Leah Nunez

Responsibilities

During my internship as a DATS Lab Technician Intern at the Digital Apparel Textile Studio at Iowa State University, I operated and maintained digital printing, embroidery, laser cutting, and poster printing equipment. I completed student and faculty orders in a timely manner while ensuring quality and accuracy in production. I was also responsible for cleaning and maintaining machines, organizing inventory supplies, tracking orders and invoices, and communicating professionally with students and faculty to create a welcoming and efficient lab environment.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment during my internship was successfully managing multiple student and faculty orders during a busy period while still maintaining quality and meeting deadlines. This experience helped me improve my time management, organization, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced creative environment.

Learning experience

One of the greatest lessons I learned from my internship experience was the importance of time management and attention to detail in a fast-paced production environment. I also learned how important communication and teamwork are when working with students, faculty, and coworkers to complete projects efficiently. Additionally, I gained a better understanding of how technical production skills and creativity work together in the fashion and textile industry.

What advice would you give?

My advice for future students in this major is to take advantage of every hands-on learning opportunity and be open to trying new skills and technology. Building strong communication, organization, and time management skills is just as important as being creative. I also recommend gaining experience through internships or campus opportunities because they help you build confidence, make connections, and better understand different career paths within the fashion industry.