Outstanding students from each discipline in the School of Engineering are recognized by the faculty of their department for academic excellence and notable contributions to the department and the school.
Congratulations to our graduating students!
What's Next: Visit UC Merced Commencement
I chose UC Merced because I wanted to stay in the Central Valley, a region that represents my identity and values. Pursuing my undergraduate education here allowed me to remain connected to my Hispanic roots while giving back to the community that has always supported me.
Unsure whether I wanted to pursue a career in medicine or engineering due to my passion for both, I saw Bioengineering as a program that would prepare me for either path. The major not only offered a strong foundation for the pre-medical route, but also included engineering courses relevant to areas like medical devices and biopharmaceutics. This versatility allowed me to explore my different interests while gaining knowledge and skills that could be applied across various industries.
I was inspired to pursue Bioengineering due to the medical challenges faced by minority groups in the Central Valley. Barriers such as limited access to healthcare and language differences create significant disparities. I wanted to address these issues, whether as a physician or an engineer, by working to make medical devices or drugs more affordable and accessible for underserved communities. This drive motivates me to excel in my career and make a meaningful impact.
Throughout my academic journey, I have been fortunate to have incredible mentors who shaped my growth. My graduate research mentor, Dr. Wenyan Guan, challenged me with complex projects that not only enhanced my skills but also had real-world significance. This support allowed me to participate on multiple projects and be able to publish our research findings on multiple occasions. Similarly, my principal investigator, Dr. Patti LiWang, supported my professional development by accepting me into her lab while also encouraging me to pursue different opportunities. Her support allowed me to expand my skillset through additional research experiences at Columbia University and UCSF, community service through College Corps at UC Merced, and shadowing physicians at UCSF Medical School to explore my diverse interests. The support and experiences I gained in the LiWang Lab have been significant in shaping my career goals and aspirations.
One of my most memorable academic experiences at UC Merced was joining the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Chapter. Being part of this community provided me with a strong sense of support and belonging. Through SHPE, I gained numerous opportunities, including the chance to attend the 2023 and 2024 SHPE National Conventions. At these events, I competed in a research competition earning 2nd place, and I had the opportunity to interview with industry-leading companies, securing internship and full-time offers with Medtronic and other companies I had once thought were beyond my reach.
At Medtronic, I was able to intern as a Software Quality Engineer in the Summer of 2024, where I was able to obtain a return internship for the Fall of 2024 as a R&D Engineer and a full time offer for January 2025 post-graduation. These achievements were made possible by the UC Merced SHPE Chapter, whose commitment to empowering Hispanic students in engineering helped me break barriers and gain visibility in industries where our representation is often limited.
Joining SHPE has been an important moment in my academic journey, and I am deeply grateful for the support they provided. Moving forward, I am determined to give back to the chapter and ensure that future generations of hispanic engineers at UC Merced have access to the same, if not better, opportunities that I was fortunate enough to experience.
After graduation, I will be joining Medtronic as a Systems Engineer I in their Diabetes Operating Unit! During my time at Medtronic, I aim to gain exposure to various engineering disciplines while pursuing a Master's degree to specialize in my area of interest. Additionally, this experience will help me determine whether engineering is the path I want to continue or if I should return to the medical field and pursue a career as a physician.
To all undergraduate engineering students, never let your background limit your potential. Everything you aspire to achieve is within reach! The key to unlocking these opportunities lies in finding the right mentors, resources, and opportunities that will guide you toward your goals. At UC Merced, take full advantage of opportunities like undergraduate research, engineering clubs, and competitions, and once you obtain experience, don't hesitate to seek out external opportunities, such as industry internships or positions. Get involved, explore your passions, and—most importantly—build strong connections with fellow students, alumni, professors, and professionals.
I have been in the Central Valley for the majority of my life, so being able to attend a University in the same area allowed me to
start giving back to my community. I was lucky enough to have my older sister attend this university, so I was able to grow a familiarity with the school that would eventually grow into my new home.
