When Julia Hatfield signed up for high school anatomy, she thought it would just be another science class. Instead, it sparked a journey that led her to a career designing life-saving implants at one of Indiana’s most innovative companies.
Today, Julia works as a development engineer at Zimmer Biomet in Warsaw, Indiana—known worldwide as the orthopedic capital of the world. Her job? Designing patient-matched implants that restore mobility and reduce pain for people facing cancer, fractures, and other conditions that standard implants can’t fix.
“For me, it’s never just about the engineering. It’s about giving someone the ability to hug their kids, return to work, or simply live without pain. That’s what makes this career so meaningful,” Julia says.
Her path wasn’t straight or obvious — and that’s exactly why her story matters to Gen Z students who may be wondering how to find their own careers in Indiana’s advanced industries.
Discovering a Passion for Innovation
Julia grew up in Newport, Michigan, in a family where no one worked in the engineering field. Her dad was a firefighter, her mom a teacher, and most relatives worked blue-collar jobs. Still, she was drawn to math, science, and problem-solving.
When she chose to study bioengineering at the University of Toledo, it wasn’t just the classes that excited her; it was the required co-ops. Those internships provided her with real-world experience in designing implants and conducting research, demonstrating that engineering isn’t just about equations—it’s about making an impact.
“Internships completely shifted my perspective,” Julia says. “They helped me discover my passion, test out real-world problem-solving, and see firsthand how advanced industries shape people’s lives.”
From College to Career in Indiana’s Advanced Industries
After two internships with Zimmer Biomet, Julia knew Indiana was where she wanted to launch her career. Now, as part of the Patient-Matched Implants team, she collaborates directly with surgeons to design custom solutions for patients worldwide.
Unlike traditional engineers who may spend years on a single product, Julia’s work is fast-paced and highly personalized. She currently manages more than 60 active cases simultaneously—each requiring critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication.
“No two projects are ever the same,” Julia says. “From CT scans to 3D models to custom implants, every case pushes me to think differently. The moment I see one of those implants used in surgery, it’s this powerful reminder that my work is changing lives.”
Advice for Others: Creating your Own Pathway
Julia knows many high school students don’t have it all figured out, and that’s okay. She didn’t either. What mattered most was surrounding herself with the right people, staying curious, and being willing to try new things.
Her advice for others considering a future in Indiana’s advanced industries:
Find your circle. Surround yourself with goal-driven individuals who challenge and inspire you to grow.
Embrace mistakes. Every error is a lesson that makes you stronger.
Get hands-on. Internships, shadowing, or even short-term experiences can help you discover what excites you — and what doesn’t.
Why Indiana is the Place to Build Your Future
Indiana is a national leader in advanced industries, including life sciences, agbiosciences, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and technology. These fields are growing, global, and in need of innovators ready to bring new ideas and perspectives.
“Life sciences isn’t just for doctors,” Julia says. “If you love creating, innovating, and solving problems, there’s a place for you. Indiana offers incredible opportunities to turn those skills into a meaningful career.”
For those still shaping their path, Julia’s story shows that curiosity is often the spark—and with persistence, it can ignite a career that transforms lives. Start exploring Indiana’s pathways today!
When Ashley Jeffirs walked onto her college campus, she wasn’t sure what career path she wanted to follow. She knew she loved math and science, but she also knew that biomedical engineering wasn’t the right fit for her.
Instead, Ashley leaned into what she loved most: solving problems, working with her hands, and creating things that matter. That decision set her on a journey to Indiana’s advanced industries, where today she’s making sparks fly—literally.
As a manufacturing engineer in Zimmer Biomet’s foundry, Ashley works in an environment where molten metal at 3,000 degrees is shaped into implants that restore movement and change lives.
“I didn’t picture myself in the foundry, but the moment I worked with metal, I knew it was where I belonged,” Ashley says. “It’s incredible to know the work I do here helps create implants that make a real difference for people everywhere.”
