Outstanding Student Award

Six mechanical engineers earn Outstanding Undergraduate Awards from the college

Anonymous — Fri, 03 May 2024 20:34:47 +0000

Six mechanical engineers earn Outstanding Undergraduate Awards from the college Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/03/2024 - 14:34

Each semester, the College of Engineering and Applied Science recognizes graduating students with awards in eight categories that reflect the values of the college community. Students may be nominated by faculty, staff or their peers. Congratulations to all of our award winners, who will be celebrated at the department's recognition ceremony on May 10!

Learn more about the awards

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Mechanical's Megan Conard wins prestigious Silver Medal Award

Anonymous — Mon, 22 May 2023 14:08:14 +0000

Mechanical's Megan Conard wins prestigious Silver Medal Award Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/22/2023 - 08:08

Michael Lock Swingen

There is a photo of Megan Conard that goes a long way in explaining why she won the prestigious ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Engineering Council Silver Medal Award. In the photo, it is blizzarding in Boulder, and Conard is helping cart a stack of pizza boxes across campus to an event for other engineering students.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Conard is smiling and giving two thumbs up to the camera. This enthusiasm for helping her fellow students and collaborating with others in the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder engineering community, while also embodying the highest rigors of academic excellence as a student, characterizes Conard’s stellar career as an undergraduate in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering.

In fact, when Conard was a high school student in Tennessee and deciding between universities, ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder won her over with its culture of collaboration and community.

“I didn't want to go somewhere where people are pushing each other down to get to the top,” Conard said. “I wanted something where people are working together to get to the top.”

Engineering Ambassadors

Conard has dedicated a lot of her time to doing just that. As the longest-serving Engineering Ambassador, Conard has given countless tours of the Engineering Center and shared her knowledge and love for the college. Conard has also let prospective students shadow her for a day and attend classes with her.

Jonathan Neptune, who worked alongside Conard as an Engineering Ambassador, looked to her as role model. “More than one prospective student even said it was her Engineering Center tours and Q&A that made them decide on ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Engineering,” Neptune said.

But Conard has been honest about the challenges she has faced when she talks with prospective students and peers. During her sophomore year, Conard almost had to drop out of school due to financial difficulty, until she utilized the resources like student jobs, ProReady, financial aid and academic coaching.

“That’s a powerful combination in a peer mentor, because the experience she shares is able to be both relatable and aspirational for new students beginning their journey at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ,” Scholar in Residence Kat McConnell said.

Advocating for the voice of others

Along with being a powerful voice for ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder, Conard has also advocated for undergraduate students to be at the table when high-level decisions are made in the college. In this capacity, Conard has been a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, where she helped select Keith Molenaar as dean of the college and championed initiatives that increase mentorship opportunities and space for student organizations.

“As a student, I've tried to pioneer a lot of student involvement and be the student voice that's heard,” Conard said. “The most important takeaway from what I've done is that we should start asking students for their opinions.”

Conard has also been a fierce advocate for the voices of underrepresented students. She has been the only undergraduate student to serve on the Mechanical Engineering Department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group Committee. She took the lead on analyzing the undergraduate-focused results from the 2021 Campus Culture Survey, developing takeaways and target areas for improvement based on the data. She then presented her findings at a department retreat.

“Megan’s comments are always helpful, insightful and forward-looking,” DEI Working Group Chair Janet Tsai said. “She understands the challenges of implementing DEI initiatives in our department and college.”

Conard co-hosted a lunch-and-learn for faculty and staff in mechanical engineering that focused on challenges and strategies for effective student support. She has also planned a Women+ in Mechanical Engineering Graduating Dinner to celebrate female and non-binary graduates of the department.

Stellar Scholar

While embodying the spirit of service to community, Conard’s academic achievements have also been at the highest level. Her junior year, Conard participated in the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program, which allows undergraduate students to work alongside graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and faculty as collaborative partners on original research. Conard worked alongside Professor Jana Milford and the ASPIRE Research Center to research vehicle electrification.

