October 30, 2023 by SME When it comes to networking, few SME members understand the value of connecting with others and sharing information more than Christie Hasbrouck. As a graduate research assistant and PhD candidate at Penn State University, she attends SME-sponsored and other professional events when her schedule and proximity allow. From membership-sponsored virtual Coffee Chats, SME student chapter meetings, and other school- and professionally-related activities, Christie is a big networker. We spoke with her recently about her focus on connecting with others and got some excellent insight. Member Corner: I know you’ve been an SME member since 2018. How did you get involved with SME? Christie: I had always been aware of SME, but when I joined the industrial and manufacturing engineering program here at Penn State, they told me, “Well, you really should look into joining SME.” They’ve got the obvious thing for grad students – scholarships – which opened doors for me and helped me pay for school. SME also helped me expand my network a lot. I’ve been to FABTECH and attended a few events I probably wouldn’t have realized existed before SME’s involvement. Plus, I have been going to some of these Coffee Chats. Member Corner: What makes networking and connecting with others in manufacturing so important to you? Christie: Networking is important because you can meet people in your same or slightly different fields who can help broaden your knowledge across your educational and career journey. I try to soak up information from a lot of people in manufacturing, particularly from SME, because they have so much experience in the industry. You never know who you’ll meet that can help you solve a future problem or open up a new career path for you. Member Corner: How did you get interested in engineering as a career? Christie: My father is an entrepreneur who creates one-off industrial automation systems and components for manufacturers in and around the Terre Haute, Indiana, area. So, I grew up around manufacturing and saw his creative problem-solving skills and innovation mindset. Both of my parents are graduates of Indiana State University and have lots of connections with the university and knew of STEM-related events for kids within the local area, so we were frequently involved in activities at ISU or at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology which was also nearby. In addition to my parents’ influence, from middle school on, I was frequently involved in robotics competitions, playing video games like Math Blast and Brain Quest which were very educational, and participated in academic bowls and took STEM-related AP classes as much as possible. Our teachers would inform us about many of these opportunities, too, but I think mostly it was my parents looking out for me and fostering my interests from a young age. Member Corner: Have you had mentors whom you’ve consulted and who have helped you in your career? Christie: I’ve had several mentors in materials science whom I’ve stayed close to during my schooling. As an undergraduate, Dr. Darryl Webber and Dr. VK Sharma at Trine University introduced me to the field of materials science and spent many hours after classes and labs talking to me about metallurgy and metal casting. As a co-op at Regal Beloit Corporation in Fort Wayne, Mr. Jonathan Hall taught me so much about steel characterization and failure analysis that I still use frequently in my dissertation work. More recently, Dr. Amy Robinson and Dr. Allison Beese at Penn State are two professors in the metals field who have been incredible from both an academic and a mentorship sense. In a less academic and more professional way, Dr. Rachel Abrahams of the Air Force Research Laboratory has been an amazing mentor for me, as has Dr. Simon Miller of Penn State, although materials research is not necessarily his background. Member Corner: Any advice for students in manufacturing regarding how to get ahead in school and in launching their careers? Christie: Yes – put yourself out there! Students who haven’t been to many industry activities or plant tours need to participate and meet the people who are makers.
