September 09, 2025
A summer internship gave Luke Courtney the chance to merge problem-solving skills with real-world manufacturing solutions.
Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒 students graduate with more than just classroom knowledge 鈥 they leave with hands-on experience that sets them apart in the job market. That鈥檚 thanks in part to internships with industry leaders who give students the chance to work on real problems and meaningful projects.
For Luke Courtney, a chemical engineering major with minors in math and chemistry, a summer internship at Positronic provided just that kind of opportunity. The Springfield-based company designs and manufactures high-reliability electronic connectors used in a wide range of industries, from aerospace to medical devices.
Courtney spent his summer working in the company鈥檚 plating department, where he partnered with lab chemists to help implement a new data management system. The goal? Make it easier to track and maintain plating bath set points to ensure they stay within precise parameters.
鈥淚 like puzzles and problem solving, which is part of why I chose chemical engineering,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a versatile degree, and this internship really showed me how those skills translate into an industrial setting.鈥
Early in the internship, Courtney focused on learning 鈥 shadowing chemists, understanding the plating process, and gathering feedback on existing workflows. As the summer progressed, he shifted into testing and refining the system he helped build, identifying bugs, fixing errors and exploring ways to improve and expand the tool.
鈥淏y the end, my days were full of troubleshooting and optimizing what I鈥檇 implemented,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t was exciting to see the results of my work in real time on the shop floor.鈥
Courtney credits Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 rigorous curriculum for preparing him to step into such a technical and collaborative role.
鈥淭he classes I鈥檝e taken so far have been challenging, but they鈥檝e given me a solid foundation to perform well during the internship,鈥 he said.
He also emphasized the role Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒 Career Services played in helping him land the position.
鈥淭hey were a big help with resume reviews and mock interviews before the career fairs,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hat preparation made a huge difference when I was meeting with recruiters.鈥
For Courtney, the internship reinforced his passion for the field and opened his eyes to new opportunities in chemical manufacturing and industrial chemistry.
鈥淧ositronic gave me the chance to really learn about chemical plating and manufacturing,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t was awesome being part of a process where I could watch things happen in real time and know I contributed.鈥
He encourages other students to seek out similar opportunities early on.
鈥淎bsolutely apply for internships,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd get involved in clubs and competition teams. Recruiters want to see that passion for your major, and those experiences really help you figure out what you enjoy doing.鈥
Courtney expressed gratitude for the support he received along the way.
鈥淚鈥檓 thankful to Positronic and Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒 for this opportunity,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t was a great experience that helped me grow both technically and professionally.鈥
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