Conard developed a flexible modeling tool that linked changes in heavy-duty vehicles and power plant emissions to changes in air quality and the corresponding health effects. She then used the model to investigate benefits of electrifying vehicles in the Denver metropolitan area. With her research, Conard and her research group were able to consult with ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ government and advise in a change to more electric buses for schools and public transportation.

Real World Experience

To gain professional experience outside the classroom, Conard moved across the country on two separate occasions for an internship with Phillips 66. In Billings, Montana, Conard worked to assess potential damages and risks during a shutdown and create contingency plans for discovery work. The next summer in Sweeny, Texas, she designed a system that pulled gases off a tank and introduced pyrolysis oil – a plastic production byproduct – into the refining system and helped drive the company toward a more environmentally friendly economy.

During her second internship, she was the only female mechanical engineer.

“No one ever thought I was the mechanical engineering intern. It was hard to get my questions answered,” she said.

But Conard did what she does best. She learned everyone’s names by heart. She worked hard. She was congenial despite the challenging circumstances. “And then I finally got to the point where I knew my project so well that no one else could answer the questions, so everyone had to come and talk to me.”

After the internship, Conard shared her worn-out coveralls with her classmates for a video they produced that analyzed the supply chain disruption issues related to gasoline and crude oil. In the video, everyone was happy to don the coveralls and walk in her footsteps.

After graduation, Conard plans to work at a biofuels plant with Phillips 66 in Rodeo, California, and believes returning to higher education for graduate school is in her future as well.

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Mechanical engineering seniors earn Graduating Student Awards

Anonymous — Fri, 12 May 2023 16:12:18 +0000

Mechanical engineering seniors earn Graduating Student Awards Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/12/2023 - 10:12

Michael Lock Swingen

Eight exceptional students from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering have earned Graduating Student Awards in 2023. These honors are conferred to seniors who are nominated by faculty, staff or fellow students for their outstanding contributions.

Each of the eight award winners will be recognized and celebrated at the department's Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, May 13.

Eight exceptional students from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering have earned Graduating Student Awards in 2023.

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Mechanical engineering graduates earn ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Engineering and Departmental Awards

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 21:00:47 +0000

Mechanical engineering graduates earn ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Engineering and Departmental Awards Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/26/2022 - 15:00

Rachel Leuthauser

Four exceptional students from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering have earned Graduating Student Awards in 2022. These honors are conferred to seniors who are nominated by faculty, staff or fellow students for their outstanding contributions.

Three noteworthy graduating students have also been awarded Departmental Awards from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Each of the seven award winners will be recognized and celebrated at the department's Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, May 7 at 2 p.m.

Four graduating undergraduate students won college awards, while three undergraduate students were honored with Department of Mechanical Engineering Awards.

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Ryan Cole receives Department of Mechanical Engineering's Outstanding Dissertation Award

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 18:45:14 +0000

Ryan Cole receives Department of Mechanical Engineering's Outstanding Dissertation Award Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/29/2021 - 11:45

Ryan Cole, Mechanical Engineering PhD candidate.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has awarded PhD candidate Ryan Cole this year’s Outstanding Dissertation Award.

Cole, who will be graduating with his PhD in mechanical engineering in December 2021, has focused his research on laser-based sensors for high-pressure and high-temperature systems.

In just over five years, Cole has finished five first-author papers, three second-author papers, four third+ author papers, one patent application and 16 conference papers and presentations. The papers have earned more than 100 citations, an editor’s pick for one of his first author papers and a best student paper award for one of his conference papers.

His advisor, Professor Greg Rieker, said that Cole has been in constant service to the department. Cole served as the lead instructor of a thermodynamics course and has made a commitment to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the department by joining the Anti-racist Pedagogy Learning Community under the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Center for Teaching and Learning.

“In my eight years as a professor, and my years as a postdoc and graduate student before that, I have not seen an across-the-board stronger performing student,” Rieker said. “I have certainly not seen a stronger student with the down-to-earth, caring attitude that Ryan has. He will make a spectacular professor and a spectacular representative of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.”

Cole shared more about his engineering education, dissertation and goals for the future.

What led you to study engineering?