I had experience in the Biotechnology field and was introduced to gene engineering in high school. I wanted to develop my skills and since UC Merced had not yet introduced a Biotechnology major, I decided to choose between Biology and Bioengineering. Ultimately, what helped my decision was my love for math which started at a young age.
The biggest inspiration throughout my entire college career has been my family. Both of my parents sacrificed their own chances at higher education to raise my sister and I. My sister, Sofia, has been one of my biggest mentors throughout my academic life opening doors for me and guiding me whenever I felt lost. I thoroughly believe that this award is more of a product of my family's support and guidance than of my own work.
The most memorable academic experience I have had has been the various group projects I have been able to partake in. Another would be spending countless late nights with my friends studying for our exams in the library, which I will always look back on and appreciate.
After Graduating, I will be entering the job industry either as a Biomedical Engineer or as a Chemist. After working in the industry for a few years, I hope to return to school and obtain a Master's Degree with hopes of returning to the industry to pursue management roles.
I am a transfer student who is majoring in Bioengineering. Initially, I planned on majoring in Computer Science Engineering, but as college was approaching, it didn’t feel like the right fit for me. I became very interested in Biology and after doing research, I decided to major in Bioengineering because it combined my interest in Biology as well as Engineering and I’m really glad that I made this choice. Before transferring to UC Merced, I was attending community college. My experience here was a little rough because I felt that a lot of people were telling me “No”. Every semester, I was trying to take the maximum number of units so that I could transfer to a university faster. A lot of my advisors and professors at the time discouraged me from doing so and told me I would not be able to do it. Also, being a female in an engineering field, a lot of my male colleagues would also try to discourage me and would tell me that I am in the wrong field of study. Instead of being discouraged, I used this as motivation to do well and was able to transfer to the university after 2.5 years. When I transferred, I was greeted with extremely friendly and encouraging faculty and students at UC Merced. One of the reasons that I chose to attend this school is that it was a smaller campus and that meant that it would be easier to interact with my professors and colleagues who shared the same major as me. Unfortunately, the semester I transferred was the time that the pandemic hit, and I was only able to spend two months on campus. Because of this, I was not able to join any hands-on research labs which was something I was looking forward to when I transferred. Without experience, it has been rough searching for internship opportunities during the pandemic. This motivated me to push myself and aim high in my classes. I also took some time to teach myself some programming languages like python and C++ as I know this will help me with my career. During the two years that I spent studying at UC Merced, I am most grateful for the support of my family, my boyfriend, my professors, and the friends that I have made along the way. As I am ending my journey here, I am preparing myself to find work at a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company to find out what part of my field I am most interested in and then later use this knowledge to return to school and get my master’s degree.
I chose UC Merced because of its spirit of innovation and growth, and because of my own roots in the Merced area. Attending UC Merced feels a little like giving back to my hometown and being a part of its growth.
When I decided to pursue a career in STEM as a youngteenager, I wanted to be sure that the work I did could make a positive, measurable impact on someone’s life. Bioengineering seemed like the obvious choice, as a practical science focused on studying and treating human disease.
I can say with complete confidence that I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for my family’s incredible support and for their value of my happiness and well-being above my academic success. I am also grateful to the Spencer Lab, my friends, and to my favorite teacher for mentoring me and cheering me on.
Participating in undergraduate research in Dr. Joel Spencer's Lab has been invaluable to my growth as a scientist, an engineer and an individual. My time there has been by far the most formative period of my undergraduate education and has positively shaped the way I think and address problems not just in science, but in everyday life.
I hope to begin graduate school in Fall 2023, with an emphasis on neuroengineering and medical device design. In grad school and beyond, I want to maintain a vision of serving others and improving quality of life through collaboration with the medical community.
I chose UC Merced because it was a new and growing university. I was drawn to the opportunities it offered for students to shape and expand their fields of study. As an aspiring civil engineer, I saw UC Merced as the perfect place to contribute to a developing legacy while preparing for my career. Coming from a small charter high school, I also appreciated the university's smaller class sizes, which allowed me to form meaningful connections with professors, lecturers, and TAs. These aspects made UC Merced the ideal choice for my academic journey.
