My name is Megh Maheshwari, and I am currently pursuing the Professional Master’s Program in Chemical Engineering at Purdue. I grew up in Gurugram, where I was always the kind of person who wanted to understand why materials behave the way they do and how small changes in reactions or formulations can reshape performance. That curiosity naturally pulled me toward chemical engineering and eventually toward polymers.

My time at ExxonMobil played the biggest role in shaping that path. Working as a Research Technologist gave me a clear view of how the global polymer industry actually works. Most of my days were spent in the lab, running tests, working on formulations, and learning how materials respond under different conditions. It was the first time I could truly connect what I had learned academically with what I was seeing in front of me. That experience gave me confidence, direction, and a strong motivation to deepen my technical understanding through graduate study.

Before ExxonMobil, I had short internships at DRDO and IFFCO. These were brief but helpful introductions to formulation basics and the rhythm of factory operations. They were not as defining as my industry role, but they gave me early exposure to how chemical engineering principles show up in real production environments.

When it came to choosing a graduate program, Purdue felt like the right next step. I already had some hands-on experience with polymers, and I wanted a curriculum that would build on that foundation with strong technical depth. The Polymer Science and Engineering concentration felt like the perfect fit.

Even though I have only been here for a few months, the coursework has already helped me link my practical experience with a more rigorous scientific framework. Outside academics, the diversity of the Purdue community has been just as valuable. Talking to students from different countries and backgrounds adds perspective and makes the experience richer.

Looking ahead, I see myself working in formulation development or customer application development within the polymer industry. I enjoy roles that bring together technical problem solving and real world application, and I hope to continue shaping my career in that direction.

Boiler Up!