I grew up in Denver but completed my undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. During my undergraduate work, I worked on a research project at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center focused on X-ray detectors for a planned satellite observatory. I also completed a senior thesis in ultra-cold plasma physics. After Colby, I spent a year in Hilo, Hawaii, where I worked as an astrophysical research intern at the Gemini Observatory. I enjoyed all these past experiences, but ultimately, I found myself growing increasingly interested in more application-focused research. This is what drew me to the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. I now work with Professor Greg Rieker in the Precision Laser Diagnostics Lab, where I use dual frequency comb absorption spectroscopy to improve and enable laser-based sensors for high-pressure, high-temperature environments.

What is the title of your dissertation? Can you give a summary of what you found?

The instrument Cole built to study the benefits of dual-comb spectroscopy for sensing in high-pressure, high-temperature systems.

My thesis is titled "Methods and Applications for Dual Frequency Comb Absorption Spectroscopy in High-Pressure, High-Temperature Environments." High pressures and temperatures are ubiquitous in science and engineering. They can be found in the cylinder of your car engine, in the combustor of a rocket engine or in the atmospheres of exotic planets and exoplanets. As scientists and engineers, our ability to understand and improve these systems depends on our ability to make measurements in those environments.

The overarching goal of my PhD research is to improve and enable laser-based sensors for high-pressure, high-temperature systems. I specifically use a technique called laser absorption spectroscopy, which refers to the absorption of laser light at frequencies resonant with molecular quantum state transitions. The shape and size of measured absorption transitions gives us a measure of the thermodynamics conditions of the sample gas – things like temperature, pressure, etc. In the Precision Laser Diagnostics Lab, we use a specific technique called dual frequency comb absorption spectroscopy, which enables broadband, high-resolution absorption spectroscopy across a multitude of stable and well-known optical frequencies. My specific dissertation research is focused on developing new techniques to leverage the benefits of dual-comb spectroscopy for sensing in high-pressure, high-temperature systems. I also use dual-comb spectroscopy to improve models for molecular absorption in high-pressure and high-temperature gases, which are needed in order to interpret the spectra recorded by our instruments.

What have you enjoyed most about your research?

I enjoy the balance of physics and engineering. My research often uses elements of fundamental optics and spectroscopy that are usually associated with physics research. In my case, I get to study these topics while also being focused on the real-world applications of our research.

What lessons have you learned from your advisor Professor Greg Rieker?

Greg has taught me so much over the last five years, it is almost difficult to come up with specific examples. There have been quite a few times when Greg has encouraged me to take on challenges that seemed insurmountable. Over time, I learned that Greg is almost always right about these things and in retrospect, my work to address these challenges has improved my research results and has helped me grow as a researcher.

Cole enjoying the outdoors.

What accomplishment from your time at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder are you most proud of?

I had the opportunity to teach a thermodynamics course in spring 2021. Teaching this course was one of my biggest challenges during grad school, but ultimately it is one of the things I am most proud of.

What is the impact you hope to have on the world one day?

I would like to look back at my career and know that I used my skills to make the world a better place. For me, this means I would like to work on projects to address and better understand climate change. I am particularly interested in developing new techniques to quantify emissions and their effect on the atmosphere. I would also like to continue teaching at the college level. In a perfect world, I will find an opportunity that lets me combine these two goals.

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering has awarded PhD candidate Ryan Cole this year’s Outstanding Dissertation Award. Read his Q&A to learn more about his engineering education, dissertation and goals for the future.

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Outstanding Student Q&A: Shankar Lalitha Sridhar, Outstanding Dissertation Award

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 04:03:17 +0000

Outstanding Student Q&A: Shankar Lalitha Sridhar, Outstanding Dissertation Award Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/01/2020 - 21:03

Outstanding Dissertation Award winner Shankar Lalitha Sridhar.

Share about your background. What led you to study engineering?

My undergraduate background is in Civil Engineering and I have a master's in structural engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in South India. My master's thesis was focused on developing a computational tool for a complex material model that was relevant for a variety of different materials ranging from concrete to soft tissues. This piqued my interest in describing the mechanical behavior of materials using concepts of physics and mathematical tools. I eventually transitioned into mechanical engineering when I moved to the United States for my master's at Texas A&M before joining ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder for my PhD.