I was initially amazed to learn just how much of our world is shaped by civil engineers—from bridges and dams to parks and homes. The vast development and innovation created by civil engineers inspired me to be part of that transformative work. From a young age, I’ve had a love for art and sought a career that could combine my creative interests with a stable and impactful profession. Initially, I considered becoming a graphic designer, but my perspective shifted after taking a SPARK class on architecture and learning about the incredible projects built by engineers. That experience solidified my desire to become a civil engineer. I wanted a career where I could make a meaningful impact on the world, whether by helping provide housing to those in need or creating public green spaces where children and families could gather and thrive. I ultimately chose civil engineering because it offers me the opportunity to use my skills and creativity to make a difference for the greater good.
My greatest inspiration and unwavering source of support is my mom. As a PhD student herself, she understood the challenges and demands of academic life. She has been my rock, always there during late nights when I needed guidance or simply someone to talk to. Her encouragement and belief in me ensured I never lost sight of my goal to graduate, even when times were tough. She also played an instrumental role in managing the logistical and financial aspects of university life, easing the burdens that could have otherwise deterred me. Without her, I wouldn’t have persevered in civil engineering, and for that, I am endlessly grateful. Thank you, Mama, for your love and support—you mean the world and several galaxies to me.
One of the most memorable academic experiences of my undergraduate journey was presenting my NASA KelpFire research at the 2024 summer symposium. After dedicating the entire spring semester and summer to this project with my teammates, standing before an audience and sharing our findings felt like a monumental achievement. I vividly remember the proud expressions on my family’s faces as I explained sedimentation runoff and its coastal consequences, a moment that validated all the effort I had put into the research. This opportunity allowed me to contribute to meaningful work and reinforced my sense of purpose in making an impact through civil engineering.
As an engineer, my immediate goal is to prepare for and successfully pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, a critical step toward obtaining my professional licensure. After graduation, I plan to dedicate time to studying for the FE before beginning my role as a Field Engineer at Hensel Phelps Construction Company. After gaining some years of professional experience, I intend to return to school to pursue a master’s degree. This advanced education will enhance my technical skills and position me as a more valuable asset to my company and the broader engineering profession. My ultimate career aspiration is to work for the Department of Energy, where I can contribute to projects focused on utilities and renewable energy. In the far future, I plan to obtain my Professional Engineering (PE) license and maybe go back to school again for a PhD.
Receiving the Outstanding Student Award was a collective achievement, not just my own. This milestone wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of faculty, friends, and family who encouraged and guided me throughout my journey. A special shout-out goes to the incredible twins (you know who you are!) who tackled difficult classes with me. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who played a role in my success. Thank you all!
Camille Vo came into UC Merced under MSE, but after stumbling upon a nonprofit that teaches adults how to code, she knew that Computer Science was her path.Camille can attribute her success to many amazing organizations on campus, namely the Center for Career and Professional Advancement, the Margo F. Souza Leadership Center, Vagina Monologues, the Structural Electronics Lab, and most importantly, the Society of Women Engineers and OIT Communications. Staff and friends from these departments have given her the professional guidance necessary to thrive as a student at UC Merced and as a student of life. Come January, Camille will begin work as a developer for the global semiconductor company Texas Instruments.
Chris DeSoto is an undergraduate student at the University of California, Merced where he studies Computer Science and Engineering. Before transferring to UC Merced, Chris attended Merced College where he maintained a 3.6 GPA. While there, he held a position as President of the Merced College Computer Science Club, organizing events and fundraisers. At UC Merced, Chris has been involved in undergraduate research in Adaptive Networked Distributed Embedded Systems (ANDES) Lab under Professor Alberto Cerpa. During this time, he worked with graduate student researchers to aggregate and analyze data from ANDES lab’s smart HVAC system. In addition, he has done research in developing new adaptive time synchronization protocols for wireless sensor networks.
