This summer, the offices of Degenkolb and Ruby+Associates, a Degenkolb Company, are buzzing with fresh energy and enthusiasm. With 12 dynamic summer structural engineering interns joining our respective teams, we’re excited to see how their academic insights and fervor for structural engineering will contribute to our projects. Spanning from Seattle to Detroit, these interns are set to immerse themselves in hands-on experiences that will shape their careers and our future. Let’s take a moment to welcome these promising individuals and explore the diverse backgrounds and ambitions they bring to our teams this summer.

 

What school are you attending?
I just graduated from undergrad in June 2024 where I got a BS at UC Davis, and I will be pursuing an MS at UC Berkeley.

Why did you apply to this internship?
I discovered Degenkolb through a career fair at my school and I applied due to a recommendation from a professor.

What have you been working on this summer?
This summer I have been working on NPC Refinement and coding tools to run analysis and connect various structural programs and software.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
I got inspired to pursue Structural Engineering from the Civil Engineering program at my high school.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
My advice for any future interns would be to speak up if you want to try any specific areas of work as soon as possible because your summers are very short.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
Outside of working, I enjoy skiing and hiking in the Tahoe area.

 

What school are you attending?
I just finished my undergrad at UC Davis. I currently plan on working for a year or two before returning to get a master’s degree.

Why did you apply to this internship?
I applied to the internship because my steel member design professor advertised the position in class. I thoroughly enjoyed that class, as well as many other structures related classes, so I felt Degenkolb would be the perfect fit for my interest while meeting my goal of furthering my knowledge.

What have you been working on this summer?
I have been working on various education projects, including attending site visits. Additionally, I am working on the UC Davis Sacramento Campus Health Tower. I am particularly excited to be working on the UCD Health Tower because I have ties to UC Davis through my bachelor’s degree.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
I always wanted to be able to physically see the impact I made on the community. I felt civil engineering could allow me to realize that goal while playing to my strengths in math. I found myself enjoying, and even having fun, learning in my structural engineering classes, so I naturally gravitated towards a structural internship.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
I would tell future interns not to be afraid of asking questions. Everyone is helpful and willing to lend support. You will come into the internship feeling like you have a lot to learn, which is true, but everyone is ready to teach you or direct you to tools to help you learn.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
I enjoy playing ice hockey on Sundays, spending time with friends and family, fishing, and making model planes.

 

What school are you attending?
I graduated from UC San Diego with my bachelor’s degree in Structural Engineering. I will be pursuing my master’s degree at Stanford this upcoming fall.

Why did you apply to this internship?
I applied to this internship after hearing positive feedback about Degenkolb from former classmates who interned here.

What have you been working on this summer?
This summer, I have been collecting and analyzing concrete core compressive strength data to identify trends and compare results to standardized codes. Additionally, I’ve been conducting a life cycle assessment on a hospital building and reviewing seismic compliance for another hospital.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
Playing with Legos as a child inspired me to pursue a career that would allow me to build things.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
My advice to future interns in this role is to recognize that everyone around you possesses valuable knowledge and is eager to help. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
I enjoy playing basketball, practicing piano, and taking occasional naps.

 

What school are you attending?
I completed my undergraduate degree in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly SLO, and I’ll be continuing my master’s there this upcoming fall.

Why did you apply to this internship?
The hands-on experience and variety of projects offered at Degenkolb, along with the people, were some of the reasons I applied to this internship. Additionally, I wanted to further develop my skills in structural engineering by working on real-world projects.

What have you been working on this summer?
I started the summer by working on a retrofit for a lighthouse, where I created a Risa 3D model and performed anchorage calculations. I then moved on to editing an Excel spreadsheet on composite beam penetrations, following the AISC Design Guide #2. Additionally, I worked on checking some wood members for a tentative improvement on a warehouse-type building. Currently, I am working on a seismic evaluation for an existing building using ASCE 41-17.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
My biggest inspiration so far has been my family. They have always encouraged me to pursue higher education. When I was 10 years old, my brother was studying architecture, and looking at his work inspired me to pursue a career involved in architecture. When I first heard of the ARCE program at Cal Poly SLO, it was the perfect opportunity to be involved in both architecture and engineering.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
I would advise them not to be afraid to ask questions. Also, understand that you do not know everything; every project comes with something new to learn.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
I enjoy doing physical activities like weightlifting, jiu-jitsu, and walking. I also dabble a bit in sightseeing and reading.

 

What school are you attending?
I’m a master’s student at UCSD and I did my undergrad at Loyola Marymount University.

