People Feature
As a student at The Ohio State University, Nicola Glanvill had the knowledge to succeed in her field but hadn’t had the chance to apply it in a professional setting. So, when her professor recommended Worthington Steel’s corporate materials science internship, her curiosity was piqued.
“I remember sitting there thinking, ‘This is a job that’s related to what I study, plus it was close to school and home.’ My professor had great things to say about the company, so I applied.” Glanvill said.
She applied as a sophomore and soon found herself working in Worthington Steel’s corporate materials lab, which provides technical support and consulting for the company’s customers, engineers and metallurgists.
As her internship progressed, Glanvill wasn’t just learning the ropes, she was laying the foundation for a successful career in materials science. Now, as a full-time materials scientist, she leads a range of projects in the lab.
“I really felt the internship complemented my education,” she said. “It helped reinforce certain concepts from class while also giving me real job experience.”
Learning Through Experience
From the beginning of her career journey, Glanvill wasn’t just shadowing others – she was contributing to larger initiatives. As she gained confidence with the lab’s specialized equipment and procedures, she took on more complex assignments that allowed her to apply her education.
One of her early responsibilities involved creating the procedure for a new mounting press, a tool used to encase steel samples in resin for microscopic analysis.
“Our previous mounting press wasn’t performing well,” she said. “So, I tested different temperatures, pressures and durations until we had consistent results. Now, that procedure is uploaded in our lab system for others to use.”
Her favorite project came when the team needed to develop a safe and effective way to polish and etch commercially pure titanium welds – a unique challenge for the lab. Glanvill volunteered to take the lead and help the team reach the finish line.
“I was responsible for researching different methods and equipment to develop a procedure that would work with our lab’s capabilities,” she said. “After a lot of research and trial runs, I perfected a chemical polish that resulted in a smooth, scratch-free surface that gave us exactly what we needed.”
Thanks to her work, the lab now has a go-to procedure for future titanium samples, an outcome that showcased her technical expertise and ability to problem solve, contributing to lasting value.
Glanvill, right, holding a steel sample encased in resin.
Building with Integrity
What stood out most during her internship, and continues to define her full-time role today, is the lab’s culture of trust, support and integrity.
“We don’t give our interns busy work,” said George Keller, principal scientist and manager of the corporate materials laboratory. “When they come out of this program, they’re well-versed in what metallurgists do. That’s part of putting people first.”
Glanvill agrees. She said the encouragement she’s received from coworkers has given her the confidence to ask questions, try new approaches and grow through trial and error.
“There’s a lot of integrity behind our work,” she said. “We report our results truthfully, even if they’re negative. Building that trust goes a long way, not only with my coworkers, but with the company as a whole.”
Glanvill pictured left with Matthew Duffey, materials scientist at Worthington Steel.
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Embracing the Unknown
As she continues to build upon her technical expertise as a full-time materials scientist, Glanvill is already looking toward what’s next. She’s eager to deepen her skills in investigative work and failure analysis and is exploring ways to further her education through Worthington Steel’s tuition reimbursement program.
Reflecting on her experience so far, she encourages others to embrace change and pursue new challenges.
“When I was first offered the internship in 2023, I was nervous. I hadn’t worked in a lab before and didn’t have hands-on experience,” she said. “But I took the leap, and I’ve learned so much during my time here. So don’t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone. I’m so glad I did.”