Click on the links below to learn why Marcell, Chuck, Jessica, Stacey and Timothy chose a career in engineering, process technology or the geosciences and what excites them about their career.
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Marcell, Mechanical Engineer
Chuck, Chemical Engineering
Jessica, Petroleum/Reservoir Engineer
Stacey, Process Operator
Timothy, Geologist
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- What was your favorite subject in school?
Math was my favorite subject. - Are there some high school classes that you found particularly helpful in college, or to get into your program in college? Calculus and Physics
- Were you involved in any clubs, sports, or activities in high school? College?
I was involved in Varsity Cheerleader, Math Club, and the Honor Society. - What type of college classes do you have to take to have a job like yours? Classes concentrating on math and science.
- What do you like to do now in your spare time? I am a big reader and belong to a couple of different book clubs. I spend the rest of my time following my daughters around to soccer, gymnastics, and dance competitions.
- Any other activities, independent studies, or clubs that you think contributed to your interest or success in college? I think the biggest thing was as a high school student I interned at NASA. It gave me a good idea of what type of work engineers really did. Studying was easier when you could apply the subject to something ‘real world’.
- What was your college major? Mechanical Engineering
- What is the highest degree you've earned? Bachelor of Science
- What got you interested in your field? My dad was a machinist millwright. He also worked on things around the house. I was always with him and loved to ‘fix’ things. I particularly like working on cars.
- What is the coolest thing about your job? I like that when you have worked with the craftsmen to repair a piece of equipment and it is done on schedule, on budget, and runs well on start up. It is a great feeling that you can physically see the results of your work.
- What is the most exciting day you have had at work? I was assigned to a capital project where I got to spec out, and be the technical lead for a 15,000 HP centrifugal compressor. I flew all around the country witnessing construction and performance test. It was the most exciting day for me when it was finally installed and we started it up.
- Is there an element of your job that you never expected? In school I thought engineering was a lot about doing math problems and coming up with an answer. In truth, 90% of the job is interacting with people and being part of a team. It is not an isolated, in your cubicle job at all.
- Of all of the skills you learned in school, which do you use most in your job? General problem skills learned in school are the most helpful, along with the math background.
- What advice would you give to a student who is interested in a career in your profession? Mechanical engineers in refineries are always expected to function on teams. Being a people person is a big element of the job scope.
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- What were your favorite subjects in school?
Math, Chemistry, and Physics. - Are there some high school classes that you found particularly helpful in college, or to get into your program in college?
Math, Chemistry, and Physics. Although I did take 2 years of auto shop in high school, and though it wasn’t a requirement for college, a vocational class such as this that is geared towards hands-on learning is a big benefit in what I do now. - Were you involved in any clubs, sports, or activities in high school? College?
In High School – Track/Cross Country.
In College – Fraternity, Engineering College Ambassadors, and Freshman Orientation Team. - What type of college classes do you have to take to have a job like yours?
Math, Science, Physics, and Engineering classes. - What were your main outside interests in high school?
Cars, waterskiing, and sailing. - What do you like to do now in your spare time?
Mountain bike racing, camping, surfing, waterskiing, and sailing - Any other activities, independent studies, or clubs that you think contributed to your interest or success in college?
My fraternity experience was a major benefit to me. I was lucky, the organization I was a member of was strongly grounded in academics and campus involvement. Because of this, participating in these activities added to my experience positively, and taught me valuable leadership skills. - What was your college major?
Chemical Engineering w/minor in Chemistry. - What is the highest degree you've earned?
Bachelor of Science - What got you interested in your field? I’ve always enjoyed troubleshooting problems, and finding solutions to fix them. Also, Chemistry was one of my favorite subjects in high school. Chemical Engineering just seemed to be a natural fit for me.
- What do you do at your job?
I’m a Control Systems Engineer. I design, troubleshoot, and identify improvement opportunities for instrumentation and process control systems at a major petrochemical plant. Control Systems is one of many areas/disciplines that Chemical Engineers can get involved in. Other areas include plant/process design, production engineering, and project engineering. - What is the most exciting day you have had at work?
Don’t particularly have just one. I’ve been lucky to have many. My best days are when I’m able to solve some sort of problem (minor or major) and go home feeling like I’ve contributed to the company’s performance. I guess it’s some sort of sense of worth. - What is the coolest thing about your job?
