Graduate Students

PhD student wins national award for fluids research in stroke therapy

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 20:43:07 +0000

PhD student wins national award for fluids research in stroke therapy Alexander Jame… Fri, 01/17/2025 - 13:43

Alexander Servantez

Nick Rovito, a first-year PhD student in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, was living on top of the world.

After submitting a technical publication to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Fluids Engineering Division, he was named one of five finalists for the Young Engineer Paper Competition and was invited to present his research at the International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE) conference in Portland, Oregon.

Nick Rovito, first-year PhD student and winner of the American Society of Mechanical Engineer's Young Engineer Paper Competition.

Rovito’s award-winning research article is titled “In Silico Analysis of Flow-Mediated Drug Transport For Thrombolytic Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke.” The piece featured a multi-physics model coupling fluid dynamics, drug transport and reactions that emulates the clot-dissolving process in stroke treatment.

Simply being recognized amongst the other finalists at such a prestigious gathering was already the honor of a lifetime, he said. With over 1,600 research leaders across nearly 20 technical tracks, the IMECE conference features one of the largest and most diverse conference communities that ASME has to offer. It’s often touted as the largest mechanical engineering conference in the country.

But when presentations had concluded and the judges were done deliberating, Rovito wasn’t just a finalist. He was the winner.

As a graduate research assistant in the FLOWLab, led by Assistant Professor Debanjan Mukherjee at the ��«��Ƶ, Rovito conducts computational fluid dynamics research analyzing the mechanisms of thrombolysis in the blood vessels of the brain. This primary mode of stroke therapy involves administering medication to help restore blood flow by dissolving blood clots that may be causing a stroke.

“The FLOWLab is very multidisciplinary,” Rovito said. “We study stroke and medicine by analyzing fluid motion and transport through the cardiovascular system. Recognizing this allows us to apply principles of mechanical engineering to an otherwise medically focused field.”

His work aims to answer two questions: why do stroke treatments fail, and how can we increase their efficacy in the future?

“When you have a stroke, there’s an artery in your brain that is being blocked by a blood clot. Tissue plasminogen activator is the only drug approved by the FDA to treat this, but nearly 50 percent of patients don’t actually see the clot fully dissolve,” Rovito said. “A stroke left untreated could spell permanent disability or death, so we want to study the fluid mechanics within the vascular structure and see exactly how that drug is being delivered to the blood clot.”

Thrombolysis is known to present other dangerous issues, as well. Tissue plasminogen activator is categorized as an anticoagulant or a blood thinner. The drug’s job is to interfere with the clotting process and prevent blood clots from forming or growing.

However, the drug is not capable of targeting specific blood clots. It will dissolve any blood clot, including those that are not causing the stroke. Rovito says this can lead to severe bleeding if the drug goes elsewhere in the brain, or if it is overused.

Assistant Professor Debanjan Mukherjee (left) and Nick Rovito (right). Rovito is a graduate research assistant in the FLOWLab, led by Mukherjee.

“Around twenty percent of the patients who receive this drug experience major bleeding whether the stroke treatment is successful or not,” he said. “Understanding drug delivery from a flow physics standpoint helps us understand what the drug is doing when it’s administered so we can potentially mitigate those issues in the future.”

“I felt confident about my work,” Rovito said. “But I was just happy to be there. Everybody’s work was phenomenal. Any of the finalists could have won. So when the results came out, I was thrilled.”

Mukherjee, a co-author of the publication, had no doubt that Rovito’s work had what it took to win.

“Drug delivery investigation is at the core of our research group, and a lot of the strides we’ve made in modeling and simulation tools have been because of Nick’s efforts,” said Mukherjee, also a faculty member in biomedical engineering (BME) at CU ��«��Ƶ. “This is a very complicated problem, and his research is novel. The fact that he was able to win this award three semesters into his PhD pursuit speaks to his great ability to accomplish these technical tasks.”

Rovito hopes to continue improving this model and solving problems related to the clinical challenges of today. Their next steps in this project related to stroke therapy will be in collaboration with the neurology team at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, a frequent collaborator with the FLOWLab.

Beyond his research, Rovito also hopes to translate his technical skills into a long-term teaching career.