Professionally, Chris has had the opportunity to work as a software engineer intern at twice. First, at E&J Gallo Winery in the summer of 2017 and, later, at Cisco Meraki in the summer of 2019. There he has worked to expand his software development and leadership skills. In his spare time, Chris enjoys playing guitar and listening to music.
Elsie Cortes was born in Nogales, Arizona, but has spent the majority of her life in the central valley since moving there in 2003. She is the first member of her family to be born in the United States, and part of the family’s second generation of women to enter college. After earning her Associate’s degree in Applied Mathematics at Clovis Community College, she transferred to the University of California, Merced, to pursue computer science. While studying for her degree, she worked part-time as a tutor for the Mathnasium of Clovis-Fresno. She also volunteers her services to the Madera County Child Abuse Council as a consultant for the office’s database development program. In 2019, Elsie joined a team of students to create a mobile application for Nestle – their project won the Top Finalist award for UC Merced’s Innovate to Grow Mobile App Challenge that year. After graduating, Elsie plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, continuing her current research in the approximation of layered boundary integrals to simulate optical cloaking with Dr. Camille Carvalho of UC Merced.
Alex graduated UC Merced with a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science & Engineering. He originally chose UC Merced because of his older sister’s previous attendance at the university. Alex is a phenomenal student, both in and out of the classroom. He was a star student in UCM’s Computer Networks class. So much so that when he was tutoring students in nesC, a network embedded systems programming language, his peers regarded him as the nes-tor. Wiring a series of 555 timers to a breadboard and an LCD panel, dubbing it the clock biscuit, Alex taught his peers circuits and computer organization. While he maintains his superb grades, he also participates heavily in extracurriculars and research such as being a member in ACS, MESA Lab, NOS, EES, IEEE, AIAA, BMCC Systems, and JM. While Alex is hardworking in his academics, he cares deeply about the community and can often be found enjoying himself in the crystal clear Little Lake. He noticed that many of his peers were having trouble registering for classes because of their capacity, so he built Happy Reggy (a silly abbreviation of happy registration.) It was originally a program used to continuously track course availability from the registrar so that he would be notified of openings in courses that he needed. Many of his peers also were in similar situations, so to accommodate their needs, he converted his program into a service running on a Raspberry Pi in his dorm room sending outgoing emails. Alex started his time at UC Merced in a SPARK class where he met the most influential teacher he would ever have the honor and prestige to come across. This man taught him the ins and outs of computer science. His original dream was to become a quantitative trading analyst to create algorithms that predict the stock market, though that passion did not go according to plan due to the unforeseen consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its effect on the stock market. Alex has several plans for his future, one of which is to become the cofounder of a revolutionary startup based in San Luis Obispo.
UC Merced stands out as a new school that is constantly adapting to trends in industry and academia. From my experience, a lot of the engineering curriculum at UCM are heavily applied and updated to match what is in-demand which is an advantage that current students have. I attended UC Merced for the benefits of a newer, smaller school. For example, it's got an excellent faculty to student ratio meaning a richer education experience. There's also plenty of research/internship opportunities (e.g. UROC, REUs, CITRIS) that undergraduates can participate in. It's situated in a quiet place and lacks distractions so we can focus on our school work.
I pursued computer science and engineering because I am deeply fascinated by how computers work. Classes like Computer Organizationand Operating Systems uncover the internals of what really goes on "under the hood". Since it's taught as an engineering discipline here, we also learn about the circuits used to design something like a memory chip. Combined with the well-defined career outcomes that computer science can provide, I chose
to study this major at UCM.
I'd like to acknowledge my mentors and professors for guiding me through my undergraduate journey. I'm grateful to Dr. Xiaoyi Lu and the PADSYS lab for proving me a research opportunity working on object detection and NVMe SSDs. My mentor, Dr. Vy Duong, actively provided guidance during my summer research experience at the Joint Genome Institute. Dr. Alexander Petersen's Spark class on "The Science of Science" was a source of inspiration for me to pursue research.