Why did you apply to this internship?
I applied to this internship to experience working on different types of structural engineering projects and to see what the Degenkolb culture is like.

What have you been working on this summer?
I have been working on tier 2 analyses at UCSD and developing a wood shear wall spreadsheet.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
One of my structural professors in undergrad who was a great teacher and mentor inspired me to become a structural engineer.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
My advice would be to not be afraid to ask questions, participate in all the office events, and to have a good organization system for all your files and notes.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
Outside of work, I enjoy cooking and baking.

 

What school are you attending?
I received my bachelor’s from UCSD and will continue at UCSD for my master’s.

Why did you apply to this internship?
Degenkolb has a reputation as an innovative firm, which was something that I wanted to be a part of. From conversations with Degenkolb employees at career fairs, it was clear to me that Degenkolb has high expectations of their interns and allows them to work on a wide range of projects. The employees also explained that interns were expected to work on ongoing projects, which was an exciting prospect.

What have you been working on this summer?
So far this summer I have worked on a variety of projects. One of these projects was a seismic evaluation of a penthouse on a hospital building. I also performed a feasibility study of adding a chamber to a building and evaluating the gravity system. Another project I have worked on is developing a calculation package for a proprietary system to be used for shoring work.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
I have always wanted to work in a technical field where physics is used, and structural engineering is exactly that. I also wanted to have meaningful contribution to society, which is exactly what structural engineers do since we need to design safe buildings.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
I would recommend that future interns ask many questions as this will help you not only become a better engineer, but also shows your willingness to learn. I also think it is important to be vocal about what your goals. Expressing interest in certain types of work or projects can also help achieve these goals.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
Outside of work I am an active person. I enjoy rock climbing and going on runs as well as spending time with friends and family.

 

What school are you attending?
I recently completed my bachelor’s degree at Cal Poly SLO and will be starting my master’s degree at Stanford this fall.

Why did you apply to this internship?
Degenkolb is widely involved in my undergraduate program, and I initially heard about them when they presented at a SEAOC club meeting. I really resonated with their seismic work and company culture.

What have you been working on this summer?
I just started my internship, but I have already gotten to work with all material types! My main project right now is the foundations and gravity system for a new medical facility. I am also working on a research project in SAP2000 for CLT parapets and determining how the main panel serves as a backspan.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
Our infrastructure is constantly evolving, and it is extremely fulfilling to be part of that process. Getting to see your engineered designs come to life is the best part!

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
There is so much information available to you, not just related to engineering, but also related to growing as a young professional. Transitioning from school to industry isn’t easy, but you are surrounded by people who made the same transition- learn from them!

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
This is only my second time in Seattle, so I have been busy exploring the city, finding thrifting spots, and discovering new food festivals every weekend.

 

What school are you attending?
I just completed my bachelor’s at UC San Diego and will return for my master’s in the fall as part of the B.S./M.S. program.

Why did you apply to this internship?
I heard about the company through my college’s annual structural engineering career fair, and I thought retrofitting sounded interesting. Many companies do structural design, but there is a lot of uniqueness in preexisting buildings that may not be present in more cookie-cutter modern designs.

What have you been working on this summer?
I am working on analyzing a steel roof frame and its internal truss structures under seismic and wind loads and checking each component using ASCE 41-17 (Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings) with the goal of identifying places that require retrofitting.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
As a child I was originally interested in more artistic design (e.g. architecture or landscape design) but growing up I gradually became more interested in math (and also grew slightly daunted by the amazing works in some of my peers’ art portfolios) and thought that structural engineering was the mathematical equivalent of architecture. I also love the idea of being an integral part of the creation and/or maintained existence of structures that people rely on.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
Before you get to your internship it is important to try and take as many design classes as you can. Even with retrofitting, knowing the basic design principles of steel, concrete, or even timber is extremely important. Although this internship doesn’t require it, getting licensed as soon as you are able is important as well. Do not wait to take the FE exam and get your EIT license, because you can do more work once you finally get your PE. Take the most of your opportunity and ask your coworkers lots of questions.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
I like watching east Asian dramas (for example, Korean dramas), watching YouTube, reading books or comics, and other activities that don’t require activity.

What school are you attending?
I just finished my undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and will be returning there for my master’s after the internship.

Why did you apply to this internship?
I first heard about Degenkolb through the EERI Seismic Design Competition, who has always been a sponsor of the competition. This established early in my mind that Degenkolb was a well-known and well-respected structural engineering firm. Then, during my senior year, I had the opportunity to talk with representatives at my university’s career fair and hearing their experiences immediately hooked me. Now, I sit next to those same people every day and it’s been a great time ever since.

