Nicole took a leap during her sophomore year and accepted a co-op opportunity with Cook Medical in Lafayette. Unsure of whether she wanted to pursue academia, medical school or industry, she saw this experience as a chance to explore her options while staying close to her West Lafayette roots.

During her co-op, Nicole worked on testing and reporting for over 40 studies, involving stent grafts, catheters and wire guides. She conducted various tests, including tensile and torque testing and even worked on a project for a new stent graft going through FDA approval, which gave her a sense of autonomy and responsibility.

One of the most rewarding parts of Nicole’s co-op was conducting explant studies, where she examined failed medical devices to determine the failure modes. "I loved the explant studies because I handled the entire study from start to finish and it was very technical which I enjoyed.” Nicole shared, reflecting on the confidence she gained through the process.

Throughout her time at Cook Medical, Nicole also learned about the FDA’s quality standards and the testing involved in medical device development. The skills she gained helped her realize that while she enjoyed her co-op, her passion lies in the clinical side of engineering, leading her to pursue medical school.

Nicole’s advice for students considering a co-op is to build connections and be eager to learn. She highly recommends a co-op for those looking to explore different career paths, gain valuable skills and develop a more focused direction for their education.

Outside of work, Nicole enjoyed playing on the company softball team and building friendships with fellow co-ops, making her time at Cook Medical both professionally and personally fulfilling. 

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