Advanced Energy Welcomes Thomas Hanson as a Motors and Drives Co-op

Advanced Energy is excited to welcome Thomas Hanson as a new motors and drives co-op through NC State University’s Cooperative Education Program. Thomas grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and moved to Raleigh to attend NC State. He is currently a junior studying industrial and systems engineering.

Thomas entered NC State knowing he wanted to pursue engineering, but he kept his options open. He eventually settled on the industrial path because he liked its focus on the science of efficiency and the importance of more general problem-solving.

When Thomas began exploring co-op opportunities, Advanced Energy seemed like a great fit. It would allow him to obtain valuable experience and broaden his skills to mechanical and electrical engineering. He joined the motor lab a couple of weeks ago and has been quickly learning the ropes from the rest of the team. In his new role, Thomas is helping to handle, align, test and log motors, using software to record the relevant data. In all, he will spend three rotations in the lab, gaining independence and additional responsibilities along the way.

In his spare time, Thomas likes to stay physically active, so you’ll probably find him playing sports or working out when he has the opportunity. He also enjoys making music and cooking.

The co-op program is a win-win for all involved: Thomas will develop knowledge he can use down the road, and the motors and drives group gets to mentor future engineers and continue to grow its work.