There is a funny saying in India that a child is designated as either a doctor or engineer as soon as they are born. I guess in my case, I became both. But jokes aside, I really enjoyed learning physics and mechanics in high school and engineering seemed a natural choice to pursue a technological career that is open-ended enough to offer paths to a variety of different careers. And after 11 years in engineering school, I’d say I have indeed found that to be true.

What is the title of your dissertation? Can you give a brief summary of your findings?

The title of my dissertation is Mechanics of transient networks: an interplay of dynamics and microstructure.

The main topic of my dissertation relates to developing theoretical models that describe and predict the mechanical behavior of soft materials. Particularly, the focus was on polymer networks whose microstructure is dynamic and continuously reconfiguring itself in real-time. Many biological systems rely on such polymers (e.g., proteins, DNA, etc.) for achieving most of the key functions of life including growth, reproduction, locomotion, self-repair, etc. A particularly difficult aspect of modeling such materials is connecting the average properties of the polymer configuration to macroscopic aspects like stress, mechanical stiffness or viscosity and their evolution with time. In my dissertation, I present computational/theoretical models to explore the emerging mechanical behavior of transient polymers arising from: (a) spatial heterogeneity of degradation and growth in a polymer network with applications to holographic photopolymers and tissue engineering, (b) reversible cross-linking to produce nonlinear behavior such as shear thickening, and (c) molecular ordering to produce interesting anisotropic behavior with applications to the cell wall mechanics of fungi, and programming liquid crystal elastomers for actuation.

Understanding the interplay between structural components of a material and its dynamics through theory and modeling can deepen our understanding of the biological machinery. Importantly, they can inspire smart synthetic counterparts that have far-reaching impacts in the field of biomedicine, soft robotics, 3D printing, etc.

Shankar Lalitha Sridhar learned to ski while studying in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ.

What have you enjoyed most about your research?

I love learning new things. And coming into my PhD, I did not have much of a background in biological processes or polymeric materials. I enjoyed the challenge and loved learning about biopolymers and bringing skills from my training on strength of materials as a civil/mechanical engineer.

Having mostly been a user of existing theoretical models in my undergraduate and master's programs, I found it very satisfying to be on the side of proposing new models. And seeing it come to life through predictions and graphical simulations was icing on the cake.

Last but certainly not least, learning to put my work in perspective to understand why it would matter to other people and the skills to communicate that effectively was definitely the most meaningful aspect of research to me.

Who is your research advisor and what lessons have you learned from them?

My advisor was Prof. Franck Vernerey. The most important thing I have learned from him is thinking big and cultivating self-confidence. He helped me set high bars for myself that I hope I will be able to raise even higher in the coming years. He has a major contribution in motivating me to think bigger, smarter and bolder. He has also helped me develop useful time management techniques and cultivate self-confidence by involving me in multiple projects, proposal writing, preparing course content and preparing presentations for esteemed research conferences. And finally, the art of making connections and collaborating with fellow researchers in a diverse field is something for which I will be eternally grateful to him.

What accomplishment from your time at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder are you most proud of and why?

If I have to decide on one accomplishment that I am most proud of, it will have to be my skiing skills. I had not set foot on a ski resort in my life before joining ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder. And the first time I did, it was actually with my research advisor and our team. And like his teaching style with scientific research, I was essentially taken on the ski lift and asked to jump off. And I picked up skiing fairly quickly after that. It showed me that taking a leap of faith and the passion/mindset to learn something no matter what are all you need to succeed, and a strong presence of this quality almost always underlies success in scientific research. The most significant obstacles in our path to success are often the ones we create in our heads.

Do you have any plans for the future after you graduate? If so, what are they?

I would like to remain in STEM and pursue research on materials science and explore new types of materials to develop a deep understanding of their behavior. Currently, I am a postdoctoral research associate in the BioFrontiers Institute under the supervision of Dr. Loren Hough from Physics. I am open to and pursuing opportunities in R&D in the biomedical and polymer industries, in addition to a research career in national labs like NREL, Oak Ridge and Lawrence Livermore. I think I’d like to return to academia one day and take up teaching to give back to the community, but right now what excites me is the opportunity to work on a large-scale project with a huge team of expert researchers.

