Maria del Pilar recently returned to the BIOMART lab after completing a one-year co-op rotation at an Abbott manufacturing site in Puerto Rico. Before this experience, she had been an active member of the BIOMART lab for two years, gaining valuable research and laboratory skills. When the opportunity to join the co-op program arose, she embraced the challenge, eager to expand her expertise beyond the academic setting and into the professional world of medical device manufacturing.
During her time at Abbott, Maria worked in the Quality Department, where she led projects focused on product performance in functional quality testing, linking manufacturing processes to statistical analysis. She supported the Quality Engineering Line Support team by assisting with daily tasks, contributing to compliance initiatives, and providing scribe support during internal and external audits. Throughout her journey, she demonstrated her eagerness and strong teamwork skills by improving efficiency within the line support team, which even included reducing manual entry in time-consuming tasks. Motivated by her growing expertise, she pursued her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification to strengthen her newly acquired skills.
Reflecting on her experience, Maria shared, “It was a year of tremendous growth and learning. Through this experience, I discovered the path I want to follow completing my undergraduate studies—I aspire to join the industry. While I’m not immediately pursuing graduate school, I chose to return to research because I’ve seen how the innovations we study in the lab become the foundation for the life-saving technologies being manufactured today. It all starts with scientists who keep exploring and asking questions, setting off the chain reaction that leads to these advancements.”
Now back in the BIOMART lab, Maria brings a richer perspective and a strengthened foundation to continue contributing to ongoing research projects. She is excited to apply the skills she gained throughout her co-op in the academic setting and to bridge her experience between industry and research as she continues building her career.