Finally, I appreciate Dr. Santosh Chandreskhar and Dr. Stefano Foresti for coordinating the CSE120 Software Engineering course which provides all CSE students with practical industry experience.
My most memorable experience is the school of engineering's Innovate2Grow event held in Spring 2023. I worked with 4 other teammates to develop a solution for our client, Omron, to improve warehouse robots operating on slippery floors. I'll never forget how nervous and excited the team and I were to finally present what we have been working on for the past semester and finally see the project through to its success.
Many of the undergraduate courses teach computer science subjects at an introductory level. I aim to deepen my understanding in these topics by continue my education in graduate school. I'm currently applying to some graduate programs with a concentration in high-performance computing (my field of interest). I'll also be continuing current research projects and embarking on new research topics.
The UC education system is one of the best in the world. Merced gave me a chance as my community college GPA was not stellar, and being accepted here I was able to turn that around and perform at my best, leading me to plan on attending grad schools at another UC campus.
I enjoy every aspect of programming and always have. Every syntax error, every library dependency version mismatch, every bad documentation website, every micro concussion I’ve given myself banging my head on the desk when my model predicts worse than random. I see all these things as learning experiences that make me not just a stronger computer scientist, but a stronger person to. As every challenge and every struggle, no matter how small, is a chance to grow.
Prof. Chandrasekhar taught my algorithms class, and despite it being a very dense course, he was able to put effort into engaging with the students in his class. I performed well in this class largely because of that, and it led him recommending to my other mentor Prof. Andresen Eguiluz, as he accepted me onto his team for computational biology research and I've continued with him since. Under his guidance I've developed data analysis tools, published papers, and decided to apply for grad school. Both of these professors were also incredibly supportive when I had a serious accident shattering my ankle January 2023, requiring me to spend 3 months of last semester at home recovering from ankle reconstructive surgery. My other three professors that semester had no sympathy and I was forced to drop their classes, but these two accommodated me working remotely during this time, and were both incredibly supportive. This past semester while continuing work with Prof. Andresen Eguiluz, I also began a quite hefty project with Prof. Chandrasekhar, and it has been a wonderful opportunity to learn and also show what I am capable of. I also need to thank Prof. Su for recognizing my capabilities in his OOP class, and being the first to broach the subject of this award. It truly heightened my confidence as a student and a programmer, and allowed me to set my goals even higher. Thank you to my mentors the last several years, I don't know how I would've gotten where I am without you all!
As mentioned earlier, I suffered a traumatic injury last semester, turning most of my ankle into a crushed bag of chips. It was just 2 weeks into the semester, so I could have easily just taken a sabbatical and returned for Fall semester, but I was committed to what I had signed up for. The next few months were hard, but I was able to effectively lead my capstone team to develop an image classification pipeline, and continue work adding models and visualization capabilities to a biophysics experimental data analysis software, that I would eventually present at the CCBM undergraduate fellowship research symposium when Ireturned to campus the last few weeks of the semester as I relearned to walk.
Short term, I will be continuing research with the threeprojects I have currently until publications can be made, and I will be looking for internships or part time work as I graduate this semester. I am also currently finishing graduate school applications for U Berkeley, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Davis to do either machine learning of computational biology research, as these are passions I was able to find for myself the last couple of years here.
I had a lot of peers and family members who recommended UC Merced for various reasons, and after spending almost 4 years here, I can confidently say I have made the right choice. Initially, I was attracted to the modern campus look and the smaller classroom sizes. Over time, what I have come to value most is the supportive and friendly community that UC Merced fosters and the opportunities available for personal and career growth.
As a kid, I was always fascinated with logic puzzles, so when I was introduced to programming in middle school, I was hooked. I enjoyed the problem-solving aspects of coding and the ability to make something out of nothing. Computer Science is such a versatile field with countless practical applications, so when it came time to choose my major, the decision was clear.
My biggest inspiration has to be my mother, who has always been incredibly supportive and my bastion during difficult times. I'd also like to thank my friends for always being there and pushing me to go outside and grow.