I get to interact with many different people both as coworkers and as friends - I get to see and work on many different things that I would have never thought I would - I even get to travel every now and then. Basically, there’s never a dull moment, and there’s always a chance to do something good, and learn something new. - Is there an element of your job that you never expected?
Yes. I’m actually on the Search and Rescue team here at the plant. I never would have imagined I would be directly responsible for saving someone’s life. It’s not directly part of my job, but it is definitely something I never thought I would do. - Of all of the skills you learned in school, which do you use most in your job?
Math, Chemistry, and Physics. - What advice would you give to a student who is interested in a career in your profession?
Pay attention to your Math, Chemistry, and Physics teachers. Think of your toughest classes as your biggest learning opportunities, and your toughest teachers/professors as your best educators. And always, always give everything you do 110%, never take short-cuts. You won’t believe how good this will make you feel about yourself, and how far it will get you in life.
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- What were your favorite subjects in school?
Physics & Algebra - Are there some high school classes that you found particularly helpful in college, or to get into your program in college?
Pre-Calculus - Were you involved in any clubs, sports, or activities in high school? College?
High School: Band, Choir, FFA, Basketball, Tennis, 4-H
College: Engineering Co-Ed Fraternity, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, College Judicial Board - What type of college classes do you have to take to have a job like yours?
See Montana Tech for requirements: http://www.collegesource.org/displayinfo/catalink.asp?pid={B30B19CD-37C4-4AB9-A8C3-FB563EB28583}&oig={49FD76D4-1D69-4851-9F93-047BB7F9B4BC}&vt=5 - What were your main outside interests in high school?
I grew up on a ranch, so mostly did equestrian-related outdoor activities - What do you like to do now in your spare time?
Hiking, rock climbing, painting, photography, music - Any other activities, independent studies, or clubs that you think contributed to your interest or success in college?
FFA, 4-H, any kind of teamwork activity or public speaking - What was your college major?
Geophysical Engineering
Petroleum Engineering - What is the highest degree you've earned?
Dual B.S. degree - What got you interested in your field ...e.g., petroleum engineering, chemical engineering geophysics, geology, etc?
I began with a degree in geophysical engineering because I couldn’t imagine anything cooler than being able to ‘see’ under the ground without digging down there to look at it!! - What do you do at your job?
I am a reservoir engineer, so I look at ways to get oil out of the ground in the most economically efficient manner possible. - What is the most exciting day you have had at work?
The day we drilled the well we had been working on for months and it found oil!! - What is the coolest thing about your job?
I get to use both of my degrees in a job that changes from one day to the next. I am always looking at new and different reservoirs. - Is there an element of your job that you never expected?
Not really. The school I attended did a great job preparing me for my full-time job. - Of all of the skills you learned in school, which do you use most in your job?
Without a doubt, the skills I acquired by working with people (teamwork, communication, etc.) are the most important skills I have—and not many classes help develop these skills directly, but most placed me in a position to learn/develop them. - What advice would you give to a student who is interested in a career in your profession?
It is important to study hard and work on developing yourself as a person as you move through college. The return on investment for a petroleum engineering career is probably one of the fastest you will find in the professional world. Petroleum engineering provides a variety of satisfying career options, ranging from research to technical and even managerial. There are so many options for a career as a technical-path petroleum engineer that I cannot even begin to list them all!
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- What were your favorite subjects in school?
Science was most captivating for me. - Are there some high school classes that you found particularly helpful in college, or to get into your program in college?
The high school courses I found to be most valuable were: Algebra - Physics - Physical Science - Trigonometry - Business Communication. - Were you involved in any clubs, sports, or activities in high school? College?
I actively participated in 4-H and The Science Club. - What type of college classes do you have to take to have a job like yours?
A few examples would be: Chemistry - Trigonometry - Unit Systems - Process Troubleshooting. - What were your main outside interests in high school?
Like most kids in high school, I was eager about moving on with next voyage COLLEGE! - What do you like to do now in your spare time?
At this point is my life I am grateful and appreciate the LAZY DAYS. I read, attend sporting events, take relaxation vacations, or mosey around town, visit friends, and shopping. - Any other activities, independent studies, or clubs that you think contributed to your interest or success in college?
Sports. As with any organized team play, teamwork is compulsory. The same goes for vocation. - What was your college major?
I Majored in Process Technology. - What is the highest degree you've earned?
Associate of Science - Process Technology. - What got you interested in your field ...e.g., petroleum engineering, chemical engineering geophysics, geology, etc?
