STEM exploration, career flexibility essential to Owen O’Neil #TeamWACKER

Science, technology, engineering, and math is critical in the chemical industry. To continue celebrating STEM - National STEM Day was last week – we talked with Owen O’Neil, one of our commercial rotational program (CRP) analysts. Owen shared his journey as a STEM professional, his inspiration to pursue a career in STEM, and the real-world impacts he is delivering by leveraging his STEM background.

Tell us about yourself.

My first rotation as an analyst in WACKER’s CRP was with the BioSolutions team testing how cyclodextrin can affect the properties in gummies. Now, I am part of the SP-2 (performance-solutions) team working on multiple marketing projects. My new responsibility is to conduct market research and gather data to identify market expansion opportunities for WACKER's heat transfer fluid products.

What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM?

I’ve always been pragmatic, and I enjoy working hands-on with a problem and visualizing solutions. Growing up, I worked on many math problems with my Dad – who, as a teacher, helped me build a strong foundation. STEM gave me an opportunity to pair my analytical skills to areas of science and nature that I love, such as fishing and spending time outdoors. After completing STEM courses in high school and college, I realized how much room there is for exploration within this field, allowing for flexibility in my career path.  

What has been the most exciting/rewarding part of working at WACKER?

Every day is different as a CRP analyst. I get to work on a wide range of projects, from data mining to market research and even lab work. Seeing a project mature from the data-mining stage to a comprehensive picture of the market landscape is rewarding.

Also, WACKER has a strong focus on creating sustainable products. The company constantly tests for innovative solutions to make our manufacturing process greener. For example, the BioSolutions team emphasizes creating chemicals such as cyclodextrin through biocatalysis, which is more sustainable than chemical synthesis. So, being part of a company that cares about creating a safer and more sustainable world is exciting.

The company does not use sustainability simply as a marketing tool, rather WACKER takes real actions to create a more sustainable future.

Can you give any advice to future STEM students?

Appreciate how large this area of study is. There are many great directions to choose, so keep your options open. Once you think you have chosen a major, set aside some time to either shadow a professional or get a job/internship in the profession that you would like to work in. Based on your experience, you’ll know if this is an area of study you want to pursue further.