3D printing is a game-changer for mechanical engineers. This summer, Ohio Northern University student Maddie Whitewolf is advancing the technology’s future.
A senior majoring in mechanical engineering, Maddie is interning at FH Münster University of Applied Sciences in Germany, assisting a doctoral student with her research on sustainable, biodegradable, and fiber-reinforced printing materials for 3D printers.
Maddie’s experience is part of RISE Germany, a program funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. RISE offers undergraduate students from North American, British, and Irish universities the opportunity to participate in summer research at top German institutions. In 2026, Maddie was one of 300 students selected for research experiences from more than 3,000 applicants.
“My work consists of manufacturing the filament from raw materials in the chemical lab, 3D printing and injection molding tensile test probes, and completing tensile tests to assess the mechanical properties of the material,” she explains.
It’s a lot of trial and error, which she finds rewarding.
“I enjoy the freedom to try different 3D printing and machining techniques to figure out what works,” she says.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Maddie was always deconstructing or building objects. Her parents even taught her how to use power tools at a young age so she could make furniture. An ONU honors student, she completed an independent research project last fall focused on sustainable 3D printing filaments.
This summer research experience brings together three core passions for Maddie. It builds upon her past research, enables her to explore her interest in German culture, and furthers her desire to “make a tangible impact on the world through sustainable, long-lasting solutions.”
“Through this internship I’ve grown as a person and as an engineer,” she says. “I’ve gained so much confidence and independence by living in an entirely new country by myself.”