While it's difficult to choose just one most memorable academic experience, from staying up late at night with friends racing to meet a hackathon deadline or the high of steadily building the academic comeback, I feel the most rewarding experience I had was doing research in Dr. Rusu's lab. It felt immensely gratifying learning how to use the necessary tools and libraries for data analysis and getting real experience with real results.
After graduation, I'd love to get some career experience and then return for a master's or PhD.
I chose UC Merced because when I was looking for colleges during my senior year of high school it stood out to me as a new campus near my hometown with the prestigious name of an University of California and the curriculum to back it up.
From a young age, computers fascinated me which is not that hard since the simplicity and complexity of computers go hand in hand to make them function. I also wanted to learn more about coding, so that helped further cement my decision on taking this major.
My family inspired me to go to college, as I am the first to graduate in my family. My family comes from a diverse background and the highest they had ever gotten was my brother taking a vocational course and my mother dropping out before she could get her degree when she was pregnant with my brother.
A memorable academic experience would be the clubs on UC Merced campus, there were so many and I felt like I barely had time to enjoy any, but the ones that I joined and went to I enjoyed very much.
I have joined a startup part-time, and can't go into details because of my contract, but I hope it goes somewhere profitable or if not at least becomes something stable. I also plan to apply for some work in my hometown to find a stable job to fall back on just in case.
Man, where do I start? I appreciate the slower, more thorough pace the semester system accommodates. I'm the kind of person who has a LOT of questions, so having more time to ask them is always great. I also come from a really small high school, so a smaller UC was familiar and comfortable for me. Not only that, but the smaller classes allow opportunities to talk directly to the teacher, both in and out of lecture. Through this open communication channel I've been able to get to know many of my professors, and that's an experience I don't think you can get at other big schools. Getting to know the faculty opened my eyes to the plethora of professional opportunities on campus, and the research I've done has been a blast! One more thing: 99% of the students I've met are amazing, friendly people that are more than happy to talk. I was worried about having to face the smug or elitist atmosphere I heard about going into college, but most of the people I've run into have been incredibly friendly and down-to-earth. So, "Why UC Merced"? Merced is a smaller but opportunity-rich school dedicated to not only research, but also to the success of its students, and you can feel that dedication in everything the campus has to offer.
Being a computer science major was a bit of a wild pick for me. My high school was mainly agricultural, and I didn’t have a lot of technology around me growing up. But the technology that I did experience fascinated me. I play a lot of video games, and I think aspiring to be a videogame designer was a big reason I chose Computer Science and Engineering as my major. I had no idea there was so much to explore in the world of tech - especially now that AI is taking off. I still play video games, but making my way through the world of CompSci has led to a ton of new interests in AI, computer architecture, web development, etc. I have zero regrets. Computer Science and Engineering has been a challenging but exceedingly rewarding major, and I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking to learn a little (or a lot) more about how computers work.
*crying* I’d like to thank my mom, and my dad, and..Just kidding. But seriously, thank you to my parents for lifting me up when I needed it most. I got diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic during a tough semester, and I wouldn’t have been able to handle everything going on without them. I’d also like to thank my professors. Not only do I credit them with teaching me everything I’ve learned at college, but they’re some of the coolest people I’ve met. They’ve had answers to every question I throw at them and are always happy to help out, even though I know they’re busy with their research. A couple special mentions: Thank you Cerpa for teaching by far the most challenging and rewarding course I’ve done to date (and being an absolutely amazing human). Thank you Prof. Jeon, Dhawal and Kevin for being accommodating, caring, and kind to me throughout my research. Thank you Kyrilov for giving me the best start to coding I could have asked for going into college, and Santosh for being a good professor and for sharing so many opportunities with me. Thank you Castro, Hepworth, and Carpin for being some of the chillest teachers I’ve met, and thank you Petia and Luis for being the best bosses I could ask for. And lastly, thank you to all of my friends. Our study sessions and the laughs and memories we’ve made are the highlights of my experience, and I’ll never forget them.
