Pin Fins

by Jennifer Grant

I remember one project for a Government Documents class with Judith Robinson. She had each student work with someone in the community, either someone at UB or someone in Buffalo. She'd match you up with a project that they desperately needed information on.

I worked with Dr. Andres Soom. At the time he was the chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He wanted something done on an engineering term called "pin fin." To this day I really can't tell you what a pin fin is! But I spent a good amount of time in Lockwood Library searching all the government documents for any mention of pin fins in the last several years to see what research had been done. I put together a portfolio of a professional literature search for him. He was thrilled, I was thrilled. I had experience in it.

I can't tell you what a pin fin is now; it has something to do with heat transfer. But it was a good experience. I felt like a professional and that was a good way to feel when you're getting ready to go into the work world.