What is the impact you hope to have on the world one day?

I think I would be satisfied if my work results in incremental progress in the lives of other beings in this world. I believe that is one of the most amazing features of the scientific revolution where each generation gets to add to the collective knowledge of humankind to make the world a little bit better than it was before. An immediately obvious path I can see for my scientific research background is the field of biomedicine to have an impact on the health of so many people. However, my horizon is wide open, and I see myself contributing toward causes I care about, even if not directly scientific in nature, including tackling climate change, animal cruelty and human suffering in this world. At the end of the day, it is our connection to and care for each other that should matter the most and is at the core of a life well-lived.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

My family that includes my parents, brother and sister have been my rock during my PhD, and their role in making this happen cannot be emphasized enough. My advisor has been an invaluable ally in my path to a doctoral degree and his guidance will have a long-lasting impact on me. Finally, I am eternally grateful to my friends and partner who made my time in Boulder that much more enjoyable. The PhD journey is never an easy one, and I think I found a lot of meaning in the relationships I developed and learned a lot about myself in the process. And if I had to, I would do it all over again with no hesitation.

Shankar Lalitha Sridhar is being awarded an Outstanding Dissertation Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Check out his Q&A to learn more.

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Outstanding Student Q&A: Mohammed Alwakeel, Outstanding Undergraduate for International Engagement

Anonymous — Fri, 08 May 2020 14:10:00 +0000

Outstanding Student Q&A: Mohammed Alwakeel, Outstanding Undergraduate for International Engagement Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/08/2020 - 08:10

Outstanding Undergraduate for International Engagement Mohammed Alwakeel

Mohammed Alwakeel is a mechanical engineering student being awarded an Outstanding Undergraduate for International Engagement Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. Learn more about him and his accomplishments in the Q&A below.

Mohammed Alwakeel at the Kurobe Dam in Japan as part of the Misk Global Leadership Program at the University of Tokyo.

Share about your background and what led you to study engineering.

Searching for my passion has been a long journey. It started in elementary school, and I still have not reached my final destination. The process of elimination is what helped me find my passion. In high school, I was involved in different activities, such as summer programs, national physics Olympiad, and I conducted research at a local university. These experiences combined with my love for physics and math helped me eliminate what I was not interested in. Through reading about the different fields of study, talking to professors and visiting universities, I found that mechanical engineering was the best fit for me.

What does the award you are receiving mean to you?

I am honored to be named an Outstanding Undergraduate for International Engagement. This recognition is a motivation for me to keep being engaged internationally.

Share an accomplishment from your time at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder that you are proud of.

The accomplishment that I am proud of the most is how much I have grown since freshman year, both academically and personally. ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder gave me the tools and skills to think and execute my ideas, and I am proud that I used these tools and skills to grow.

How have you gotten involved throughout your college career?

I have been part of different organizations on campus, such as ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ International, ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Gold and the Saudi Students Association. I also had an internship at the University of Tokyo. I learned from these experiences how to work with people from different backgrounds and be open to ideas that are different from my own. Getting out of my comfort zone and expressing myself in a different language were my biggest challenges, but I was rewarded with meeting great people and making long-lasting friendships.

What do you plan to pursue post-graduation?

After my graduation, I am going back to Saudi Arabia to work in a petrochemical company.

What is the impact you hope to have on the world?

I hope that I can be part of making the world a better place through STEM.

Have you received any other awards/honors?

My business capstone project won first place in the shark tank competition.

Any closing remarks?

I would like to thank my parents, family and friends for their constant support and encouragement. I would also like to thank SרIC for sponsoring me and giving me the opportunity to study abroad.

Mohammed Alwakeel is being awarded an Outstanding Undergraduate for International Engagement Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. Check out his Q&A to learn more.