“One of my passions is teaching and scientific communication,” he said. “CU ��«��Ƶ is a great place for me to continue my technical work and develop as an educator.”

First-year PhD student Nick Rovito has been named the winner of the Young Engineer Paper Competition at this year's International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE) held by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. His novel research aims to answer two questions: why do stroke treatments fail, and how can we increase their efficacy in the future?

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PhD student Nick Rovito (middle right) accepting the Young Engineer Paper Competition Award during the International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE) conference in Portland, Oregon.

Pioneering sodium-ion batteries: a sustainable energy alternative

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 23:16:06 +0000

Pioneering sodium-ion batteries: a sustainable energy alternative Alexander Jame… Fri, 12/13/2024 - 16:16

Associate Professor Chunmei Ban and her research team are exploring the use of sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-based energy storage. Sodium is widely distributed in the Earth's crust and is an appealing candidate to remedy concerns over resource scarcity with lithium-ion batteries.

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University of Colorado students are taking part in advancing robotics to help first responders

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 18:35:53 +0000

University of Colorado students are taking part in advancing robotics to help first responders Alexander Jame… Fri, 12/06/2024 - 11:35

Sean Humbert, professor in mechanical engineering and director of the Robotics graduate program, chats with CBS News Colorado about some of the technology him and his students are working on at CU ��«��Ƶ. One of their builds is a robot that the ��«��Ƶ County Sheriff's Office uses to support their bomb squad team.

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New PhD research area allows students, faculty to explore engineering design in a wider context

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 19:04:13 +0000

New PhD research area allows students, faculty to explore engineering design in a wider context Alexander Jame… Wed, 11/27/2024 - 12:04

Alexander Servantez

At the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, the process and application of design is everywhere.

Students are constantly designing tools and technologies. Faculty members are launching successful startups on the backs of their own designs. In just the past two years, Venture Partners at CU ��«��Ƶ has supported 10 new startups featuring inventions designed by ME faculty and students.

But earlier this fall, the department took nearly a decade of development to a whole new level by introducing a new research area in design. This focus area, geared toward PhD students, involves the study of the design process and how various contexts (environmental, psychological, political, etc.) affect the artifacts that today’s engineers aim to create.

It’s the next step in the department’s design growth, building on the current MS design framework and the large network of undergraduate design courses made possible by Design Center Colorado. ME faculty and staff have worked tirelessly over the years to build this infrastructure and weave elements of design throughout all the other focus areas in the department. The new design PhD focus area represents the next iteration.

Grace Burleson, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, was a key player, among others, in the creation of this new concentration. She believes the focus area will help CU ��«��Ƶ researchers enhance the practice of design, and advance design methodologies throughout many engineering disciplines to tackle the difficult societal challenges we see today.

“Design has been happening in the department since the beginning. It’s embedded in mechanical engineering and our other focus areas,” Burleson said. “However, that framing makes it challenging to focus on design as a scientific study.

“Our engineers are being asked to solve much more complex issues than ever before, and we need to expand our thought of design in order to be successful.”

From interdisciplinary beginnings

Grace Burleson, assistant professor in mechanical engineering. Burleson is one of over 20 faculty members affiliated with the new design focus area.

The inspiration behind Burleson's research can be traced all the way back to summer 2015, nearly 8,517 miles away from ��«��Ƶ.

Burleson, at the time an undergraduate student at Oregon State University, was on a research trip in Uganda studying global health and sustainable development. While conducting her research, she quickly realized that her typical engineer’s rationale was not enough to foster successful design processes. An understanding of social contexts and a whole new perspective was needed in order to do her work the right way.

From there, a whole new spark of curiosity was formed. A spark that led Burleson down a dual path threading the needle between mechanical engineering and anthropology. She studied the two areas and applied principles from each to her own work until she found a true relationship: the impact of design.

“Applied sciences have always been a pillar of design in engineering, and they always will be,” Burleson said. “But I learned that we have to broaden the scope of sciences that we are using to design our artifacts. There are cultural considerations we need to understand in order to find the effective and equitable solutions to our design problems.”

After receiving her PhD from the University of Michigan, Burleson’s next project was finding a home that allowed her to foster the next great design minds. She joined CU ��«��Ƶ’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, whose interdisciplinary approach and faculty support made it easy for her to make her mark.

