10 Qs for Apple Intern Ana Diaz-Santos

Jan. 15, 2024 - Ana Diaz-Santos is taking a break from student life to do a one-year internship at Apple as a materials product design engineer. She’s a materials science and engineering student at UC Irvine, and before going to Apple, was also an undergraduate researcher at UCI’s Advanced Casting Research Center.

Tell us what you do as materials product design engineer at Apple.

The focus of my work is designing experiments and carrying them out to improve the quality of glass and ceramics. As you know, Apple has glass on most of their products. We are looking to improve the strength and have a better user appeal.

How do you like working there?

It’s wonderful, something unlike anything else I’ve experienced. They give you so much freedom to not just explore what you want to explore but also a lot of responsibility in the sense that I’m in charge of my own projects.

Why do you think you were selected for this internship?

I’m honestly surprised I got it. I wasn’t sure the offer letter was real when I got it. But I think they valued my sense of curiosity and determination for wanting not just to know the material at a fundamental level but to push myself to know everything about it and always be hungry for knowledge and for learning.

(Editor’s Note: UCI has an Engineering + Practicum program that allows students to incorporate internships into their student experience)

How did your interest in materials science begin?

I took an Intro to Materials course at Southwestern College. I actually applied as a transfer student to UCI as a mechanical engineering major. Materials science was my second option, which I got into. I love this school and love Aldrich Park so I decided to go to UCI.  I tried switching majors, but I guess this was one of the best “mistakes” in my life because I found a major I’m truly passionate about. Materials science is hands on. In my labs, everything I’m working on is in front of me on a daily basis.

How did you find research opportunities as an undergraduate?

I got into the Experimental Mechanics Lab at San Diego State University through a program at Southwestern College. That was my introduction to materials science. I was able to work with polymers. For the Advanced Casting Research Center at UCI, center director Distinguished Professor Diran Apelian was my mentor and after hearing about his projects, I told him I was excited by metallurgy and joined the lab. I’ve enjoyed it so much.

Where does your confidence come from?

I’m not sure. My parents have always taught me to go through things with the mentality of, if you think you can, you will. On top of that, just a lot of self-reflection and awareness of who I am and who I want to be. A lot of that I credit it to Diran Apelian’s Essential Skills course. I highly recommend that class. We had weekly journaling assignments that gave me an excuse to reflect about where I’m lacking and where I want to be, keeping that North Star in mind. He would bring in CEOs to share their life stories and they were so inspiring as it gives you perspective that the obstacles we go through are so insignificant in the long run. It’s just a mental thing at the end of the day.

Also, the books “Mindset” by Carol Dweck and “Howard’s Gift: Uncommon Wisdom to Inspire Your Life’s Work” by Eric Sinoway and Merrill Meadow have had a profound impact on my perspective on life.

Tell us about your family and how they’ve influenced you.

Both my parents have worked really hard to get where they are. They speak of times when they didn’t have enough resources to fund their schooling. My grandpa is a journalist and my grandma would sew blank newspapers together to make notebooks for my dad when he was in school. My dad is an electrical engineer and was able to get a work visa to come here from Mexico. They have been successful here. It was inspiring to see them overcome obstacles to get to where they are now. So if my parents can make it from the ground up, I think why can’t I do half as well from my starting point, which is much more privileged.

Any encouraging words for new engineering students?

Keep pushing through even if at times engineering doesn’t feel right for you. With enough determination and curiosity, you’ll get through it.

I didn’t get into any of the schools I applied to from high school, so I went to study in Mexico for a semester but then came back to Southwestern College. I had defeating thoughts like, “I was such a good student in high school, what am I doing here?” But it doesn’t matter the path you’ve taken – you can excel anywhere you are if you put your mind to it.

How are you enjoying Cupertino?

It’s beautiful. It’s just like Orange County but a bit colder and a little more humid which is perfect weather for me. Just the views – there are so many great hikes here. Lake Tahoe is otherworldly and only three hours away. I like to go snowboarding there.

Aspirations for your future career?

My biggest aspiration is really to make a difference. If someone’s going to make a push for the next stage of what we know today, why not me? I want to be at the forefront of innovation.

- Natalie Tso