngest and least experienced groups.
I enjoy spending time with the friends I made at RAMP, doing work in Cumnock Hall, and being a member of the Society of Women Engineers. My goal is to graduate with a chemical engineering degree and spend a few years after graduation gaining experience in this field. Then, I would like to further my knowledge by going to a graduate school.