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Outstanding Student Q&A: Jonathan Bosnich, Outstanding Undergraduate

Anonymous — Fri, 08 May 2020 14:09:00 +0000

Outstanding Student Q&A: Jonathan Bosnich, Outstanding Undergraduate Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/08/2020 - 08:09

Outstanding Undergraduate Jonathan Bosnich

Jonathan Bosnich is a mechanical engineering student being awarded an Outstanding Undergraduate Award from both the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. Learn more about him and his accomplishments in the Q&A below.

Jonathan Bosnich (left) with his senior design team sponsored by NOAA.

Share about your background and what led you to study engineering.

I gained interest in engineering at a very young age. My dad is an electrical and firmware engineer and my mom is a mechanical engineer, both genuinely passionate about what they do. They made a concerted effort to inspire and encourage me to build stuff, solve problems and just be creative in general, and the main way they accomplished that goal was through homeschooling. I remember having competitions involving building the longest or strongest bridge with an allotted amount of pieces as a part of my schoolwork. So I guess, at the end of the day, engineering was just something I grew up with and always loved to do. Studying mechanical engineering at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder was almost a no-brainer.

However, I wasn’t content with just studying mechanical engineering, so I added a bachelor of arts in pure math as a second degree. I’ve loved math since being homeschooled, and my calculus teacher in high school was amazing! I knew I wanted to add math as a second major, which meant I had to choose between applied math in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and pure math in the College of Arts and Science. I chose pure math, because math theory was more foreign to me which made it more intriguing, and I wanted to get as broad an undergraduate education as possible. By doing theoretical math and mechanical engineering, I was able study the full spectrum of science and engineering, from practical application to abstract theory. I was also excited to take courses in philosophy, geopolitics, postmodernism and anthropology as a part of the core curriculum for the College of Arts and Science. I think choosing to study mechanical engineering and pure math was one of the best decisions I made in college!

What does the award you are receiving mean to you?

I feel honored to receive the Outstanding Undergraduate Award, because it indicates that the work I’ve done is valued. Being recognized by those I look up to is super cool!

Jonathan Bosnich riding the drill-powered kart he and his team designed during race day for his component design class.

Share an accomplishment from your time at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder that you are proud of.

During my sophomore year, I was invited to substitute teach a Calculus 3 lecture at Boulder High School. Although I had many hours of tutoring experience, I was still pretty nervous, because this was the first time I would give a complete hour-long lecture to a full class, but as soon as the class started, all of those nerves vanished. I felt completely comfortable lecturing at the board, engaging with the students, applying pedagogical techniques and just having fun. The students gave me a round of applause at the end of the lecture, and several students contacted me afterward for private tutoring. That was definitely one of the best moments of my college career, and it also further solidified my desire to become a teacher.

How have you gotten involved throughout your college career?

During my time at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder, I engaged in bio-inspired soft robotics research in Professor Sean Humbert's Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Lab, completed a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) under Dr. Derek Paley at the University of Maryland, researched Lie theory through an independent study with Professor Keith Kearnes in the math department, and completed another REU in the math department, where I studied algebraic combinatorics under Associate Professor Nathanial Thiem. The intellectual challenge of conducting research in advanced topics in engineering and math was most rewarding. I often felt overwhelmed with how to make progress in these research experiences because research can be very nonlinear and unpredictable, but that was ultimately the most valuable thing I learned. Since research is a challenging and unpredictable endeavor, patience and persistence are key.

I have also completed a mechanical engineering internship at Spectra Logic Corporation, was the systems engineer on my senior design team that is making a LiDAR scanner for NOAA and was the systems engineer for my component design team. The most rewarding thing about these experiences was the challenge of applying technical knowledge to an actual project.

In terms of service, I served as a missionary in Banja Luka, Bosnia, was a group leader for the TEAMS after-school program at two local elementary schools. Whether it was connecting with Bosnians who share my same heritage or goofing around with elementary school kids while doing fun engineering projects, getting to connect with people was the best part. I have also been offering individual tutoring since I was a sophomore in high school. In college, I tried to keep this going as a tutor for the Mathematics Academic Resource Center (MARC) and a learning assistant for Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 applied math classes. It is great seeing how happy students are when they finally understand a concept they’ve been struggling with.

I was also a member of the Engineering Honors Program; the math department’s math club; Pi Mu Epsilon, a national math honor society; and Phi Beta Kappa, a national academic fraternity.