“Design has been a strong focus in our department long before I joined, and I received strong encouragement from other faculty members to start the process for formalizing the focus area,” Burleson said. “I met with faculty who led design research, and we all agreed that we needed to do this.”

To the first iteration

Nicole Xu, assistant professor in mechanical engineering, showcasing her lab's bio-inspired design for robotic jellyfish.

The Design Focus Area launched in fall 2024 with over 20 faculty members from very diverse backgrounds. Some faculty members tackle design questions in the areas of air quality and sustainability. Others practice design through the lens of materials and mechanics.

This interdisciplinary structure is a staple in the field of design, which Burleson calls a “horizontal discipline.” While other focus areas might require in-depth, vertical research into one topic, design requires a wide range of knowledge in a handful of topics. It’s a holistic approach that invites students with diverse backgrounds who are looking to study design.

“When I’m recruiting PhD students, I’m looking for those diverse backgrounds,” Burleson said. “We have students from mechanical engineering, physics, even theater and law. It really lends a unique perspective to the focus area.”

Even the current research that faculty and students are conducting is multi-dimensional and exciting. Nicole Xu, another assistant professor in mechanical engineering, focuses on biology-inspired design elements for robotic mechanisms. Her lab creates aquatic vehicles that mimic the movements of live organisms for environmental monitoring.

“Engineering is often seen as a purely logical field, but we need to think more broadly about other aspects of design,” Xu said. “In my work, we apply design principles from animals to improve or expand our available underwater technologies. For other faculty, the perspective could be the emotional contexts of design science, like teamwork and collaboration.

“Design is already inherent in every engineering project, with all the different types of research in our department. But it’s never been brought to the forefront like it is now with this new focus area.”

On to the next evolution

James Harper, assistant teaching professor in mechanical engineering.

Burleson says the focus area will continue to expand as engineers apply and advance new sciences. She also mentions rumors of an increased emphasis on design practice and research across campus to leverage the university’s vast consortium of design expertise.

Assistant Teaching Professor James Harper echoes those same sentiments, saying there is ample opportunity to enhance the curriculum going forward. He even says that prospective PhD students have the opportunity as they are here to leave their mark on the department, and change the way design is taught college-wide based on their research.

“Engineers are not taught to talk to people,” Harper said. “We’re taught the technical side of things. But design relies on engineers understanding people and how products are actually used. Good design requires gathering contextual data, as well as entrepreneurial skills, and we’ve begun to teach these topics even in undergraduate engineering courses, too.”

One of Burleson’s design-track PhD students, Mark Henderson, recognizes the impact he could have on future generations. As a patent attorney, Henderson has seen lots of creators receive patent rejections on their inventions because their designs were “too similar” to others.

His research in the focus area revolves around one question: what design choices would engineers make if they already knew the “state of the art”?

“Here at CU ��«��Ƶ, I have the opportunity to use these classes and this community for design research,” Henderson said. “But there is also potential in the broader ��«��Ƶ area to do industry research with the large companies that are here.

“I really couldn’t believe the fit when I chose to study design at CU ��«��Ƶ.”

The Paul M. Ray Department of Mechanical Engineering has launched a new research area in design. The new focus area, geared toward PhD students, involves the study of the design process and how various contexts (environmental, psychological, political, etc.) affect the artifacts that today’s engineers aim to create.

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New research on exotendons advances assistive technology for runners

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:06:40 +0000

New research on exotendons advances assistive technology for runners Alexander Jame… Fri, 11/22/2024 - 14:06

Madison Seckman

Olivia Felton

Olivia Felton is a PhD student in the Welker Lab, led by Assistant Professor Cara Welker, at the ��«��Ƶ. Their main focus: to use assistive technology to help both able-bodied individuals and those with disabilities.

Felton earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Baylor University. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked in a fluids lab. While she found the research interesting, she knew it was not what she wanted to study long term.

Currently, her work focuses on recreational runners. In her experiments, participants run on a force instrumented treadmill, which tracks their ground reaction forces. They also wear a metabolic mask to measure energy expenditure during running. The running is slightly different than what they are used to, however, since they have an exotendon attached to their feet.

