Dominic O’Donoghue is a Senior Electrical Engineering major and was hired by Miller Electric as an Electrical Engineering Intern for the Summer of 2024.

What did you work on this summer? I spent most of my time investigating and documenting the reverse recovery characteristics of power diodes, which is an important component of power losses. This is a phenomenon that happens during the transition between the “on” state and the “off” state where the diode conducts current backwards for a short period of time before it is able to block current. To document this, I spent many hours in the lab testing various diodes under different controlled conditions to plot the data trends and note the changes I made that improved the results. I also spent time doing circuit simulations, making component repairs, setting up a previous year’s intern’s project, learning to weld, and SO much learning.

What’s the best thing about your job?  My coworkers were the best part of my job 100%. They were there for me every step of the way and made my first experiences as an engineer incredible. They understood that what I was being tasked with was much more complicated than anything I had experienced before, and they were patient with me and believed in me even though I was running into problems every step of the way. They were incredible role models, and I am so thankful that they were the people I got to work alongside every day. Also, I got to play with really cool high-power lab equipment, and I also learned to weld for the first time, which was exciting.

What’s great about your company?  The way that Miller Electric (and ITW, the parent corporation) operates is different from most other companies and it is really interesting to work for a company with the sort of mindset that they do. They also take very good care of their employees, creating a company culture that is pleasant to work for.

How did you find your internship opportunity?  I found my internship at the Career Fair and was referred by someone.  

How did the Career Connections Center help you with your internship search? The Career Connections Center helped me improve my resume and helped me ask Miller for an updated offer letter in a professional manner. They were an incredible help and went out of her way to help me succeed.