Internship experiences have helped Julia Gomez focus her education and career path and build valuable skillsets as she enters her final year of undergraduate studies at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The Tinley Park, Illinois, native plans to graduate in May 2026 with a degree in Industrial Engineering.
She is currently a Continuous Improvement Intern at the Center for Industrial Research and Services (CIRAS) at Iowa State University, where she works on-site with a Des Moines-based client. After graduation, she hopes to be a manufacturing engineer in northern Iowa. She shares her insights on choosing Iowa State and making the most of internship experiences.
1. Why did you choose to attend Iowa State University?
I originally visited Iowa State because it was a well-known engineering school in the Midwest that offered an Aerospace Engineering major. At first, I wasn’t very fond of the idea of moving five hours away from home until I had the opportunity to visit campus as part of a student visit day. After seeing the beautiful campus, learning about courses, programming and resources available to students, and meeting the lovely people I would later go on to become close friends with, I was set on going to Iowa State.
2. How are your internship experiences through Iowa State and Iowa employers helping prepare you for your future career?
My college path has been a bit unorthodox and heavily influenced by the internships I've had. I studied Aerospace Engineering with plans to be a design engineer, until I had a manufacturing engineering internship with Northstar Aerospace in Bedford Park, IL. Getting into the field influenced me to make the late change and switch to Industrial Engineering and pursue a career as a manufacturing engineer. Since then, I have participated in a co-op with Winnebago Motorhomes in Forest City, Iowa, as a manufacturing engineering intern and currently work for CIRAS as a continuous improvement Intern.
My internship role has been the start of a new way of utilizing interns at CIRAS. While CIRAS is based at the ISU Research Park in Ames, I actually spend four of five days offsite working with our client in Des Moines under dual supervision with CIRAS and the client's Continuous Improvement team. My responsibility has been to work as a largely independent engineer to complete the scoped-out project. I've learned a great deal about manufacturing processes and have been able to apply skills from my classroom into real world situations and learn the practical applications of such skills. It's also given me the opportunity to work on a variety of soft skills including self-management, driving a project, and having the opportunity to make a project my own.
3. How does CIRAS help Iowa manufacturers improve their processes and businesses?
CIRAS works with businesses and communities across Iowa to help them prosper and grow. The goal is to work directly with an organization to fashion solutions specific to their individual needs.
The team at CIRAS understands that every company is different and has its own individual needs and unique solutions for a problem. They provide a multitude of resources particularly in the form of their diverse staffing with experts in a variety of subjects (notably in the emerging AI sector). CIRAS also provides continued support to ensure implementation of any solutions is successful and all parties are satisfied in the collaboration. https://www.ciras.iastate.edu/
4. What advice do you have for students to make the most of your Iowa State and internship experiences?
As a student, take advantage of all the opportunities presented. For example, part of your tuition goes into resources such as career services and allows you access to places such as Reiman Gardens. Taking advantage of these not only makes full usage of your tuition expenses but enables you to make the most of your college experience both academically and socially. However, it's important to find a balance in not overexerting yourself, make sure you are filling your cup and not falling victim to FOMO.
The same is true for internships, especially looking into networks at your employer and the cities or regions. This summer, I participated in the AREA Intern Program hosted by the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. The AREA intern events were a chance to network with both interns and young professionals from a variety of roles and industries. They also provided relevant information about professional and financial development and were a great way to learn more about the area. ISU Research Park also offers a program for interns at companies and organizations across the park.
I also participated in the Hancock County Internship Program during my time at Winnebago, which helped introduce me to an area of Iowa I had never been to and helped build connections for the future.
5. Please share 3 recommendations of things to do or places to go in Iowa.
Reiman Gardens is a botanical garden that is not only a beautiful entrance to the Iowa State campus in Ames, it is also a great place to just walk around or sit on a bench and enjoy the sights while studying.
Clear Lake, Iowa, offers a variety of events, including “Thursdays on Main” events during the summer. Or, enjoy the beach for a day and check out the Surf Ballroom.
Hosted by the Iowa State Rodeo Club and held on campus, the Cyclone Stampede is the last student-run rodeo in the nation! More than 250 college athletes come to Ames each year to compete.
Published August 2025