The exotendon is surgical tubing with loops on both ends held in place with zip ties and s-biners to clip onto the shoes of the person being tested. It creates a force between the individual's feet as the tubing stretches and molds as they run. Dr. Welker’s research has shown that the exotendon allows a runner to expend about six percent less metabolic energy when running at a 10 minute mile pace.

Moving forward, Felton is expanding the study by understanding the effect of running with the exotendon at a range of speeds and how reducing metabolic energy expenditure affects self-selected running speed.

Throughout her research, Felton has found she enjoys working with the many different people who come through her lab.

“One really cool thing about this study is that we're recruiting recreational runners, so I do a lot of run clubs around ��«��Ƶ to recruit participants. I've met a lot of really great people,” Felton shared.

Olivia Felton is a PhD student in the Welker Lab at the ��«��Ƶ. Their main focus: to use assistive technology to help both able-bodied individuals and those with disabilities.

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Working towards decarbonization with the power of ammonia

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 01:34:39 +0000

Working towards decarbonization with the power of ammonia Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/24/2024 - 19:34

Jatinder Sampathkumar

Jatinder Sampathkumar is a PhD graduate from Mechanical Engineering and is currently working on new renewable energy technologies at Amogy.

Jatinder Sampathkumar

Tell us about your current role. What are you working on?

I am a senior systems engineer at Amogy, where I facilitate collaboration between the research and development (R&D) and product development teams. I’m part of the team responsible for designing, packaging, manufacturing, testing and integrating our product's hardware elements. I collaborate closely with our customers to understand their specific needs and interface with certification and regulatory bodies to ensure our products meet safety standards and help shape new regulations for ammonia-powered systems.

What makes ammonia interesting as an energy source?

Ammonia, a century-old chemical produced from hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen, has traditionally served as a fertilizer precursor. It has a superior energy density compared to hydrogen and existing battery chemistries and can provide a carbon-neutral solution for transporting and storing clean energy. Technological advancements including efficient ammonia cracking, direct ammonia propulsion and hybrid fuel blends have opened new avenues for its use in transportation. The existing infrastructure, public familiarity and technological maturity of ammonia from its agricultural applications also contribute to its potential as an energy source.

What kinds of applications are a good fit for Amogy's technology? Where do you see it making an impact?

Currently, the shipping industry is responsible for 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions through its annual consumption of 300 million tons of fossil fuels, making it a key focus area for Amogy's products. Amogy recently sailed the world's first carbon-free, ammonia-powered vessel, marking an important step in demonstrating the capabilities of carbon-free sustainable solutions. Our technology can also be easily adapted for electricity generation in other sectors, such as stationary power generation for critical infrastructure sites, off-grid or remote locations and port-side applications.

How does what you do now connect back to your work as a PhD student?

My research with the Labbe and ��«��Ƶ Experimental Electronics and Manufacturing (BEEM) labs focused on designing and manufacturing miniature flow devices for evaluating sustainable fuel candidates at the molecular level. I dedicated significant time to applying core mechanical engineering principles to enhance existing experiments that assess the chemical behavior of these fuels. I continue to apply this expertise at Amogy, where we translate experimental findings and theoretical models into practical product capabilities. My experience in the graduate design program has also been instrumental in equipping me with the tools to tackle design challenges from a user-centric perspective. It has emphasized the importance of iterative design as we move from ideation to the operational deployment of products.

What advice do you have for students interested in working on new, more sustainable energy sources?

Sustainable energy development is an urgent global priority, particularly as we strive to combat climate change and diversify our energy sources. One of the most essential skills to cultivate is curiosity. Staying informed about the rapidly evolving energy landscape is crucial. Understanding which technologies are being explored and identifying key sectors for diversification can drive meaningful progress. Engaging in interdisciplinary learning is also vital, as creating sustainable solutions requires collaboration among individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Jatinder Sampathkumar is a PhD graduate from Mechanical Engineering and is currently working on new renewable energy technologies at Amogy.

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Interning with NASA

Anonymous — Wed, 08 May 2024 19:54:30 +0000

Interning with NASA Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/08/2024 - 13:54

Tyler Huebsch

Tyler Huebsch is a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering. He completed an internship with the Convergent Aeronautics Solutions team at NASA.

Tyler Huebsch

Where did you intern and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?

