Summer Internship Spotlight: Diem-Mi Nguyen, Sappi Somerset

Diem-Mi Nguyen, a second-year student majoring in paper science and engineering at the College of Natural Resources, recently completed a summer internship at Sappi’s Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, Maine.

Located on 2,500 acres, Sappi’s Somerset Mill is an “integrated pulping and papermaking operation” where the company manufactures graphic papers, packaging, label papers and bleached chemical pulp.

Nguyen served as a technical intern at Somerset Mill, working closely with process engineers and other employees to conduct maintenance, testing and other services on the site’s three paper machines.

“I had the opportunity to work on both long-term and short-term projects this summer, which I really enjoyed because it allowed for a constant flow of work as well as a change in pace every once in a while,” Nguyen said.

One of Nguyen’s responsibilities, for example, included performing chlorine tests at different sample points across the paper machines in order to track the free chlorine residual in the mill’s fresh water system.

Nguyen also led site tours for rising high school seniors participating in the University of Maine’s Pulp and Paper Foundation’s Consider Engineering program.

We recently caught up with Nguyen to discuss her internship at Somerset Mill. Check out the Q&A below to learn more about her experience and how it’s contributed to her professional journey.

How did you find out about this internship and why were you interested in it?

Diem-Mi Nguyen: I went up to Sappi’s booth at the Paper Science and Engineering Career Fair. I was intrigued by the company because it is distinct from many of the paper companies based in the South. Sappi Somerset produces graphics and board products (primarily coated board) and their products are printed on, so there are specific quality specs that must be met. I was interested in the processes of coating and calendaring. Additionally, Sappi Somerset is a nearly fully integrated site, with both a pulp and paper mill so I jumped at the opportunity to learn about the entire papermaking process.

What was the most interesting or surprising part of this internship experience?

Nguyen: Something that surprised me about paper machines is how mechanical issues tend to be. While there are quality specs that have to be met and subject matter experts that are consulted for quality issues and process optimization, most of the time, when there is a break, it is due to a mechanical issue such as a bad bearing.

Another thing that surprised me was how much I enjoyed the data analysis part of engineering. Most of the projects I worked on involved data analysis, and one of the data scientists I worked closely with has a degree in chemical engineering. In fact, I have since added a data science minor to my degree plan.

How did the College of Natural Resources prepare you for this internship?

Nguyen: Coming into this internship, I had only taken one paper science class: PSE 201. However, I think it did an excellent job of preparing me for this internship. Since I had gotten an overview of the pulp and papermaking processes, I was able to understand what was happening around me from the get-go. It allowed me to connect what I was seeing, hearing about, and working on to what I had learned in class. Not only that, it allowed me to ask more specific questions about the process — questions that I might not have asked if I wasn’t already familiar with the process.

What are your long-term goals and how does this internship factor in?

Nguyen: One of my long-term goals is to get as much experience before I graduate as possible. Not only that, I want to diversify my experiences. I don’t see myself going back to the same location for the same role twice in a row unless I really like the company or job. I’m glad I had the opportunity to take this internship because it taught me what I like about working in a paper mill and what I don’t like. This upcoming hiring season, I intend to pursue an internship that isn’t in a paper mill, perhaps a role with a pulp mill or chemical supplier or in research and development.

What advice would you give students who are looking for internships?

Nguyen: I would say be open to interviewing with companies even if you aren’t sure about them. It never hurts to do an interview and it keeps your options open. In terms of interviewing, I’ve found that researching the company, their products, and their values comes off really well in interviews and shows the interviewer that you care. To anyone unsure about whether or not they want to do an internship after their first year, I would definitely encourage it. It gives you the chance to figure out if you are actually interested in the degree you are pursuing and is a great experience to have on your resume. Finally, I would encourage people to take advantage of the opportunity to travel out of state, especially if the company is willing to pay for a travel stipend.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.