Abigail Antonishek – Junior 

In North Potomac, Maryland, Abigail Antonishek worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) within the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research. Her role focused on evaluating the precision of NISTmAb peptide mapping and its method transfer. NISTmAb, a monoclonal antibody produced by identical immune cells derived from a single parent cell, is widely used in the standardization of protein-based drugs, the most common type of therapeutic drugs. 

A key aspect of Abigail's work in this development process involved gathering experimental data to establish specifications that differentiate between the degradation of the reference material over time and degradation caused by sample preparation and analytical methods. To achieve this, she investigated the repeatability of sample preparation and analytical techniques used to monitor NISTmAb quality. Her next task was to transfer the method onto an automated system to evaluate whether automation could reduce interoperator variability. Over the course of her 11-week internship, Abigail made valuable contributions to an ongoing project at NIST and played a crucial role in establishing the automated protocol. 

"This summer at NIST, I learned how to analyze monoclonal antibodies and quantify the level of degradation induced during sample preparation to support quality control and characterization of therapeutic antibodies," said Abigail. "Following this experience, I am more comfortable leading an independent research project where I have to devise new experiments in order to problem-solve and understand unexpected results.” 

Braden Sanchez - Senior 

Braden Sanchez, class of May 2025, spent his summer in Andover, Massachusetts, working as a Liquid Drug Manufacturing (LDM) Support Engineer with Pfizer. During his 12-week internship, he had the opportunity to contribute to several projects aimed at improving the efficiency of the LDM team's Clinical Manufacturing (CM) Suite. One project that Braden found particularly impactful involved addressing an issue with pH probing in the site's pilot facility. pH measurement is critical for determining the acidity or alkalinity of solutions, a key factor in various stages of drug development and production. Braden implemented an automated system within the pH transmitters' software that automatically switched between pH probes when an error occurred, enhancing the reliability of the process. 

Through this project, Braden was able to enhance his amateur software skills and expand his automation programming abilities. In addition to assisting other engineers with part replacements within the LDM CM Suite, he participated in preventative maintenance activities, as well as cleaning and maintaining the CM Suite. His efforts contributed to organizational streamlining, improving the cleanliness of Pfizer's drug development spaces and reducing errors in pH probe recalibration. 

"This kind of experience provides you with real engineering problems that professionals are having trouble within their line of work, " shared Braden. "I think that getting to be at the forefront of problem solving not only improves your capabilities as a professional beyond the student experience, but it also removed many worries I had about transitioning into industry, knowing that I can and did solve those problems."  

James Mock - Senior 

James Mock, a senior at the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, spent his summer with Intel Corporation in Oregon, where he became involved in the Chemical Mechanical Planarization process. This opportunity granted him remarkable autonomy, allowing him to contribute to the company in a unique way. His projects focused on conducting several rounds of experiments aimed at process characterization and optimization to help restore the functionality of older tools. The results of his work significantly impacted Intel Corporation's cost margins, enhancing overall efficiency and fostering opportunities for innovation. 

James' experience was distinguished by more than just his work with Intel. One aspect he particularly valued about his internship was the journey to get there. Traveling to Oregon provided him the opportunity to explore the Pacific Northwest and Canada during his road trip from Indiana. Throughout this adventure, James experienced significant personal growth as he visited over 100 trails and landmarks, including more than a dozen sites managed by the National Park Service. 

"Thank you so much to my mentors/managers Paul Fullhart, Mike Hilland, and Ramesh Koirala for guiding me through so much learning and providing me with such an impactful role," said James. "I've now started my Senior year in Purdue University Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, and I'm looking forward to all of the classes that will bring together all of my knowledge thus far!"