University of Rhode Island

I'm Calli Dunn, a rising senior at the University of Rhode Island pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. After graduation, I plan to pursue a master's degree in Ocean or Civil Engineering with a focus on coastal infrastructure. Through my coursework and involvement in URI's Coastal Engineering Research Lab, I've developed a strong interest in coastal resilience, structural engineering, and nature-based solutions to flooding. These experiences prepared me for my summer internship with Baird & Associates as a Coastal Engineering Intern in their New York City office. 

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Baird & Associates is an international coastal engineering consulting firm specializing in projects "where land meets sea." With offices across North America, South America, Europe, and Australia, Baird operates as "one team worldwide," making it a unique environment to collaborate with engineers and scientists from around the globe. As the only intern in the New York City office, I had the opportunity to work alongside experts across a wide range of coastal engineering disciplines. Although my commute from the Jersey Shore to the Financial District in Lower Manhattan was long, I genuinely enjoyed it. Listening to audiobooks while driving to the Seastreak ferry terminal and reading during the ferry ride became some of my favorite parts of the day. 



During the first half of my internship, I contributed to coastal resilience and nature-based solutions projects in New York, New Jersey, Maine, and Washington. I assisted with proposal development, project research, business development efforts, client coordination, and the organization of project data, gaining valuable insight into how engineering projects progress from concept to design. One project I supported was the Jamaica Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Project (JAM ROC), a large-scale effort to reduce flood risk for vulnerable communities through 2084. 

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During the second half of the summer, I shifted my focus to structural engineering projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I gained experience reviewing engineering drawings, learning the permitting process, and using SAP2000 to model and analyze structural systems. I also designed a steel access platform, applying governing design codes to determine loads, select materials, and verify the structure met strength and deflection requirements. 

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Overall, I learned so much throughout the course of my internship, from the administrative side of project development to the technical aspects of coastal and structural engineering. I will forever be grateful for this experience and everything I learned from the talented engineers and scientists at Baird. I'm excited to continue working with Baird part-time throughout my senior year and look forward to continuing to grow, learn, and contribute to meaningful coastal engineering projects.


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