Elevating his manufacturing engineering education through Argonne internships

During his time at Western Michigan University, Joe Funk set out to make the most of his undergraduate studies. Funk found exciting challenges both in the classroom and with experience-driven learning in the many labs at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

“My best experience at Western has been getting to work with my hands in the various labs offered for this major,” says Funk, who is majoring in manufacturing engineering technology. “I enjoy learning the theory and methodologies in lecture but then being able to directly apply these theories to a real-world scenario in a lab.”

This spark for engineering began in high school when Funk worked as a floor sweeper for an automotive shop. Fascinated by the manufacturing of the vehicles being brought in, Funk quickly developed a passion for complex repairs and later worked as a technician at Classic Imports in New Buffalo, Mich.

“During my time as a technician I went from completing basic maintenance to completing entire engine overhauls and drivetrain retrofits,” says Funk.

Projects and activities inside and outside the classroom combined with his work experience and drive helped Funk secure internships for Argonne National Laboratory, a renowned research and development center in Lemont, Ill. In 2024 and 2025, he was a manufacturing engineering intern.

As an intern, he constructed estimates and quotes for work orders using an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, worked to maximize square footage utilization within Argonne’s Central Shops, ensured part quality and dimensional accuracy using a coordinate measuring machine and mass spectrometry, and drafted parts and modifications for customers across the laboratory.

This experience not only furthered Funk’s technical skills but also refined his soft skills by working between scientific disciplines to achieve desired results as a team.

“My favorite moments from this position are hard to pinpoint,” says Funk. “I really enjoyed being able to have freedom on projects and really have the chance to take the reins on many of them.”

Funk attributes much of his success to the professors and staff of WMU including Dr. Robert Tuttle, associate professor, and Mike Konkel, master faculty specialist, both in the Department of Engineering Design and Manufacturing, as well as Ben Carr, academic advisor senior. All three have helped Funk shape his future.

“Joe’s goal has always been to be a hands-on engineer working on advanced technology,” says Tuttle. “His hard work in the classroom and in other internships has translated into his ability to assist Argonne in advancing fundamental science.”

His success at Argonne is rooted in the way he pursues excellence in all of his academic work, including one of his favorite courses.

“After completing Mr. Konkel’s fabrication and assembly course, I can confidently go into the workforce supplied with necessary knowledge of welding engineering and process planning, which was an important part of my role at Argonne,” says Funk. 

He was initially enrolled at another university as an automotive engineering technology major but was drawn to Western for its welcoming atmosphere and experience-driven learning opportunities, including the resources in the manufacturing engineering technology program, which offers the broad skills he needed to build analytical equipment and experimental setups.

“It takes more than theoretical physics to conduct the kind of research Argonne engages in and Joe has embraced that challenge,” says Tuttle.

Looking ahead, Funk hopes to continue expanding his knowledge of the design and manufacturing industry by pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering while also working in the field full-time.

“Overall, my time at Western helped me grow not just as a student, but also as a future engineer, and I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned into my career,” says Funk, who will begin a full-time position as an environmental engineer at U.S. Steel following graduation.

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