“The internship experience help(s) with schoolwork moving forward. The real-world application gives you a much better understanding of how the theoretical concepts actually work in practice.”
By Keri DeTore, PND Senior Marketing Coordinator
Hans Wendler began his summer internship at PND Engineers, Inc. (PND) in Anchorage, Alaska, with a passion for infrastructure and urban planning; he came away with a broader perspective on how different engineering disciplines connect to build the infrastructure that shapes our communities.
A Global Education, With Local Applications
Hans, who is proficient in English, German, and Mandarin, grew up in China before moving to the Pacific Northwest. The 22-year-old master’s student also has lived in Canada, Germany, Italy, and Thailand. He originally planned to study urban planning at the University of Washington (UW).
“I’ve always been interested in infrastructure and urban planning,” said Hans, who earned his civil engineering degree from UW in 2026 and currently is working toward his master’s degree in structural engineering. “I find organizing societies fascinating, particularly in regard to how cities should function.”
Hands-on Experience
A former deckhand on the 90-foot-long Motor Yacht Diego on Lake Union in Seattle, Hans, naturally, also enjoys working with his hands―driving the yacht, repairing the diesel engines, sanding/finishing the deck. He even designed and installed a new water system in the boathouse.
“Civil engineering seemed like the perfect fit,” he said, “because I could learn the math and engineering principles behind our civil infrastructure.”
Hans discovered PND’s internship opportunity at the UW Career Fair, and he jumped at the chance to experience an Alaska summer and its midnight sun.
Multidisciplinary Opportunities at PND
Hans was immediately exposed to PND’s diverse multidisciplinary range of services. He completed calculations for steel and reinforced concrete design packages, and he collaborated with senior engineers on metocean data collection and analyses, geotechnical investigations, excavation plans, and CAD drafting drawings. Exploring all of PND’s various capabilities opened Hans’ eyes to possibilities he hadn’t previously considered.
“I don’t want to be completely cemented in structural design,” he said. “I enjoyed getting to learn about all facets of PND’s projects in Alaska.”
A Culture of Mentorship and Balance
PND’s mentorship culture was crucial to Hans’ positive experience. He was asked to help engineers-in-training with their calculations, which felt like a vote of confidence in his own capabilities.
“Everyone was incredibly patient with me and showed lots of compassion,” said Hans, who interned a second summer this year in PND’s Seattle Eastlake office. “I was nervous the first week (in 2025), but everyone helped me get comfortable fast.”
Beyond professional growth, Hans found a healthy work-life balance that allowed him to explore his surroundings during his Alaska summer. Without a car, he biked extensively around Anchorage and made friends who helped him venture farther afield, including fishing, flying, and camping trips.
“Alaska really is a beautiful state, and I wanted to dive into and understand the state where most of my projects were taking place,” he said.
Connecting Learning to Doing
The internship also reinforced the connection between classroom learning and professional practice. Hans applied his studies to his internship, and now his internship experience is shaping how he approaches his classwork.
In Seattle for his second PND summer, Hans received the opportunity to dive deeper into marine structural design and build on the lessons learned during his previous summer internship.
“After working at PND these last two summers, I realized how much more there is to learn about structural engineering practice; so I will be returning to the University of Washington to pursue a 2-year master’s degree. Afterwards, I look forward to building positive impact by designing, maintaining, and analyzing our critical infrastructure.”
For engineering students considering internships, Hans’ experience demonstrates the value of being open to different disciplines and specialties. Finding your niche involves exploring the full spectrum of what the civil engineering field has to offer; PND encourages you to enjoy the journey along the way.