If you could relive any moment from your college career, what would it be?

The moment I would most want to relive is going on an expedition through the engineering center with Lindsay Erickson, my best friend from high school.

What do you plan to pursue post-graduation?

I am going to pursue a PhD in control theory. After that, I hope to teach at a relatively small university.

What is the impact you hope to have on the world?

My true passion is teaching. So even though I love research and developing new concepts or ideas, I think that the impact I hope to have on the world is inspiring the students that I teach.

Any closing remarks?

I’d like to thank all of my engineering and math professors; Mr. Scott Kindt, Mrs. Laurie Brandvold and Mrs. Jana Cline from my high school and my mom and dad for always encouraging me to explore any topic that piques my curiosity!

Jonathan Bosnich is being awarded an Outstanding Undergraduate Award from both the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. Check out his Q&A to learn more.

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Outstanding Student Q&A: Morgan Kauss, Outstanding Undergraduate for Service

Anonymous — Fri, 08 May 2020 14:08:00 +0000

Outstanding Student Q&A: Morgan Kauss, Outstanding Undergraduate for Service Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/08/2020 - 08:08

Outstanding Undergraduate for Service Morgan Kauss

Morgan Kauss is a mechanical engineering student being awarded an Outstanding Undergraduate for Service Award from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. Learn more about her and her accomplishments in the Q&A below.

Share about your background and what led you to study engineering?

I come from a very STEM-focused family and was placed in an accelerated math program at a young age. I was encouraged to study engineering as the degree oﬀers endless opportunities, and I was still ﬁguring out what I wanted to do.

Originally, I was much more focused on pursuing a pre-medical route than engineering and started college fulﬁlling both my engineering curriculum and pre-medical requirements. I always wanted to help people, so I began working as a caregiver for a woman in the community. It wasn’t until this experience that I learned the impact that I could make in the medical ﬁeld with technological innovation and medical devices. This realization led me to become passionate about engineering.

What does the award you are receiving mean to you?

To me, this award is recognition not just for my eﬀorts, but for the greater purpose that I have been working toward throughout my college career. I am extremely passionate about my mission to improve the lives of those suﬀering from medical conditions through the combination of engineering and empathy.

Have you received any other awards/honors?

I was one of the 2020 Student Leaders of the Year and received the Active Learning Award this year.

Morgan Kauss at the summit of her first ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ 14er.

Share an accomplishment from your time at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder that you are proud of.

I am most proud of creating Engineers in Medicine at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder. This student organization truly encompasses my mission and provided me with a platform to positively impact the lives of others. Through this club, I was able to gather a diverse group of students who wanted to make a diﬀerence in the medical ﬁeld and expand our perspectives through guest speakers, volunteer work and projects. The club provided me with the backing to start the Exo-Seat that was my senior design project and will be delivered to help a woman in the community.

More than anything, I am proud that this club will continue its impact at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder past my graduation with an amazing group of students leading a new project. Engineers in Medicine is now helping pediatric patients at Children's Hospital ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ in partnership with EcosySTEM ARTS.

How have you gotten involved throughout your college career?

I’ve been lucky to be involved in a number of organizations and other opportunities throughout my four years. I was a part of the Global Engineering RAP and joined the Engineering Leadership Program my freshman year. The summer after my freshman year, I was a marketing intern at Arlington International Racecourse.

Sophomore year, I started my own student organization called Engineers in Medicine and worked as a mentor in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. I also was in the YOU’RE@ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ research program which provided me with initial research experience and led me to begin working under a postdoc in Professor Corey Neu’s Soft Tissue Bioengineering Lab as an independent study. That summer, I continued my research and began work as a caregiver for a woman in the community.

Junior year, I worked as the lead teaching assistant for freshman projects and started the Exo-Seat through my club in eﬀort to improve quality of life for the woman in the community that I was a caregiver for. My electrical engineering partner and I were able to put together a team, get the project through an initial design review and compete in the New Venture Challenge. We then found a pro bono sponsor and got it adopted as our senior design project for the following year. That summer, I worked as an engineering intern at a startup medical device company called Sana Health.

