The University of Cincinnati is melding academic rigor with hands-on experience, especially evident in their chemical engineering program, where junior Michael Tito Manianchira is making waves through a cooperative education (co-op) experience at Shepherd Color Company.
Manianchira, who hails from overseas, has leveraged the challenges of adapting to a new cultural environment to thrive in a professional setting, diving into real-world applications of his classroom-taught theory in a field where precision is paramount, the production of complex inorganic color pigments (CICPs) is not just about creating vibrant colors but ensuring durability and resistance to harsh conditions, these experiences according to a UC interview echo what is taught in the halls and labs of UC where students are pushed beyond the memorization of formulas to the application of knowledge.
"Coming from a different background challenged me to communicate clearly, ask questions confidently, and ensure I fully understood processes and expectations," Manianchira told the University of Cincinnati news release. At Shepherd Color, located in West Chester, Ohio, Manianchira's adaptability proved invaluable as he navigated different communication styles and workplace norms to effectively contribute during his co-op, focusing on hands-on projects like improving temperature monitoring for CPS rotary calciners with the installation of a thermal camera, addressing equipment issues that ranged from blending systems to troubleshooting PLC tasks, showing an application of his UC-acquired knowledge in thermodynamics and material energy balances.
Challenges at Shepherd Color Company became learning opportunities, whether it was pinpointing the cause of screen blowouts in a jet mill and finding the fix which included installing new housing and wear plates or improving efficiency and sustainability by observing process engineering in action; these experiences not just reinforced Manianchira's academic learning but primed him for future career endeavors in sustainable materials development, he shared his experience of learning at Shepherd Color spanning from raw material blending to packaging bolstering his desire to make a mark in process engineering looking forward with plans to graduate by 2027 and dive into a career path that may lead back to Shepherd Color or into new ventures in advanced coatings.
UC's co-op program, with its structured alternating semesters, allows students like Manianchira to blend learning and earning, preparing them for the high demands of the industry while fostering invaluable partnerships with companies like Shepherd Color, where the future of materials is as vibrant as the pigments they produce, and as Manianchira puts it, being part of transforming raw materials into something valuable embodies the essence of chemical engineering.
