AIST Steel Intern Scholarship
Nina T. Tran
As an AIST Steel Intern Scholar at Hatch in Mississauga, Ont., Canada, I have been fortunate. My role in the Pyrometallurgy Sector Practice has given me a unique opportunity to contribute to the iron and steel industry’s green transformation while learning and honing my technical and interpersonal skills.
Throughout my internship, I actively participated in a plethora of global steelmaking development projects, from exploring a pilot-scale electric arc furnace/ladle metallurgy furnace project to industrial decarbonization and green steel production. Each step of the way, I was mentored by knowledgeable peers who stressed the importance of my learning foremost and gave me opportunities to work on tasks utterly foreign to me. These projects allowed me to efficiently learn technologies that are fundamental to decarbonizing the steel industry. I expanded my technical skillset and gained experience in process and biotechnologies decarbonization strategies, thanks to the valuable insights from knowledgeable subject matter experts and engineers at Hatch. Moreover, I found ample opportunities to enhance my communication and problem-solving skills by engaging with clients, and I enriched my understanding of effective communication and delivering solutions that align with their needs.
My journey at Hatch equipped me with a valuable understanding of the steel industry’s importance and how I can contribute to positive change. I realized that a balance between steel production’s economic, environmental and social aspects is pivotal. My contribution to advancing future technologies in the industry has reinforced my commitment to a career path that aligns with my values.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to AIST for their immense support in my learning, growth and development. I am equally grateful for the mentorship, guidance and patience extended by the team at Hatch. Their support has been instrumental in making this internship a remarkable and fruitful experience.