While many of her peers spent their summer break vacationing with families and in familiar routines, Sydney Kanuga chose a different route: interning with Medtronic’s production continuity team in Minneapolis. The experience immersed her in the medical-device industry, from cardiovascular equipment to neuromodulation technologies.
“Those who work in production continuity solve any issues that may come up on manufacturing lines at various sites worldwide; they’re like firefighters in the company. They also assess issues with supply quality,” says the fourth-year materials science and engineering major. “It was really impressive to see a pacemaker part on the manufacturing line that I know will one day change someone’s life.”
On the production continuity team, Kanuga collaborated with Medtronic team members working in core technology, pharma operations, materials science, and optimization. She conducted hands-on materials characterization, analyzing the chemical and physical properties of materials, using techniques such as as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis (Ultraviolet-Visible) spectrophotometry, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).
“It was an opportunity to see these methods in practice in a corporate setting, work with people on advanced characterization methods, and see how a product goes from an idea in research and development and get it to a perfect device – from ideation to FDA approval and next generation iterations,” says Kanuga.
The internship showed her how her materials science and engineering knowledge could translate into real-world impact.
“You can sit in a classroom and learn everything about materials science, but you will not truly appreciate the impact of that knowledge until it is put into practice,” she says.
“Medtronic states that health care technologies transform the lives of two people every second. I feel very fortunate to have this incredible opportunity and the chance to impact the lives of people who need these technologies.”
Kanuga landed her internship with support from Disha Mishra, Engr ’21, ‘22 (MSE), a Medtronic senior scientist, who she connected with at a speed networking event hosted by the Life Design Lab.
“I mentioned that I applied to Medtronic, and she guided me through the interview process,” says Kanuga.
She was inspired to apply after taking a biomaterials course, which renewed a longtime interest in the health care industry.
“I chose to study materials engineering because I wanted to use my love of STEM to help people without interacting with them as a physician,” she says. “After taking Professor Hai-Quan Mao’s course, I realized that a background in biomaterials could be a pathway to serving others through my professional work. This idea is what motivated me to apply for the Medtronic internship.”