From Small-Town Roots to Big Impact
Ashley grew up in northern Indiana and wanted a college experience that felt personal and close-knit, so she chose Trine University. There, she stumbled across metallurgy and foundry sciences through her minor, and everything clicked.
She first connected with Zimmer Biomet at a career fair, landing an internship that gave her hands-on experience in extremities manufacturing. That taste of real-world engineering gave her the confidence to pursue a full-time career after graduation.
Innovation in Action
Ashley isn’t just working in the foundry; she’s already leaving her mark. She helps oversee the process of investment casting, where wax patterns are transformed into ceramic molds, molten metal is poured, and multiple implants are created simultaneously.
Her contributions have already saved the company time and money. She redesigned a tool to last a full year instead of just three weeks and spearheaded a project that reduced scrap material, saving $383,000.
But for Ashley, success isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about people.
“The best part of my job is being side by side with operators on the floor,” Ashley says. “When they bring me a problem, and together we find a solution, seeing the pride and excitement on their faces reminds me that what I do truly makes a difference.”
Advice for Other Young Adults
Ashley knows many high school students feel uncertain about the future; she was one of them. Her advice:
Be adaptable. “Plans change, and that’s okay.”
Find balance. “Don’t let school or work take over your life.”
Speak up. “Your voice matters, even if you’re the youngest person in the room.”
Planting Roots in Indiana
Indiana is home to powerhouse industries, including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, agbiosciences, logistics, and technology. For Ashley, staying in Indiana has meant being part of global innovation while working close to home.
“You don’t have to leave Indiana to do work that matters,” Ashley says. “Right here, there are opportunities to innovate, solve real problems, and build a career that changes lives.”
Ashley Jeffirs’ journey shows that meaningful careers in Indiana’s advanced industries don’t always start with a clear plan. Sometimes, they begin with curiosity, a willingness to try something new, and the courage to discover where they belong.
Her story is proof: the sparks that fly when you follow your passions can ignite a career that changes lives.
Want to turn your interests into a meaningful, fulfilling career? Explore opportunities in Indiana’s growing industries and discover the connections, programs, and possibilities that can help you See Yourself IN Indiana’s advanced industries. Get started today!
This article was originally published by Field Atlas. Click here to read the original article.
Why did you initially decide to apply to the Agbioscience Mentorship Program (AMP)? What were you hoping to gain from this experience?
Hey, my name is Jean Paul Iyakaremye. I decided to join this AMP program because I wanted to meet a mentor to learn how in industry professionals achieve their goals.
Who is your mentor and how do your skills and interests align with their background?
My mentor is Claudia Nari from Inari Company. Our skills align because I work on plant genetics and the breeding, which is also her specialty. I want to use her expertise to be able to prepare myself for future careers.
What have you learned from your mentor so far this year?
Oh, it’s a lot. From how to plan your career to how to be a good team player and also how to understand that this field is changing very quickly. She taught me how best to adapt to different changes to stay ahead of the game.
What has been your favorite part of this program and experience?
Two, I mainly have two favorite pieces of this program. One is a monthly meeting with my mentor. Another one is how we meet here in Indianapolis as a whole team to interact not only with my mentor but also other professionals.
What is something you would tell any college student or young professional that might be thinking about applying for AMP 2026?
The AMP program is really very useful. One, because they match you with a professional who can help you not only think about your professional life, but also learn from them what they’ve accomplished as a way to inspire you towards what you want to achieve.
Field Atlas AMP is a guided year-long mentorship program that connects late college and early professionals to industry leaders excelling in their field. Fast track your professional journey through impactful mentorship and connection. Apply for a future AMP Cohort here!
For Bryce Maxwell, ‘25, the decision to attend Indiana State University was rooted in family and practicality. Born and raised in Terre Haute, Maxwell chose to pursue a degree from Indiana State because of stories he had heard from family members.
“My mom, my dad, and my older brother all went to Indiana State,” he shares. “I had three great examples of success stories, so I thought I’d stay in my hometown. The tuition was great, and I knew Indiana State was a nice school. I could find my way and figure out what I wanted to do.”