Hmm.. it’s hard to pick just one, considering how memorable my time at the UC has been, but I think if I were to remember anything 60 years from now, it’d be the project I worked on in CSE160: Computer Networks with Cerpa. To all future CSE majors thinking of taking the class, please read the following. Computer Networks was by far the hardest class I took on campus. But it wasn’t due to unfair exams, excessive workloads, or a lack of assistance. Professor Cerpa is the most caring, understanding, and personable professor I’ve had the pleasure of working with. You can tell he’s on your side, and really wants you to understand the material. But he expects a lot of you, and these expectations are most prevalent in the semester-long project of the course. It is by far the most grueling and complicated web of connections you will have to code yourself, and seeing it functioning at the breakpoints throughout the semester is possibly the best feeling of relief you can get. The late nights I spent with my partner, Ryan Milstrey, are some of the most emotional nights I’ve had on campus - fear of deadlines, joy when the code compiles, despair when it doesn’t. The course is a challenge, but powering through that challenge is an experience unlike any other I’ve had on campus. If you’re looking to learn something - and I mean really learn something - there is no learning experience more memorable than Computer Networks.
As of right now, I’m off to work at Lockheed Martin! I’ll continue working on some personal projects, and CSE will remain a main component of my day-to-day. Lockheed is the kind of company you can build a career with, so I hope to stick around there to keep our country safe.
Uhh, yeah! So much else! But I only have 250 words, so I’ll have to keep it brief. I have a few extra people to thank: Thank you Jadyn, my lovely wife-to-be over at UC Davis, for keeping me in good spirits and being my gaming buddy for the past 6 years; Thank you Richard, my brother-in-arms for our Capstone project, for inspiring me with your work ethic and dedication to everything you set your mind to; Thank you Ryan, Emi, Gabe, Alondra, Luis, Berrydal, Porfi, Erika, Elyas, Michelle, Memo, Carol, Josh, Jet, Tejas, Shri, and so many other people. You all inspire me to be the best friend and student I can be, and I really look up to each and every one of you guys. Thanks for joining me on this crazy ride through college, and let’s stay in touch, yeah? To anyone else still reading this, I hope you found some inspiration with my experiences. I fully believe everyone has the resources and the potential to succeed here at UC Merced, and that includes you. So push forward. Push ahead, through the challenges in your way. You have the potential for greatness. Go out and do something great :D If you need a point of contact in the future, feel free to add me on LinkedIn (/paulstratton56). See you all around. Go UC Merced!!
“It’s hard to believe that it’s over, isn’t it? Funny, how we get attached to the struggle.”
~ Granny, Celeste
UC Merced was the natural choice for me. I feel that I could identify with UC Merced's student population; I'm a first-generation college student, an immigrant, and from a low-income background. I was attracted to the financial aid and scholarships offered as well as the low cost of living in the city of Merced, which made college financially feasible for someone like me.
I've always felt that computer science was for me. I've been fiddling with computers ever since I was young, and I've always had a knack for being able to break things. Luckily, computer security and hacking are all about breaking things! I'm specifically interested in digital forensics and network security, and I enjoy analyzing attacks and hunting down threats as well as exercising offensive attacks within the network arena (ethically, of course!). It's just what I find really cool and fun to do, and I think it's great that there will always be more for me to learn.
I'm just the summation of the influences of all the people around me. I thank my parents, first and foremost, for working hard day and night in an unfamiliar country so that I could one day go to college. I thank my team, IrisSec, for teaching me so much and having so much patience for me, and for always being awesome! I thank everyone I work with at UC Merced Extension for always having my best interests at heart and giving me access to so many opportunities and connections. I thank my professors and TAs for having infinite patience for me these past 3.5 years.
