From Lab to Impact: Colleen’s Internship Experience at DePoly

Why did you choose DePoly in Sion, Switzerland, for your Internship?

I chose to join DePoly for two key reasons. First, the company’s commitment to sustainability resonates deeply with my personal values. It was essential for me to work in an environment that not only minimizes its environmental impact but actively contributes to a positive change. DePoly’s focus on making a difference in this area truly aligned with my own goals.

The second reason is the dynamic startup environment, which allows for greater freedom and independence in managing projects. It also offers a broader perspective on the company’s decision-making process and the roles of various stakeholders within the industry.

Did the work/research match your expectations?

I was impressed by the speed of innovation at DePoly. I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to propose experiments and immediately move forward with them. Additionally, spending time in the pilot plant gave me a deeper understanding of how my research impacts the overall process. One thing I would have enjoyed would have been the opportunity to shadow someone from the business team to gain further insights into the commercial side of operations.

What did you like most about your internship?

The experience of working with a completely novel feedstock was both challenging and motivating. Overcoming obstacles to recover pure PTA while keeping energy consumption low and using safe and commercially available household chemicals was a particularly rewarding aspect of my work. I didn’t expect to focus so much on textiles, but I found it fascinating. I also enjoyed working with various forms and types of plastic and contributing to the development of quality control methods. The teamwork here was wonderful since the company atmosphere encourages mutual help in everyday matters. Through this internship I learned a lot, especially in the areas of polymer chemistry, planning project progress, and developing my critical thinking when assessing the relevance and potential impact of each experiment.

Would you recommend DePoly for any future students wishing to do an internship?

I would highly recommend DePoly as an internship opportunity, and I have already suggested it to several chemical engineering master’s students. I believe chemistry students would greatly benefit from an internship here as well. Throughout my time at DePoly, I was surrounded by highly skilled researchers who provided invaluable guidance and created a supportive environment that allowed me to thrive. During the meetings, my opinion was valued just as much as everyone else's. And last but not least, working at a company undergoing such rapid growth has been an exceptional experience.