Finding that way, however, took time. Maxwell entered college unsure of his future career plans, initially majoring in finance. “I knew I liked numbers, so I thought, ‘What do numbers go into? Finance,’” he says. It wasn’t until he discovered the business analytics minor—and the mentorship of Dr. Concetta DePaolo—that his path began to take shape.
“I was sitting in her class one day and realized I enjoyed it a lot more than my finance classes,” he recalls. “She showed me how analytics overlapped with supply chain, and that same day, I switched my major.”
Switching majors late could have been challenging, but Maxwell found the supply chain management program to be a welcoming, supportive environment. He quickly built connections with faculty and peers, and through collaborative projects, he gained confidence that he had made the right decision.
“I had no idea what supply chain management was,” he admits. “But supply chain management is in every business. It follows products through the whole production line, and there’s so much you can do.”
When asked what he enjoys most about his major, Maxwell struggles to pick just one thing. “I really enjoy all of it. There are so many parts to supply chain management that once you find a part you like, you can have a completely different experience than someone else. There are so many opportunities and routes you can go down.”
Mentorship played a pivotal role in Maxwell’s Sycamore journey. He credits Dr. DePaolo for her guidance and support, recalling how she spent an hour with him discussing career paths and helping him make the switch from finance to supply chain management. “My favorite class was solving with Excel sheets – taking real-world situations and optimizing them, saving companies money,” he says.
That academic preparation paid off during an internship at Cummins, Inc., in Columbus, Indiana. At Cummins, a global leader in power generation products, Maxwell worked in supply chain planning and analytics – helping set up a new engine line and ensuring all parts were brought in properly. That internship experience led to a full-time job offer after graduation in December.
Maxwell credits Indiana State’s curriculum for preparing him well, especially with its emphasis on analytics and real-world problem-solving. “I felt like from day one, I had a better grasp on what we were doing,” he says. “The real-world examples we worked on in class taught me to think quickly, problem-solve, and adapt – skills that are crucial in supply chain.”
Outside his major, Maxwell found community through club volleyball, playing all four years and forming friendships across the University. “Joining that club took up a lot of time, but it was definitely worth it. I made friends I never would have met otherwise,” he shares.
He describes Indiana State as a community that truly invests in its students’ success – both during college and beyond. His advice to future Sycamores is simple: take advantage of every opportunity.
“Attend networking events, career fairs, and speaker sessions,” he says. “Even if you never talk to someone again, you never know where a conversation might lead. Build your network, build your skills, and be open to learning.”
As Maxwell prepares to graduate and begin his career at Cummins, he reflects with gratitude for the mentors, friendships, and experiences that shaped his Sycamore journey at Indiana State.
“Indiana State cares a lot about its students. Professors give you countless opportunities to learn and grow. They want you to leave here ready to succeed.”
When Eric Wildeman was wrapping up his degree in public relations, advertising and applied communication at the University of Southern Indiana, he didn’t know what he wanted to do next. So, he interviewed with a variety of organizations, one of which happened to be a logistics firm. But it wasn’t what the company did that won him over. It was the way the company did it.
“It was more of the atmosphere that intrigued me,” he says. “It was a true sales floor. Everyone’s on the phone talking out loud, thinking out loud. It reminded me of a mini Wall Street.”
That was half-a-dozen years ago. Now a business development representative at Evansville’s PFL Logistics – which takes care of warehousing and transporting goods for companies – Eric says he continues to get a rush from the high-energy, fast-paced logistics environment.
Days go by quickly, he says, as he helps customers meet their needs and solve problems. For example, he recently helped a customer with a refrigerated product after the delivery truck was turned away at its destination. As scheduled, the shipment was picked up on a Thursday and delivered by 9 a.m. on Friday, but the receiving dock wouldn’t allow it to unload. Keeping the product refrigerated while waiting for a later delivery slot would cost the client a lot of money, Eric says, so he went into action. Juggling phone calls, pulling together documentation and aligning everyone’s objectives, he got the truck a delivery slot before things got too heated.
