Daniel Gonzalez is a 2025 graduate from the Chemical Engineering undergraduate program at UBC.
During his time at UBC, Daniel took part in the COOP program, was a member of the Junior Varsity Baseball team and participated in intramural sports.
We reached out to Daniel to ask him about his experience in the Chemical and Biological Engineering department and his time at UBC.
What made you choose CHBE at UBC?
Coming out of first year, I wasn’t entirely sure which path in engineering to take. I was in between mechanical, chemical, and biomedical. Compared to mechanical engineering, which focuses on the design and behavior of mechanical parts and systems, I was more interested in understanding and optimizing entire processes. Biomedical engineering sounded exciting, but also felt limiting in terms of career flexibility. I chose CHBE because it provides a broad foundation that applies to many sectors, including energy, health, and food. It felt like the best choice for someone still figuring out where they wanted to end up, while keeping doors open across different industries.
“I chose CHBE because it provides a broad foundation that applies to many sectors, including energy, health, and food.“
What is the most valuable experience you’ve had while pursuing your degree?
The most valuable part of my degree has definitely been the co-op program. I completed two four-month terms at Canadian Natural Resources Limited, one in the field and one in the office, as well as a year-long placement on the process engineering team at the Burnaby Refinery. These experiences helped bridge the gap between what I was learning in class and how things work in the real world. They made the classroom material feel much more relevant and allowed me to focus on the concepts that matter most in industry. I also received a return offer from CNRL at the end of last summer, which was incredibly rewarding and took a lot of pressure off while finishing my degree.
Outside of the classroom, were you involved in student clubs, design teams, or other initiatives?
During my first two years, I was a member of the UBC JV Baseball team. Playing at the college level was a personal goal, and I was proud to achieve it. Unfortunately, I had to step away due to an injury and decided to shift my focus to academics. Balancing varsity sports with a full engineering course load was demanding, but it helped me build strong time management skills early on. I learned how to stay ahead on assignments and manage stress more effectively. Even though I didn’t continue playing baseball, I stayed active by playing on multiple intramural teams each year, which helped me keep up with exercise and maintain a healthy balance.
What are the next steps for you after you graduate?
I’m starting an EIT position at Canadian Natural Resources Limited as a Thermal Facilities Engineer in their Calgary office this July. I received the offer at the end of my co-op term last summer and I’m really looking forward to rejoining the team, taking on more responsibility, contributing to meaningful projects, and continuing to develop as an engineer.
“Your first internship probably won’t be your dream job, but it will teach you a lot about what you like, what you don’t, and help you gain confidence in a professional setting.“
What advice would you give to someone joining engineering/CHBE today?
Join the co-op program or try to find internships during the summer on your own. Landing your first role can be challenging because you likely won’t have any industry experience yet, but once you get your foot in the door, future opportunities become much easier to find. Your first internship probably won’t be your dream job, but it will teach you a lot about what you like, what you don’t, and help you gain confidence in a professional setting. Co-op gives you real-world perspective on what you’re learning in class, helps you develop practical skills, and lets you explore different industries before you choose a long-term path.
Another piece of advice is to lean on your classmates for help with assignments and studying. Everyone in your program is likely facing similar challenges or questions, so don’t hesitate to reach out and collaborate. Working together not only makes difficult material more manageable but also helps build a supportive community that can keep you motivated throughout your degree.