Nolan Bennett, a recent graduate of the University of North Florida (UNF), began his career at KLS Martin Manufacturing after discovering an interest in medical technology engineering during a class tour. Initially unsure about his career path after an internship in civil engineering, Bennett said, “My first internship was in civil engineering, but it wasn’t the right fit. After touring the KLS facility in class and seeing the background processes, I fell in love with medical technology engineering.”
Bennett attended the tour as part of his 3D anatomy course during his final year at UNF. He recalled, “I was familiar with KLS due to UNF career fairs. After seeing the impressive 3D printing equipment and working on the design software, I was hooked.” Following the visit, he applied for a job and impressed recruiters with models and cutting guides he created in class.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UNF in May 2024, Bennett joined KLS Martin as an associate design engineer. He has since been promoted to individual patient solutions (IPS) design engineer. His work involves developing patient-specific 3D printed medical technologies using CT scans and designing plates, cutting guides, and models from materials such as titanium and polyamide—skills he learned at UNF.
“The 3D anatomy class is built around segmentation, which is the backbone of the work I do each day,” explained Bennett. He has worked on nearly 200 unique medical printing cases at KLS Martin so far.
KLS Martin has maintained a consistent presence at UNF Career Fairs since 2018. The company has hired 86 UNF alumni since 2017 for roles ranging from management to product management.
UNF launched its specialized 3D anatomy course in spring 2024 under associate professors Dr. Laura Habegger (biology) and Dr. Grant Bevill (mechanical engineering). The course was developed with input from Mayo Clinic Jacksonville’s 3D Anatomic Modeling Laboratory after industry leaders struggled to find candidates with needed qualifications for software engineering roles related to medical modeling.
The curriculum combines advanced anatomical education with hands-on digital modeling experience. Each spring, students tour both Mayo Clinic Florida and KLS Martin facilities to see real-world applications of classroom concepts.
“It is a dream come true for me to watch my students learn and grow and move into high-demand medical technology careers because of the work we are doing in the classroom,” Habegger explained. “This is why I teach.”
Tirth Patel, general manager at KLS Martin and a UNF alumnus from 2004, noted that students now arrive better prepared: “Their background knowledge of problem solving, software usage and core components of the job reduce training time and better equip our new employees from UNF to hit the ground running and to excel in their position.”
Habegger meets regularly with trainers from KLS Martin and researchers from Mayo Clinic to align academic content with industry needs: “We make sure that students are exposed to a variety of software, virtual reality and 3D printing techniques to improve their chances of being recruited,” she said.
KLS Martin offers varied careers for graduates like Cole Cureton, who earned a degree in construction management with a business administration minor before joining KLS as an administrative specialist in February 2024. Cureton later transitioned into an associate machine operator role maintaining titanium printing machines after expressing interest internally.
“KLS is really good about recognizing their employee’s strengths and helping us move into positions that fit us best,” said Cureton. “It’s a great place to work.”
Scott Curry, senior director of industry engagement for UNF Career Services, highlighted how this collaboration benefits students: “This partnership is a perfect example of how UNF connects students with career opportunities,” Curry said. “We’re proud to work with companies like KLS Martin that are deeply invested in mentoring and hiring our students.”