It was an achievement that leaned a lot on attributes Eric says are important to his job: problem-solving, communicating clearly and frankly, and managing your time while responding to multiple clients’ needs. Eric credits his family upbringing with giving him a work ethic that allows him to enjoy such challenges, along with an ability to communicate with people with varying roles – from the accounting office to the warehouse floor.
It helps that he gets to do this work in familiar territory. The Evansville native is happy that he found a job that allows him to settle with his wife in his hometown, where he now helps to coach the football team at his alma mater, Mater Dei High School.
Despite stumbling into logistics, Eric says he couldn’t imagine doing anything else. He loves the energy at PFL and in his industry. “It’s something different every day,” he says. “You never do the same thing all day or every day … it’s definitely what I was looking for.”
The path that brought Alex Goebel to her job as a lean digital data analyst at AstraZeneca was not a straight one, but it sure seems to have been the right one.
Alex (short for Alexandra) laughs as she describes the course that brought her to where she is today. Coming out of Mount Vernon High School, she considered medicine – helping patients appealed to her – but didn’t like science. She loved math but couldn’t imagine what she would do with a math degree. (Teach, maybe?) In college, she briefly leaned toward actuarial sciences, but an internship diverted her toward accounting.
When she got a scholarship from AstraZeneca, a conversation with Lean Digital Director Keith Rawley led to an internship working in the company’s warehouse. At first, this only muddied the water. “I had no idea how I would fit in there,” Alex says. “I thought, ‘What am I doing in the warehouse?’”
As it turns out, she was defining her path – a path that, in a way, had been there all along.
Growing up, Alex had always known the hometown pharmaceutical manufacturing operation as Bristol-Myers Squibb (it was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2014). She also knew it as the place where her dad worked. “Honestly, I’d hear my dad talk about it and I’d think, ‘That’s cool,’ she says with a chuckle. “But it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
The internship changed that, shattering misperceptions she had about manufacturing and logistics as low-tech and dirty operations. She found a clean, exciting facility where even a math major could contribute.
Still, Alex wasn’t certain AstraZeneca was for her. But as she finished her bachelor’s degree in math and accounting at University of Southern Indiana (USI), she interned at a couple of other places, and soon realized that she liked the people, the culture and the work she found at AstraZeneca. She signed on full-time in 2020 and hasn’t looked back.
That’s not to say she settled into a job and stayed put. In her time with AstraZeneca, Alex has explored new opportunities and received promotions. Encouraged to continue learning, she’s taken advantage of classes and training supported by AstraZeneca and also earned her MBA from USI.
Happy to find such a good job in her hometown, where she enjoys hanging out with familiar friends, boating and spending time with family, Alex likes that being with a pharmaceutical firm takes her back to her early passion (“I’ve still got a way to help patients,” she says), and concedes that it is fun to work where her dad works.
So, she plans to stay with AstraZeneca … but not necessarily on a clearly defined path. “I have a career path that I see myself going down, but it’s changed every couple of years,” she says. “One thing about AstraZeneca is, they just surprise me all the time.”
This article was originally published by Field Atlas. Click here to read the original article.
Why did you initially decide to apply to the Agbioscience Mentorship Program (AMP)? What were you hoping to gain from this experience?
My name is Sophia Chaplin. When I applied in for the AMP program, I was a senior Ball State. One of the biggest reasons that I did it was because of all the amazing people that I would get to connect with and experiences that I would have, whether it was just a quick passive conversation or a formal one-on-one conversation. Needless to say, it fully lived up to my expectations.
You know, I went into it really open-minded. Obviously, it’s new program. So I was really excited to be the guinea pig on something that was launching off the ground. But one of the biggest takeaways that I wanted was genuinely just to have that person that I can lean on, whether it’s, hey, read my resume, or hey, I’m really having a bad week. It’s finals week, and I need somebody to lift me up. Robyn, my mentor, has been amazing throughout the entire process.
Who is your mentor and how do your skills and interests align with their background?