Senior year, I continued my internship and worked on the Exo-Seat through senior design. Engineers in Medicine also partnered with EcosySTEM ARTS, a local nonproﬁt. Through this partnership, we began creating educational carts for pediatric patients at Children’s Hospital ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ.

In addition to this, I got involved in the great ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ outdoors. I hiked all of the Boulder peaks and a number of fourteeners, along with many morning hikes at Chautauqua and walks along Boulder Creek. I began climbing at The Spot Bouldering Gym, Boulder Canyon and the ﬂatirons and ran a lot, completing 5ks, a 10k and training for a half marathon that was canceled due to the pandemic.

If you could relive any moment from your college career, what would it be?

I would relive hiking my ﬁrst fourteener, Mt. Sherman, at the start of my freshman year. A group of friends took me with them up a less-traveled route. I remember running on the top of the mountain getting so excited that I reached the summit until my friend would yell behind me that it was a false peak, so I’d run to the next one. Reaching the summit was one of the most beautiful and amazing experiences of my life. It led to my love of the mountains that became a huge part of my college career and life moving forward.

What do you plan to pursue post-graduation?

Post-graduation, I hope to relocate to California and secure a job in the medical device ﬁeld. I am particularly interested in positions where I would be able to represent a device and work closely with patients and physicians. I am also currently working with a couple other students on a startup and will continue to pursue new implementations of our technology.

What is the impact you hope to have on the world?

I hope to dedicate my life to improving the quality of life of individuals with chronic and terminal medical conditions through integrating empathy for patients with the technological solutions of engineering.

Any closing remarks?

I would like to thank both my mother and Cindy Muir for inspiring me to pursue this mission and for providing me with the perspective needed to help others. I would also like to thank Angela Thieman Dino and Sonya Schuppan for supporting me through every crazy idea I have had that led to this. Finally, I want to thank my father for talking me into applying to ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder in the ﬁrst place.

Morgan Kauss is being awarded an Outstanding Undergraduate for Service Award from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. Check out her Q&A to learn more.

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Outstanding Student Q&A: Luke Pagni, Outstanding Undergraduate for Academic Achievement

Anonymous — Fri, 08 May 2020 14:07:00 +0000

Outstanding Student Q&A: Luke Pagni, Outstanding Undergraduate for Academic Achievement Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/08/2020 - 08:07

Outstanding Undergraduate for Academic Achievement Luke Pagni

Luke Pagni is a mechanical engineering student participating in the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ-CMU partnership program. He is being awarded an Outstanding Undergraduate for Academic Achievement Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Learn more about him and his accomplishments in the Q&A below.

Share about your background and what led you to study engineering.

My older brother was studying mechanical engineering, and it seemed like a good major. It worked out really well, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.

What does the award you are receiving mean to you?

This award validates my belief that hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. It represents thousands of hours of diligent effort.

Share an accomplishment from your time at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder that you are most proud of.

I am most proud of my senior design project. I made significant contributions to a product that will be available for purchase this summer.

How have you gotten involved throughout your college career?

I have been a structural engineering intern with West Star Aviation for the past two years designing components for private aircraft. I was also a resident assistant on campus, worked as a student research assistant at the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Mesa University Human Performance Lab and was the president of the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Mesa University Trap and Skeet Team.

If you could relive any moment from your college career, what would it be?

I would relive the entire experience. I enjoyed my time as a college student and would do it all again the same way.

What do you plan to pursue post-graduation?

I plan to start a career in an engineering profession. I also have plans to pursue a master’s degree.

What is the impact you hope to have on the world?

I hope to provide a service that benefits the rural mountain community in Glenwood Springs, ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ where I plan to live and work.

Any closing remarks?

I would like to thank my family for their continuous support, my brother, Gunnar, also a mechanical engineering graduate from ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder, for being my role model, and my fiancé for her unwavering encouragement in my academic pursuits.

Luke Pagni is being awarded an Outstanding Undergraduate for Academic Achievement Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Check out his Q&A to learn more.

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Outstanding Student Q&A: Luke Pagni, Outstanding Undergraduate for Academic Achievement

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