Victor Lefebvre (mechanical engineering)
Victor Lefebvre (he/him) likes to understand the mechanics of how things work. From the kinetics of rowing to the inner workings of bioreactors, the mechanical engineering co-op student is not afraid to dig deeper.
So when he landed a job as a production technician with Victoria’s Industrial Plankton, which produces algae growing bioreactors for a wide range of applications, it felt like a solid fit.
From wiring and testing electrical components, to plastic forming, preparing various machine parts and components, and calibrating bioreactors and filtration systems, Victor is putting his academic studies into practice.
A passion for hard work
Originally from Montréal, Victor first came to the west coast in January of 2023 to join UVic’s varsity rowing team. He spent two years with team (including as captain) and also rowed for Canada’s national team. After an injury put him on the sidelines, he recently swapped his oar for a spot on UVic’s AERO student club, where he works with other engineering students on aeronautical research that focuses on lifesaving research.
“I really enjoy the energy systems, thermodynamics and aerodynamics subjects, which is why aerospace and mechanical engineering were always big interests for me,” he says.
Understanding the bigger picture
Victor spent his first two co-op work terms conducting research for a UVic professor, as well as co-authoring a paper. Working in the private sector has given him the chance to see how a company works as a whole.
“My co-ops have given me the chance to ask a million questions about how things work and especially WHY we do things a certain way, which really engages my engineering and problem-solving side,” he says.
“The people I work with are very passionate about what they do and take pride in the quality of their work. It’s nice to see how the industry actually works outside of academics—there are systems in place for everything from ordering parts, to moving them into inventory, to building subassemblies, work instructions for all builds, to putting everything together, testing it, calibrating, double checking everything for the fourth time and so on.”
Looking towards the future
For his next co-op, Victor hopes to try a position in the aerospace industry or in research and development. His father is an engineer at global aerospace leader Pratt & Whitney Canada, so this type of role would be a natural fit.
“I want to improve designs, find solutions to problems and give people access to new resources,” he says. “I want to help make the world a safer, cleaner and better place.”
The value of co-op
“Co-op might seem like an added complication to your degree, but I think it can be worth the trouble. It made me work hard and get out of my comfort zone by cold calling and emailing companies to find a co-op position.
It gave me the opportunity to try out different types of engineering work and see which one I can see myself doing once I graduate.”