My mentor is Robyn Heine. Her and I work in completely different industries, but both of which are very people forward. So, you know, where she’s more on like the tech and startup side of things, I’m actually in real estate. We’re both in very people forward roles and she’s been an awesome asset to have, whether it was getting that job or, you know, finding those skills within myself and applying them in my career.
What have you learned from your mentor so far this year?
Be comfortable being uncomfortable. She’s really pushed me to lean into the things that might seem scary in the moment, but those are the biggest learning opportunities you’re going to have. And she’s just a phone call away, whether, like I said, if it’s just a quick conversation of, I’m having a bad day and I really need somebody to talk to, or, hey, I just got this really great job opportunity, what do you think? So yeah, I adore her, she’s been amazing.
What has been your favorite part of this program and experience?
Everything seems so cliche, but genuinely, I mean every step of the way, whether it was growing those relationships throughout these last couple of months to sitting down and having those dinners with all of the different people and their different trades and networking. I’ve met so many people and made so many connections on LinkedIn or Instagram that I’m able to see what they’re doing in their careers, and it’s been really inspiring.
What is something you would tell any college student or young professional that might be thinking about applying for AMP 2026?
Jump jump jump. I mean whether it’s this experience or you know just meeting those people do it because you’re going to make so many of these amazing networking opportunities and meet so many cool people within AMP or even you know connections with people who the AMP individuals might have connections to. Just write your own book and this is just one chapter that I think will be so impactful for many.
Field Atlas AMP is a guided year-long mentorship program that connects late college and early professionals to industry leaders excelling in their field. Fast track your professional journey through impactful mentorship and connection. Apply for a future AMP Cohort here!
Mackenzie Mulherin went off to college planning to heal people. It turns out her destiny was to heal the planet.
A sustainability project manager in consumer packaging at Evansville’s Berry Global, Mackenzie spends her days working with teams seeking to increase the sustainability of things like plastic drink cups and lids, food packaging and beauty and personal care tubes. Recently, for example, she was excited to announce that her division had just introduced a Wendy’s drink cup made with 20% recycled material, a product that is a trendsetter in the industry.
Consumer packaging was not where Mackenzie saw her future when she entered the University of Southern Indiana. “I started out in nursing,” she says, “but learned that I love marketing. I really love to do that.”
Mackenzie wasn’t out of college long before she set her sights on a job at Berry Global. Growing up in Evansville, she was aware of the company and its reputation as a good employer, and she had some friends who worked there. So, after getting jobs in marketing for smaller firms in the area, she started connecting with people on LinkedIn and networking with colleagues who knew people at Berry Global. The approach worked. She got hired in 2021.
“I just did some things that stood out,” Mackenzie says. “I was able to build up work experience and relevant skills through my past roles, but my network of professional relationships and ability to follow up helped set me apart.”
Sustainability is a multifaceted career, Mackenzie says, that includes everything from the technical engineering of products to the kind of work she does, which often includes working with Berry customers to help them achieve their sustainability goals and provide products that are meaningful to their consumers.
With Berry Global, there are a lot of those customers of customers, Mackenzie points out, as the company makes such a wide range of products. In fact, it is estimated that the average consumer touches a Berry Global product as many as five times a day. It’s not uncommon, she adds, to see Berry Global employees in the grocery store looking at the bottom of yogurt cups and lotion bottles to check for the Berry Global logo.
Citing her career path as an example, Mackenzie encourages other young people to keep open minds, pursue their goals and take risks. She never imagined she would end up in sustainability when she was in college, and she’s delighted to have a job that allows her to help provide for her family and make a real difference in the world.
“I get to do both,” Mackenzie says. “I get to contribute to my family’s income and positively impact the environment.”
From Carmel High School to Purdue University to Allison Transmission, Vincent Mai’s journey shows how curiosity and initiative can lead to a thriving career in Indiana’s advanced industries.
Vincent, what first got you interested in engineering?
In high school, I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do. However, robotics was the turning point—it gave me the confidence to pursue a career in engineering.
