Tag Archives: Energy Efficiency Center

A vision for energy efficiency

Posted on by | Leave a reply
Mechanical engineering student Sam Walker and his solar trailer.
As a mechanical engineering student committed to energy efficiency, Sam Walker designed and built a solar trailer with two other OSU engineering students.

When Sam Walker wanted to build a solar trailer for his senior design project, his professors balked. Most projects were either industry sponsored or based on faculty research, not on the design whims of a student.

But Walker stuck with his vision to build a mobile station that could supply power using solar energy — and luckily so. After writing a formal proposal and raising thousands of dollars, his professors agreed to let him design, build, and present the trailer at the annual Engineering Expo. Continue reading →

Getting the job

Posted on by | Leave a reply

How an experience with the Energy Efficiency Center prepared Mike Knapp for the world of manufacturing

Mike Knapp, Oregon State College of Engineering alumnusMike Knapp, a facilities operation engineer for Samsung Austin Semiconductors, came out of Oregon State with impressive academic and professional credentials. He earned a B.S. in chemical engineering in 2009, and went on to receive an M.S. in chemical engineering and M.B.A. both in 2013. He was also an operations manager for the Energy Efficiency Center, a student-run and faculty-supported program in the College of Engineering that performs assessments for rural and industrial clients throughout the Pacific Northwest. There, he gained first-hand manufacturing experience through energy assessments for breweries, large manufacturers, and food processing centers alike.

Knapp is now is Austin, Texas, where he’s responsible for processing and cleaning wastewater from semiconductor manufacturing processes. He also assists with other facilities such as ultra pure water for processes and HVAC systems.

We got in touch with Knapp to learn more about what skills prepared him for a career in manufacturing, and his advice to students wanting to enter the field. Continue reading →