Meet Sarah Mah
For senior packaging major and fine art minor Sarah Mah, packaging engineering enables her to combine her passion for engineering and the visual arts. The School of Engineering’s packaging community, with its opportunities for personal interactions with professors and invaluable advising and guidance, both impresses and inspires her.
Why Rutgers?
When selecting a university, I prioritized a strong engineering program and the flexibility to pursue a minor in visual arts. Rutgers offered an excellent engineering program, ample opportunities for double majors and minors, and the convenience of being close to home.
What drew you to packaging?
After initially considering mechanical engineering, I switched to packaging engineering because of the creative freedom it offered. The turning point was my introduction to packaging through the Packjam student design competition, where I discovered a passion for its diverse opportunities.
My main focus within packaging engineering is innovating at the intersection of sustainability, optimization, and efficiency, driven by a desire to merge art, design, engineering, and problem-solving. Additionally, I value the close-knit packaging engineering community.
What impresses you about the faculty?
I am truly impressed by the level of passion and dedication exhibited by the faculty members in our packaging engineering program. Their enthusiasm for the subjects they teach serves as a great source of inspiration.
Have you been involved in any special projects?
During the summer after my freshman year, I participated in the Rutgers MBS Externship Exchange program. I conducted corporate-sponsored research for the Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency (CAOE). I interviewed industry professionals, analyzed data, and presented my findings, and gained valuable hands-on experience and enhanced my leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills. I highly recommend this program to fellow students looking to kickstart their professional journey and network with industry leaders.
Have you had any co-op internships?
In fall 2022, I had a co-op at Colgate-Palmolive, focusing on sustainability and innovation in packaging. I designed 3D models using Solidworks, 3D printed prototypes, worked on inventing sustainable toothpaste packaging, and led innovation workshops.
During spring 2023, at Johnson & Johnson Consumer (Kenvue), I took on my second co-op, organizing a vast product portfolio using Excel, developed a cost-saving mathematical equation for product shippers, conducted packaging evaluations, and led educational sessions for my team.
I am currently at Mondelēz International, where I work on developing dielines and artwork using Adobe Illustrator, create physical mockups, and collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional teams to support various packaging projects.
What advice do you have for future students?
Take initiative! If you’re interested in and extremely passionate about something, make time for it. Always find a way to incorporate your passions into your work and it will make a positive impact on your career and the people around you.
What three words best describe your SoE experience?
Diverse. Challenging. Opportunity.
