Photo By Kelcy Hanson | Emma Linde, Environmental Civil Engineer, tours Dresden Lock and Dam near Channahon,...... read more read more
After completing two years as a student trainee, Emma Linde, Environmental Civil Engineer, continued her journey with the Rock Island District as a full-time employee. Originally from Lewisville, Texas, Linde attended Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering in May 2023.
Growing up, Linde was exposed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers because her mother works for the Ft. Worth District and she was familiar with seeing many of the USACE water safety messages.
“When looking into what I wanted my career to look like, I liked that USACE tends to have a wide range of projects,” said Linde. “To me, that means there’s always something new to learn, whether it be a different section perspective or a different project entirely.”
She started as a student trainee during the summer of 2021. It was a very interesting time to start a new job, with COVID-19 restrictions in place and most co-workers teleworking. The summer experience was so positive, that she joined the District again during the summer of 2022.
“I enjoyed that my coworkers often put me on a variety of project and site visits,” said Linde “There were multiple occasions that they invited me to join them in meetings and/or on projects.”
Linde spent her summers providing support to the main technical leads, where needed. A few examples of her work included writing operations and maintenance manuals, helping answer requests for information, ensuring documents had proper signatures and helping write habitat rehabilitation and enhancement project site inspection reports. Most of these tasks are similar to the duties she is assigned to today as a permanent member of the team, and her goal is to become a technical lead in the future.
Working with co-workers that went through the student trainee program and transitioned into full-time employment, made it easier for Linde to navigate the process. It gave her the chance to see what the full-time position was going to look like, how duties were assigned and made her familiar with the projects. Although this took place in bits and pieces, it played a large part in helping her decide to stay with the Rock Island District.
When asked about her experience thus far in the Rock Island District, Linde says, “I love my co-workers and I love how passionate they all are about their jobs. They’ve also been a great support system to me as well. I feel very comfortable asking anyone in my section for help or advice.”
Currently, Linde is working on the dewatered lock project at Dresden Island Lock and Dam in Channahon, Illinois, which has become one of her most memorable projects. It has been a once in a lifetime opportunity, especially since she is currently working night shifts to assist construction as planned.
When asked what advice she would give another student looking to work with the District, she replied, “Trying to improve and learn is half the battle. People can tell when an honest effort is being given. My job as a trainee, was to learn as much as possible to provide the best support.”
Outside of work, you can find Linde putting together difficult jigsaw puzzles- less than 1000 pieces is too easy! She enjoys getting outdoors on nicer days and playing PC/Switch games in her downtime. Linde has been trying to find more time to read, now that she isn’t a full-time student anymore.
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2023 15:01 |
| Story ID: | 453900 |
| Location: | ROCK ISLAND, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 211 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Environmental Civil Engineer Finds Full-time Employment, by Kelcy Hanson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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