Intern Spotlight: Sofia Gerasimchuk
Sofia Gerasimchuk
School/Degree: University of Minnesota | Degree in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
Internship: Quality Engineer Intern
Sofia is currently a senior at the University of Minnesota where she is studying Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics with an anticipated graduation in the spring. Outside of school and work, Sofia likes to spend time playing competitive volleyball, downhill skiing, going for hikes, and doing puzzles.
Finding her Place
Sofia had a great interview with the Quality Manager, Patrick, who provided valuable insight into the positions. “Patrick really helped me understand the diverse range of projects we work on,” she shared. It was clear to her that the products and designs are always evolving. “The level of creativity here is exciting—it makes me want to be part of a team like this,” she said, reflecting on how dynamic and inspiring the environment felt.
Why Sofia Loves Working at Design Ready Controls
Sofia highlighted several things that stood out to her about what she enjoys most at Design Ready Controls. First, she appreciates the open office environment, sharing that she “likes the open office feel.” She also noted that the location of her desk makes it easy to connect with other interns—a big plus since they often collaborate and help each other out. Lastly, Sofia values the “open communication between team members,” which creates an atmosphere where she feels comfortable asking questions and contributes to an overall communicative work style.
Sofia’s Engineering Journey
Looking ahead, Sofia plans to pursue a graduate degree in Aerospace Engineering, focusing on solid mechanics and failure analysis. She shares, “I’ve loved investigating where materials change their properties and break down, so this sparked my interest.” Her internship as a Quality Engineer is giving her a valuable perspective on what defines a quality product from the customer’s viewpoint. Sofia is especially interested in the production line and identifying where errors occur. She explains, “by doing this, it will help me understand the spectrum of failure analysis, which is a crucial step in making a product customer ready.” Overall, Sofia is grateful for her experience in quality engineering, as it is paving the way for her future in the field.
Sofia’s Current Focus: Improving Label Placement Efficiency
Sofia was recently tasked with addressing a challenge related to label placement. The product requires 18 labels, each with precise dimensions, and an opportunity to create a system to support the team in aligning the labels accurately. Sofia is developing a custom template that will help ensure consistent, precise label placement, while also streamlining the process and saving time. It is a major project, but one that will make a significant impact on assembly efficiency.
Looking Ahead
Following this summer, Sofia will be completing her degree in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics. She is currently deciding whether to begin graduate school immediately or jump straight into the industry. Some exciting fields she is considering include aviation and space research.
