What I liked
I gained a lot of hands-on experience in a research lab for an industrial company. This was different from previous experiences I have had with academic research because I was learning how to apply my research directly to the company products. I also learned several new analysis techniques that I used to study surfactant properties. I had no experience with surfactants previously, so these techniques helped me understand the structures through experimentation, rather than just through theory. Stepan Company is a global company, but it is still a family-owned company that values their employees. I worked closely with several people in my lab, and I made very valuable connections with everyone I met in the company.
