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

Mike 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 →