BASF creates chemistry with University of South Alabama interns

MCINTOSH, AL, August 6, 2015 – BASF welcomed six college students as interns this past summer. The interns, three of which are students at the University of South Alabama, received firsthand working experience in the areas of chemical process technology and engineering.  

“BASF is pleased to provide the summer internship program to students who are pursuing careers in the chemical industry,” said George Vann, Vice President of the BASF site in McIntosh. “It is important to us that local students have opportunities to prepare themselves to be leaders in our industry.”

This year’s summer internship participants included three seniors from USA: Benjamin Burleson, Rajendra Khadka, and Jessica Lacy. Also, three paper and chemical technology students from Alabama Southern Community College participated in the internship program (Grady Busby, Brandon Threadgill, and Zane Warr).

Burleson is majoring in chemical engineering, Khadka is working on a dual major of electrical engineering and mathematics, and Lacy is majoring in chemistry.

“An internship at BASF is a great opportunity,” said Burleson. “The experience with the analytical group has sharpened my chemistry techniques. It’s not just a job – I’ve gained valuable experience in an actual workplace.”

Throughout their internships at BASF, the students have performed real on-the-job tasks by assisting in the environmental and instrumental labs and checking samples to maintain a safe, healthy environment. This allows students to connect what they’ve learned in the classroom with real industry applications.

“It’s refreshing to see the initiative the students bring to their work,” said Ray Noletto, the Group Leader of Routine Quality Control and Environmental Technology at the BASF site in McIntosh. “The wastewater samples they analyze are a key part in ensuring that BASF is compliant with our environmental standards.”

“I encourage students to do their research on BASF for internship opportunities,” said Lacy. “The work performed in the labs is centered around the health of the environment. What BASF is doing is really making a difference.”

Download photo on right, suggested caption #1: Jessica Lacy and Benjamin Burleson, interns from the University of South Alabama, analyze wastewater treatment samples in the environmental lab.

Download photo on right, suggested caption #2: Rajendra Khadka, intern from the University of South Alabama, observed and assisted the electrical engineers in daily operations.

About BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20.6 billion in 2014. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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