Technology is ever changing, yet the scientific method researchers use is the same. So for me to use a law that has been in play for three-hundred+ years, to improve the way we as human beings live is an astounding thing to be apart of. - What do you do at your job?
Process Technicians successfully operate a production plant, by gathering information using instrumentation and lab results to produce and or improve products that we use everyday to make life more convenient. - What is the most exciting day you have had at work?
Shortly after I hired with Shell Chemical. I was super excited about the very first time a did some troubleshooting on my own and repaired the problem. Mind you troubleshooting is a part of my job, but the initial time was hands down the most exhilarating. - What is the coolest thing about your job?
The shift work, working six months out the year is pretty cool. This allows me more personal time. - Is there an element of your job that you never expected?
The conceptual and physical must be well composed, in order to perform the job safely and correctly. - Of all of the skills you learned in school, which do you use most in your job?
Communication/People Skills, and Teamwork is Essential. - What advice would you give to a student who is interested in a career in your profession?
Shell offers a fantastic intern program for future Process Technicians. So few individuals get an opportunity to test drive their career. If granted the chance, I strongly encourage one to take it.
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- What were your favorite subjects in school?
In college: stratigraphy, human evolution, and military history
In high school: history. - Are there some high school classes that you found particularly helpful in college, or to get into your program in college?
There were no requirements to get into the geology program at the college I went to. High school courses that were helpful were math and physics. - Were you involved in any clubs, sports, or activities in high school? College?
I played water polo in high school and college and was also on the swim team. - What type of college classes do you have to take to have a job like yours?
You need at least a Master’s degree in geology to have a job like mine. Shell does not hire geologists who only have undergraduate degrees. In order to go to graduate school for geology, students will need college classes in math, chemistry, and physics, as well as geology. - What were your main outside interests in high school?
I did a lot of mountain biking and hiking. - What do you like to do now in your spare time?
Most of my spare time is spent helping take care of my daughter, she’s 14 months old right now and a lot of fun. Other than that I like to go skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and playing with my dogs. I also have a radio-controlled airplane, which I’m looking forward to flying this summer. - Any other activities, independent studies, or clubs that you think contributed to your interest or success in college?
I went on a geology field trip to Baja, California my sophomore year in college that really made me realize how cool geology was. We spent a month doing research and camping out and that made me realize how interesting, challenging, and fun learning about ancient environments and rocks could be. - What was your college major?
I was a double major in geology and history. - What is the highest degree you've earned?
I have a Master’s degree in geology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. - What got you interested in your field? I got interested in geology because my father had taken some classes when he was in college and really liked them. I also love the outdoors and traveling and that really helped. What other field allows you to do lots of your work hiking around and looking at rocks? What could be better!
- What do you do at your job?
I keep track of and manage the geological operations of 3-4 drilling rigs working on a natural gas field in Wyoming. This involves working with drilling engineers, completions engineers, geophysicists, petrophysicists, reservoir engineers, and a lot of other people. We work together as a team to determine where to drill for natural gas, how deep to drill, what we can expect to find when we drill, and what we learned after we drill. I also am involved in the day to day operations of the drilling rigs and helping to find the right solutions to problems that come up. When I’m not working on drilling related issues I try and understand the controls on the distribution of sandstone in our gas field. The sand holds the gas that we’re after and if I can understand what is controlling where the sand is located then we can drill more efficient wells. - What is the most exciting day you have had at work?
Without a doubt the most exciting day I’ve had at work was helping to monitor a well that was drilling in Malaysia from my office in Houston. I was watching the drilling data on a well that was thousands of miles away in real-time from my desk. Now that is cool! - What is the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is that I learn something new and interesting every day. The mental stimulation is fantastic, there isn’t a day when I’m not challenged by my work. - Is there an element of your job that you never expected?
I never expected everyone else I work with to be such nice people. There is a real team atmosphere at work. - Of all of the skills you learned in school, which do you use most in your job?
By far the most important skill I learned in school is how to function as part of a team. Everyone works as part of a team and if you can’t get along with people, get your ideas across clearly, and learn how to work as a team this job can be very bad. - What advice would you give to a student who is interested in a career in your profession?
Make sure you have a real passion for geology and are not just looking for a paycheck. This job takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance and if you don’t have a passion for it then your job will just be a job rather then something that challenges you and something that you love.
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