I interned part-time for NASA during the spring of 2024. I worked on their Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) team which focuses on identifying new solutions to particularly wicked problems. Wicked problems involve complex, interconnected, and contradictory stakeholders that become difficult or impossible to solve when trying to address every requirement. The specific area of research I focused on was powering sustainable airports in 2075.

I was excited to be a part of a speculative research project. Speculative research and design are processes that uncover alternative approaches to solving future problems. This type of research allowed me to think creatively and reimagine my preconceived idea of research while still pulling technical information from my engineering background.

What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on during your internship?

I mainly worked on the “Powering Sustainable Airports in 2075” project focusing on powering air-side airport infrastructure and the human factors that will drive the infrastructure changes of the future. These opportunities are helping NASA build a hydrogen coalition that will determine a framework for carbon-free, sustainable power generation at airports.

My research analyzed the fuels and energy generation technologies that will be powering aircraft and airports. The energy dependence airports had on the aircraft revealed opportunities like on-site power generation, carbon-free fuel analyses, and a decentralized airport energy system.

Was there a particular challenge you encountered that really pushed you to learn something new?

I had to learn how to solve problems from a more creative lens. In school, I solved problems that were very well-defined and laden with technical material. The problems we were solving in my internship were inherently wicked and had undefined future states. This internship forced me to step out of my comfort zone to solve problems. I learned techniques like backcasting, data storytelling, wicked problem-solving, and lateral thinking. Going forward, I will be able to apply these new tools to future problems and projects.

What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?

Don’t be afraid to apply to any job posting that you find interests you! I never could have imagined myself working at NASA simply because I didn’t have a degree in Aerospace. Even after I got the job offer, I felt I wasn’t qualified enough to work there. After a few weeks, I realized that I was selected for a reason and was able to contribute every day to the team. Even if you don’t meet every qualification on a job posting, still be sure to put your resume in the mix. It could lead to an incredible opportunity for you!

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PhD students earn top National Science Foundation fellowships

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 22:51:12 +0000

PhD students earn top National Science Foundation fellowships Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/24/2024 - 16:51

Jeff Zehnder

The National Science Foundation has bestowed three prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards to ��«��Ƶ mechanical engineering graduate students.

The national awards recognize and support outstanding grad students from across the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.

PhD students Reegan Ketzenberger, Caleb Song, and Jennifer Wu are each receiving the honor for 2024. Find out more about their research below.

Awardees receive a $37,000 annual stipend and cost of education allowance for the next three years as well as professional development opportunities.

Two mechanical engineering PhD students, Alex Hedrick and Carly Rowe, also received honorable mentions from the National Science Foundation program.

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Q&A with November graduate students of the month Samuel Lamont & Amiy Yadav

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 15:28:05 +0000

Q&A with November graduate students of the month Samuel Lamont & Amiy Yadav Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/30/2023 - 08:28

The Kenneth Johnsen Graduate Student of the Month awards recognize outstanding students who excel academically and are an exemplar for the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Samuel Lamont

What is your hometown?

My hometown is called Bristol and is located in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York.

What schools have you attended?

I did my undergraduate education at SUNY Binghamton and spent 10 months at École Polytechnique in Palaiseau, France, during the fourth year of my PhD.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy cooking, hiking, and playing games, but I prefer to spend most of my free time rock climbing with my friends

Can you tell me a little bit about your research?

I study the unique mechanical behaviors of dynamic polymer networks. These are ubiquitous in both biological and engineering materials and their dynamic nature is commonly leveraged to enable “smart” functionalities such as self-healing, high extensibility, and time-dependent response. My research involves developing theoretical models that connect the micro-topology of these networks to their emergent behavior.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Certainly pursuing research in the field of theoretical solid mechanics. Wherever that research takes me, in terms of location and position, is much more difficult to predict.

What is your favorite thing about attending CU ��«��Ƶ for your graduate degree?

Easy access to the mountains!

Is there anything else we should know about you?

As the youngest of six children, I have always had a competitive spirit. Those around me know that I am always up to be challenged to a game of cards, pool, or chess (or anything else, really!).

Amiy Yadav

What is your hometown?

My hometown is in Lucknow, India.

What schools have you attended?

