Yogashri Umesh Pradhan – Production Engineer at Devon Energy
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EDUCATION:
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I enjoyed working with my peers on challenging projects in our reservoir simulation course. Through collaboration and perseverance, we were able to display our understanding of concepts while developing relationships conducive to our careers. I graduated with my BS in Petroleum Engineering in May 2015. I had the privilege to work with peers and professors in the UT PGE department. For leadership, I served as a student engineering council representative for UT SPE, the president of Women in Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, and the captain of UT's Petrobowl team in 2014. For my senior year, I advanced in all three levels of the BS Division of SPE's Student Paper Contest and won the international division at the 2015 ATCE conference. These opportunities and achievements would not have been possible without the mentors and teammates I have had in the department and in internships. The SPE-GCS scholarship helped make my education at UT affordable and opened many doors for networking opportunities. Some recruiters and peers knew my name due to the scholarship before actually meeting me. I did not know I developed a positive personal brand through the scholarship, increasing my chances for interviews and internship offers. The scholarship made me realize how supportive the SPE-GCS community is, and it encouraged me to not only pursue my passion in petroleum engineering but also solidify professional relationships within SPE. I therefore wanted to work for a company that encouraged SPE involvement and contribution. I chose a company where the employees hold various positions within the local SPE chapter, and I am glad to say that I made that choice. My advice to students is to never stop learning and ask a lot of questions. Discuss not only with those in the same oil and gas disciplines as you are but also gain feedback from others. You will meet people from various backgrounds in the industry, and it is important to gain varied exposure. You will also need to look forward to working with others with different learning and communication styles and put yourself in environments out of your comfort zone. Those experiences will help you grow and become successful.