My name is Braden Webb, and I am a senior studying computer science and mathematics in the College of Engineering at Wichita State. Since a young age, I’ve been fascinated by transportation – planes, trains, busses, you name it. When traveling, I’m always excited to explore a new place using the available public transit. In doing so, I’ve grown a desire to learn more about how transit systems are planned, operated, and kept running on time.

Almost four years ago, I began college at WSU with this unique passion for public transportation, but little knowledge about how to turn it into a potential career. I decided to study computer science, since I already had some baseline skills in programming and enjoyed problem-solving. It is only through applied learning opportunities that I have recently been able to merge the skills I have learned in the classroom with my interest in how to efficiently move people from A to B. This summer, I had an incredible experience working as an intern with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in Washington, DC. As America’s 3^rd largest transit agency, WMATA provides train, bus, and mobility services to nearly one million people every single day.

In my day-to-day work with WMATA this summer, I led a data analysis project for the Office of Work Planning and Maintenance Improvement, which involved synthesizing GPS data from rail maintenance equipment to quantify equipment placement and utilization metrics. As a result, my work is having a direct impact on minimizing disruptions to passenger service. This project gave me a platform to diversify my programming skills by developing new knowledge in data collection, processing, and user-interface development.

Throughout the summer, I connected with dozens of industry professionals and made lifelong friends with the other interns in my department. Outside of my work duties, I also had the chance to complete a group research project with other interns into how artificial intelligence could be used to improve WMATA’s operations. My group presented ways AI could be leveraged to improve passenger navigation tools, which is an area that I am particularly interested in. This experience allowed me to also improve my teamwork, research, and presentation skills.

Lastly, I also had the incredible opportunity to tour many different behind-the-scenes parts of WMATA, such as the train control center, railcar maintenance facility, and the construction site for one of the new Purple Line stations. While I thought I had an idea of the scale of a transit agency like WMATA, I was blown away by how many departments, employees, and facilities are required to ensure that transportation in DC is kept reliable and safe.

My experience with WMATA is everything that I hoped it would be and more. From this experience, I can speak firsthand about the value of seeking out applied learning opportunities. If you are unsure about the industry you want to work in or the type of work you want to pursue, applied learning is a great way to “test the waters” and help guide your career choice. As someone who has a very particular passion, applied learning has allowed me to form valuable connections with industry professionals and other students who share my same passion for transportation.

I found the opportunity to work with WMATA just by researching on my own. I had the chance to study abroad in London in summer of 2023. After spending months exploring London on public transit, I decided that I wanted to try to land an internship with a transit agency for summer 2024. Knowing that, I researched all of the transit agencies that I knew about and ended up applying for and interviewing with WMATA.

Through my WMATA experience, I have learned a lot about what works well for me. While every person is different, I’d like to share a few pieces of advice that may be helpful for those interested in applied learning.

• Use your summers. Many companies offer full-time summer internship roles. Summer internships allow you to be fully immersed in a position without having to balance school and work responsibilities.
• Do your research, and don’t just hit ‘Apply.’ Before you apply for opportunities, I recommend thinking about what your goals are and what kind of work you want to do. Then, research the opportunities that fulfill those goals and focus your energy on just those positions. I have found that narrowing your search space before applying can make the process less stressful.
• Do what you’re passionate about. Interviews are a lot less stressful if you are genuinely excited and passionate about the opportunity. For internships especially, interviewers will pick up on your excitement and personality, which can often make a bigger difference than any skills you bring to the table.
• Tailor your resume. Spend the extra time to make a specific resume for each opportunity you apply for. When I applied for WMATA, I organized my resume to highlight my interest in transportation and relevant skills. This extra effort can go a long way in making you stand out.

Finally, I am excited to be continuing my internship with WMATA remotely as I complete my senior year at WSU. I will be improving upon the work I completed this summer and exploring new ways to provide useful analytics to the Office of Work Planning to guide maintenance scheduling decisions on the Metro system. I will also be applying the skills I gained with WMATA to my senior design project at WSU. My group is working to create a navigation app for the bus system in Wichita. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to intern with WMATA and am more excited than ever to see where I end up after graduation.

---

Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.

For more information, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visit wichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita State campus.