What have you been working on this summer?
I’ve worked on a wide variety of projects, including a foundation design for an art sculpture, tenant improvement for an exterior deck, and a defect investigation of a group of residential structures. Currently, I am working on an ATC project where I am designing a steel moment frame using UBC1967 building code.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
In the third grade, my school participated in an educational outreach program, where a local structural engineering company came and had us build 5 story buildings out of K’nex pieces. They then brought us over to their company headquarters and shook our designs on a shake table. I thought this was really cool and became interested in structural engineering ever since.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
Claim the leftover Forkable orders early on Fridays because if you don’t, other people will.

All jokes aside, my biggest advice would be one my intern buddy, Joseph, told me: don’t stress out too much. You are just an intern, so don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You’ll learn more and have much more fun that way.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
I enjoy playing volleyball, guitar, and hanging out with my friends and family.

 

What school are you attending?
Just finished my bachelor’s from Michigan State University and will be starting my masters in structural engineering this fall at MSU.

Why did you apply to this internship?
I was very interested in building design and wanted an environment that supported young engineers. I immediately felt this when I first interacted with a team member at the career fair and heard nothing but great things from former employees and online reviews.

What have you been working on this summer?
I have been with the building design team where I have been performing hand calculations for loads (wind, seismic, Dead/Live), connection design and building models in RisaFloor and 3d.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
Growing up I really enjoyed DIY construction projects around the house and given that I had civil engineers around me I felt that civil engineering best fit my interests and personality. When I got into college, I discovered structural engineering and building structural engineering in particular and really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the problem solving associated with it and decided to pursue a career in it.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
Make sure you understand the conceptual concepts taught in school and expect that when you start working in industry it will be a different approach than solving a homework problem but as long as you enjoy to problem solve and collaborate with your peers to learn what you don’t know it will be a great experience.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
I enjoy playing soccer and traveling.

 

What school are you attending?
Currently I am at California State University, Sacramento going into my Senior semester in Fall 2024. After completing my undergraduate in the Fall, I will be pursuing a Masters in Structural Engineering at SacState in Spring 2025.

Why did you apply to this internship?
I applied to Degenkolb through the SEAOCC Career Fair because of Degenkolb’s investment in educating aspiring engineers. I read through the 2023 Summer Interns at Degenkolb and wanted to be a part of this opportunity to learn and grow as I help Structural Engineers. With my increased involvement in SEAOCC at SacState, this internship was also a golden opportunity to work with Laura Rice who is the incoming SEAOCC president for the 2024-2025 year.

What have you been working on this summer?
This summer, I have had the opportunity to help with Non-Structural Performance Category (NPC) Refinement for 5 hospitals, by reviewing dimensions of equipment, preparing anchorage calculations and updating the appendices for a report that will be submitted to HCAi. In Addition to this, I had the chance to participate in several site visits at various stages of construction in Education and Healthcare.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
My aspiration to pursue structural engineering began with the love of Legos. I used to build Lego cities with a friend in daycare. In middle school I learned about the value of engineers in society when my mom told me about my grandpa’s brother who after retirement in Ukraine, was called back to work on bridges because of his expertise.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
Learn the ‘why?’ behind the methods and approaches that have become routine at Degenkolb, because that is what makes Degenkolb stand out in Structural Engineering. Understanding the reasonings for approaches can help with refining goals. Second, keep a running list of items you want to learn and have learned in this internship. Checking back on this running list, weekly or monthly will humble you on what there is to learn and increase your confidence on the skills you have acquired.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
Outside of my studies and work, I love to spend time with Midtown church whether it be serving, teaching, or hanging out. I like to attempt to fish (rarely catch), workout, swim in the cold rivers and lakes, bike along the river, and go hiking.

 

What school are you attending?
I just graduated my undergrad from Michigan State University and am continuing my master’s degree there in the fall.

Why did you apply to this internship?
I was an intern last year at Ruby and really enjoyed it and with the merging with Degenkolb felt like it was a great opportunity to come back.

What have you been working on this summer?
I have been working on some Erection procedures and stability plans and currently working on a Connection Design project specifically focusing on shear connections.

What inspired you to pursue a career in structural engineering?
I decided to pursue a career in Structural Engineering because of the complexity and craft in designing such unique structures and buildings and being able to have a lasting impact on the community that you can be proud of.

If you could give future interns any advice on how to get the most out of their internship, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about things you don’t know, everyone is super nice and willing to help.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies and work?
I enjoy just about everything sport related whether it is playing or watching. Additionally, I like spending time with family and friends and my two chocolate labs.