What classes helped shape your career path?
Definitely the Project Lead the Way courses. Those intro engineering classes, digital electronics, and engineering principles showed me the basics. They provided me with a solid foundation for pursuing a STEM career in Indiana.
How did you land your first role with Allison Transmission?
Funny enough, Allison was a sponsor of my high school robotics team. Later, at Purdue’s Industrial Roundtable, I reconnected with them. That led to two internships—one in 2017 and one in 2018. After that second internship, I knew I wanted to be there full-time.
What do you do today as a Control Systems Engineer?
The easiest way to describe it is a software engineer with extra responsibilities. Some days I’m coding and designing; other days I’m out on test trucks or public roads testing the systems we’ve built. It’s a great mix of analysis, software development, and hands-on application.
What skills have been most valuable in your career?
Communication is huge. When I’m working with peers, they want technical detail. But leaders often just want the big picture. Knowing how to adapt your communication style is essential in advanced industries.
What lessons would you share with students or young professionals exploring STEM careers in Indiana?
I’d share three things:
Be open-minded. Don’t lock yourself into one idea too early.
Be flexible. Life will throw curveballs—be willing to adjust.
Take initiative. Speak up about your interests so people can help you grow.
Looking back, what stands out most about your journey?
That you don’t need to have it all figured out. I thought I’d go into aerospace or maybe medical technology. Instead, I found a career in advanced manufacturing and automotive right here in Indiana—and I love it.
If you love problem-solving, design, and teamwork, manufacturing and advanced industries in Indiana might be the perfect fit for you. Explore opportunities and discover your path through See Yourself IN!
When Vincent Mai joined his high school robotics team in Carmel, Indiana, he didn’t know it would set him on the path to a career in one of Indiana’s most important advanced industries—automotive manufacturing.
“I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do in high school,” Vincent recalls. “I knew I liked engineering and technical work, but robotics gave me the confidence to pursue it as a career.”
That passion carried him to Purdue University, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering—a field he describes as the “jack of all trades” that opens doors to careers across industries.
A Career That Started in High School
Vincent’s favorite classes were the Project Lead the Way courses, where he learned the principles of digital electronics and engineering basics. “Those classes showed me what STEM careers in Indiana could look like,” he says.
Through robotics, he also met professionals from Allison Transmission, an Indianapolis-based leader in advanced manufacturing and automotive technology. That early connection turned into two internships during college—hands-on experiences that shaped his career.
“I interned at Allison in 2017 and 2018. By the end of that second summer, I knew it was where I wanted to be full-time,” Vincent says.
From Internships to Engineering
Today, Vincent works as a Control Systems Engineer at Allison Transmission, developing and testing software that powers vehicles worldwide.
“My role is like being a software engineer with extra responsibilities,” he explains. “Some weeks I’m coding and designing at my desk. Other weeks, I’m on the test track, putting that software into trucks and evaluating performance.”
For Vincent, this combination of design, implementation, and real-world testing makes his career dynamic—and deeply rewarding.
Lessons for the Next Generation
Vincent has three lessons for anyone exploring how to start a career in engineering or Indiana’s advanced industries:
Be open-minded. “Try new things—you never know what opportunities will open up.”
Stay flexible. “Plans change, and that’s okay. Sometimes you discover you like a different path.”
Take initiative. “If there’s something you’re passionate about, tell your managers and mentors. That’s how you create your own opportunities.”
Building a Future in Indiana
Although Vincent once considered aerospace or medical engineering, advanced manufacturing and automotive jobs in Indiana proved to be the right fit.
“Indiana has so many opportunities in advanced industries,” he says. “I started with robotics in high school, built skills at Purdue, and now I’m working on real-world solutions right here at home. You can absolutely build a career you love—right here in Indiana.”
Want to turn your interests into a meaningful, fulfilling career? Explore opportunities in Indiana’s growing industries and discover the connections, programs, and possibilities that can help you See Yourself IN Indiana’s advanced industries. Get started today!
