Student employees are an integral part of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE) lab team. Lindsay Davis, a senior pursuing a double major in polymer and color chemistry and chemical engineering, currently serves as a lab assistant in the ZTE Dyeing and Finishing Lab. In this role, she works with a variety of state-of-the-art textile machinery.

“It’s been really helpful to learn the concepts in class, learn about the machines in class, and then actually get to apply that knowledge,” Davis says.

Davis learned about the position through one of her lab professors, who connected her with ZTE Research Operation Manager Jeff Krauss. The opportunity to work under Krauss has been one of the most valuable parts of Davis’ tenure as a lab assistant. 

“[Jeff] is really knowledgeable about this kind of stuff, so it’s super cool to see somebody who’s been doing it for so many years, adjusting and figuring things out within the lab,” Davis says.

Day-to-day in the lab

In this position, Davis engages with a diverse group of clientele, from Wilson College students to industry professionals. On the student side of the job, Davis assists with Senior Design projects, research projects and even course labs. This experience has helped her hone her practical lab skills and gain a deeper understanding of different textile processes.

“It’s been really helpful to learn the concepts in class, learn about the machines in class, and then actually get to apply that knowledge and apply the work,” Davis says.

The opportunity to collaborate with industry clients has also been eye-opening for her. These projects often start on the sample size machines, where Davis and Krauss plan out all of the necessary steps to get to the desired end goal. The process is then scaled up and applied to the industrial machines, allowing Davis to become well versed in both styles of machinery.

“I enjoy the larger projects that involve a variety of textile machinery because they give me more hands-on experience with industrial equipment. Screen printing t-shirts in the lab is also one of my favorite projects because it’s both fun and practical,” she says.

Opportunities In ZTE

Working in the Dyeing and Finishing lab has connected Davis with students, faculty and industry partners she may never have had the opportunity to meet without this position. Being in the lab on a regular basis has also given her the chance to work on her technical skills and understanding of textile processes before she goes into the industry. 

“I would definitely encourage other students to take the opportunity to work in the labs that we have on campus. They are really, really beneficial and you do get to learn a lot,” Davis says.

The Zeis Textiles Extension has a variety of positions open to Wilson College students to gain hands-on experiences in their labs. Students can find ZTE student work opportunities posted on ePACK or the Zeis Textiles Extension’s LinkedIn page.