Work
During my internship at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), I co-authored my first peer-reviewed publication, Heat Treatment Effects on Additively Manufactured Polymer Matrix Composites, in Polymers (MDPI, Q1), 2026, managing over 150 references in Mendeley and fixing citation accuracy issues throughout the manuscript. In the lab, I gained hands-on experience optimizing print settings for FDM 3D printing using the Prusa MK4 and PrusaSlicer, 3D-printed ASA-CF (carbon-fiber-reinforced ASA) specimens, and carried out tensile tests while measuring their mass before and after testing. I then developed a Python workflow to process the tensile test data, generating stress-strain curves, calculating mechanical properties, and using ultimate tensile strength (UTS) results to select the best specimens for heat treatment. Beyond my core research, I supported the D-Lab team in solving recurring nozzle breakage in their injection mold design by suggesting air vents; together with a colleague, I manually prototyped vents by drilling and cutting, tested them, and selected the most effective and machinable design for the final mold. I also had the opportunity to prepare my own lecture slides and teach a university class on steel manufacturing while my professor was away at a conference.
Experience
IAESTE Ecuador arranged for me to stay with a wonderful host family who picked me up from Quito Airport on my first day, took great care of me, and made Quito feel like a second home. Through IAESTE, I met interns from other countries and joined weekend trips that showcased how diverse Ecuador is, from feeling like I was in the middle of the jungle in Tena, the gateway to the Amazon, to visiting the Mindo cloud forest and Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. At USFQ, the D-Lab team also welcomed me like family, and spending time with them alongside my fellow interns made my stay much richer. Along the way, I loved trying Ecuadorian food, especially patacones (fried green plantains), encebollado (a hearty fish and onion soup), and churrasco (steak with rice, fried egg, and fries). Whenever I faced a challenge, Isabel Barona Martínez and the IAESTE Ecuador team were always there to help, allowing me to focus on my work and enjoy every part of my stay.
Discover
When visa problems almost stopped me from coming, refusing to give up and finding a way forward by starting remotely taught me that I can handle uncertainty and still reach my goals. Moving from Germany to a new continent, living with a host family, and working in a new environment showed me that I am far more adaptable and independent than I thought. Academically, coming from steel processing to work with 3D-printed polymer composites opened my eyes to how broad materials engineering really is, showing me how concepts from metals—such as heat treatment—connect directly to new materials and additive manufacturing. Teaching a university class with my own lecture slides, co-authoring a published paper, and proposing practical design solutions to the D-Lab team gave me confidence that my ideas and knowledge are valuable to others, inspiring me to continue working in international research environments. I am deeply thankful to God and to everyone who made this journey possible: my family, IAESTE Freiberg, Isabel Barona Martínez and the IAESTE Ecuador team, my host family, Prof. Dr. Germán Omar Barrionuevo, and my colleagues at USFQ and the D-Lab.
