Lena Eljaouhari

Hometown | Brunswick, Ohio
Major | Biomedical Engineering
Company | COLTENE
Location | Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Position | Regulatory Affairs Specialist - Labeling Specialist

What are your general co-op duties?

I was a manufacturing engineering co-op in fall 2024 with Coltene, and my general duties included reworks, engineering changes, hands-on work such as injection molding maintenance and equipment and process validation activities.

What surprises/unexpected outcomes have your experienced on co-op?

I came into this co-op with an interest in regulatory affairs, and I was surprised and happy to find that, even though my title was manufacturing engineering co-op, I was given tasks that helped grow my knowledge in the regulatory field as well. This company did a great job catering to my interests and the areas of growth I wanted to explore. When a labeling position became vacant, I had the opportunity to learn more about it, and they allowed me to explore that role and contribute work that helped move product out the door. It was rewarding to be given such great responsibility as a co-op.

What has been the coolest part of your co-op experience?

I'd have to say the company culture has been one of my favorite things about Coltene. They offer many events and opportunities for employees to engage with each other, promoting a healthy work environment. It also allowed me to get to know people I might not have had the chance to work closely with as a co-op.

How will your co-op influence your career?

I'd say my co-op is the reason I secured a full-time job with Coltene before graduation. The experience I gained in medical device labeling as a co-op made me a strong candidate for the full-time labeling specialist position. I am very thankful for the opportunity and will always be a supporter of the co-op program at the University of Akron.

What have you learned as a co-op that you wouldn't have learned from your coursework?

I'd say cross-functional collaboration between departments is something I learned on the job rather than in the classroom. Understanding the various aspects of a medical device manufacturer and how different roles communicate and work together to ship products has been an eye-opening experience. I also learned general documentation practices and how the company implements checks and balances to ensure every product leaving the facility meets the highest standards of quality and safety.