I am currently a full-time student at Syracuse University in New York working on a master’s degree in structural engineering. Knowing that the job market is always competitive, I was very interested in gaining some professional experience during my graduate studies. I met Jeff Evans, Vice President of EBA’s Structural Engineering Department, at a Syracuse University career fair, and we chatted about job positions and career opportunities at EBA Engineering.

I was particularly interested in working with EBA’s bridge department. Jeff walked me through the actual projects at EBA, and they all sounded interesting to me. I thought the internship program was a perfect opportunity for me to learn and apply my knowledge.

During my interview with Jeff, he explained that they were looking for an intern who would be willing to help the department with projects, but most importantly, they were looking for someone who would be eager to learn from this experience. This focus on learning aligned perfectly with my goals. After I accepted the internship offer from EBA, Jeff kept me updated with all of the projects that I would be working on during the summer

When you are an engineering student, you spend so much time dealing with numbers, drawings, and calculations that you begin to think that’s all being an engineer is about. However, at EBA I learned that there are other important skills involved with being an engineer. I had the chance to write a number of reports, visit construction sites, and participate on inspection assignments. All these experiences taught me that communication, versatility, and professionalism are some really important assets that an engineer should possess.

I also learned that sometimes it takes up to 10 years for a bridge to be planned, designed, and built, which fascinated me. Sometimes designing the bridge is actually the easiest part of the project! A company must go through multiple phases, such as applying for permits and preparing proposals, before starting with the design phase. To me, these were valuable lessons that one can only learn by being out in the field.

My favorite project was inspecting the Choptank River Bridge on US 50 in Cambridge, Maryland, which is a 1.5-mile-long beam bridge. I had inspected smaller bridges during my internship, so I was already familiar with the process. However, the whole process was a challenge and a great learning experience.

Preparing for the inspection was very important. We had to review previous reports and get familiar with the bridge and its components. Our team started preparing for the inspection weeks in advance. We talked about ways we could arrange the report to make our job easier in the field. The inspection process was not easy given that we were in a boat; however, with great teamwork and coordination we successfully completed it. We also got to be on a boat for almost a week, which was really fun!

Overall, I enjoyed working for the bridge department and applying what I learned in school to real-world projects. Working 40 hours a week takes a big portion of your time, and therefore it is very important that you like your job and the people you work with. I found a very warm and inclusive environment here at EBA’s Baltimore office. We did activities outside of work such as fishing, soccer, bowling, etc., which made my summer in Baltimore fun and exciting. “Being happy at your workplace” is the most valuable lesson I will take away from this internship!

If you like a friendly environment with lots of opportunities to learn from really smart engineers, EBA is the right place. If you’re considering EBA for an internship, reach out now and start asking questions!

The EBA internship program is an opportunity for young professionals to learn, ask questions, and explore different engineering fields. We begin recruiting interns in November and select our interns by March. Please email your resume to eba@ebaengineering.com to apply.