I did my undergraduate in bachelor’s of technology in mechatronics engineering from the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, India.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to hike in my free time. Or go for a run when there is time restrictions. I really like to do nature photography as well, which coincides with my hiking activities.

Can you tell me a little bit about your research?

Currently, I’m program assistant for senior design. I don’t have a research topic yet.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I would love to start business for automated medical equipment or be in a higher ranks in a research and development department of a robotic surgery team.

What is your favorite thing about attending CU ��«��Ƶ for your graduate degree?

My favorite thing about CU ��«��Ƶ is the people. I’ve met such amazing group of wonderful individuals especially the professors who guided and supported me to the highest capabilities throughout my program.

Is there anything else we should know about you?

I’m currently trying to hone my entrepreneurial skills which would advocate me in starting a new business.

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Faculty, staff and students celebrate diversity at the ME Fall Festival

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:17:27 +0000

Faculty, staff and students celebrate diversity at the ME Fall Festival Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/16/2023 - 09:17

Michael Lock Swingen

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering hosted its third-annual ME Fall Festival on Oct. 12. The event, sponsored by the department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group, celebrates the diversity of cultures within the department.

ME faculty, staff and students gathered to share their own traditions, learn about their peers’ backgrounds and build community. The event also highlighted the holidays and observances that student groups and faculty recognize during the fall season.

Janet Tsai, associate teaching professor and chair of the DEI Working Group, explained the origins of the ME Fall Festival.

"The ME Fall Festival was inspired by the idea that there are lots of ways our students, staff and faculty mark the Fall season from Diwali and the Mid-Autumn Festival to Día de los Muertos and Halloween," Tsai said. "Timing the Fall Festival close to Indigenous People's Day also offers a chance to discuss CU ��«��Ƶ's Land Acknowledgment and reconcile our local history with our current campus. The ME DEI Working Group has sponsored the Fall Festival for three years now, and it has become a highlight of our Fall semester here in Mechanical Engineering."

“After the summer of 2020, a lot of members of our department felt like we should be doing more in the area of diversity and inclusion,” said Tsai. “It was just people who wanted to start talking more and really trying to think about how we can make our department more welcoming and hospitable to everybody.”

The event had a land acknowledgment poster placed in the courtyard where the event was held and included a statement from the Center of Native American and Indigenous Studies suggesting action to address continuing inequities.

“These are great conversations for us to be having to make sure that people don't just read the land acknowledgement and feel like they're done, but actually try to engage,” said Tsai.

Event attendees participated in activities and games, including a raffle with a chance to win prizes and a cricket station where you could practice batting, which was hosted by The American Association of Engineers of Indian Origin (AAEIO). There was also homemade salsa made by lecturer Carmen Pacheco-Borden’s company Carmen’s Salsa, as well as coffee made from beans from around the world and brewed by students in the Design of Coffee course.

The ME Fall Festival offered student affinity groups an opportunity to increase their visibility across the department. Here’s what students had to say about their experiences in these organizations:

Jerry Nguyen, The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE): “Our main goal is to build community with Asian scientists and engineers. But we also offer professional development opportunities. Students get to go to national conferences and meet other people from other chapters and employers from all over the world. We also invite employers to our club meetings to talk to students and do professional development.”

Angelina Miller, Women of Aeronautics & Astronautics (WoAA) : “The club was created in spring of 2019 and was basically designed to help marginalized genders in the aerospace community to find a place where they can help meet other people and bring more of a community to them so that they don't feel alone. And we also try to offer a bunch of professional and technical opportunities for them to grow.”

--Pradyumna Rao, The American Association of Engineers of Indian Origin (AAEIO): “When I arrived in the United States from India, I made some mistakes as an undergraduate that I felt were unnecessary. With a little bit of guidance, with a little bit of support, I felt like I could have made more out of my academic experience. Our organization's aim is quite simple. We want to make sure that our members, when they come here, they can make the most inside the classroom as well as outside.”

--Isaac Chavarria,The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): “We’re trying to help Hispanics have a connection to the professional world through either older students, alumni or professors. It’s proven that having a community helps you do better in school. Being able to offer that to other Hispanics and being the person who guides this society is such a blessing.”

The ME Fall Festival, sponsored by the department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group, celebrates the diversity of cultures within the department.

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