I specifically want to single out and thank Professor Cerpa and PhD student Jothi for my experiences taking a grad class as an undergrad this past semester. Professor Cerpa has truly intellectually challenged me and I've grown a lot as a result (and it's REALLY been a great challenge!), and PhD student Jothi has always treated me with kindness and understanding and has mentored me not just with my research project, but with my life. I appreciate their patience and understanding, and I aspire to have their passion for their art!
I've had plenty of memorable academic experiences, from the series of events I hosted for HackMerced where I created some sort of vulnerable system and taught attendees how to hack them ("Hack the Power/Packet/Tracks!"), to staying up night after night to work on my projects for my computer networks class with my classmate (and later, friend) Nathan. Perhaps none are more memorable than my experiences teaching and mentoring at Willie Lewis Brown Jr. Youth Academy (Summer Youth Academy) hosted by UC Merced Extension each summer.
It was so deeply wholesome to see in middle and high school students the same spark that I'd had when I was their age. I'll always remember the middle school student I had who took my coding bootcamp series over Zoom during the middle of the pandemic and created a website to show off their art in a gallery. That student came back the next summer when we hosted the academy in-person and thanked me for my encouragement, because that's what led pushed them to continue doing art.
As much as I impacted the lives of those students, they've impacted mine.
I'm not totally sure yet! I'm about to be on the market pretty soon so it's time I start looking for a job more seriously. I would like to stay in Merced for a little bit longer to work on some personal projects before moving back to Orange County because I miss my family. There's a whole backlog of hijinks and shenanigans I've yet to blog about, and then I should probably join my team, IrisSec, in finishing to prepare for our first hosted CTF in early January. I'm definitely coming back as an alumni in March for HackMerced. In the meanwhile, in the gap after I graduate but before I find a job, I'll probably be working on a series of side projects and blogging about my computer hijinks.
This has been an awesome chapter of my life!
I've lived near UC Merced my whole life, I first stepped on campus during a 2nd grade field trip. It always sat pretty high on my choice of schools. The fact I could live at home during my education is what finalized my decision. Being able to live waive living on campus allowed me to go to school without taking out a loan.
When I was in elementary school, Ernie Montoya, a classroom tech who now works here, was working at my elementary school. He brought the Hour of Code into my classroom, and I fell in love with coding. I knew that it was something I wanted to continue doing forever.
My parents are probably one of my biggest motivators. They've always encouraged me to do my best and supported me throughout all my education.
One of the most memorable Academic Experiences for me was winning the I2G AG Division. I2G is both the last part and the whole of the CSE capstone class, a competition where we show off the projects we worked on for our mentors. My group had a scheduling algorithm as our project, compared to a lot of the more novel projects, the concept wasn't particularly groundbreaking. No one really expected our group to win. But my group worked hard during the semester. We completed all our goals and took care to showcase why our project was important and how it was different from existing software. Then after the poster segment and the presentations, sitting in that crowd and hearing that our group won. It was really cool.
I am currently looking at grad school PhD programs.
I am Yingshi Liu, a first-generation college student majoring in Computer Science and Engineering. I would like to thank my loving parents who fully support me to pursue wherever path I want to take and whatever things I want to learn. Their trust and love encourage me to walk towards any possibilities. I spend most of my college life focusing on academic. Slowly, I found out that many small but fundamental problems determine how well I can absorb new topics, so I am very thankful for all help I got from my TAs and professors. I am especially grateful that Professor Su and Professor Du provide great classroom environment for students to ask questions, which help me build up a solid knowledge base and interest in Object-oriented Programming and Operating System. They also raise my confidence, which is meaningful to me because now I am more certain that I have a strong potential to do well or even better as I go to grad school soon.
I chose UC Merced for its vibrant community of Latinx and diverse students, reflecting my background as a former undocumented Latino immigrant from Brazil and a first-generation college student, creating a supportive environment for my academic journey.
Environmental engineering was my chosen path to engage in a career centered on sustainable problem-solving, addressing current environmental challenges, and minimizing our impact on the planet.
Dr. Fortier has played a pivotal role in deepening my passion for sustainability; Dr. Yarra, has shared valuable insights from his career path, guiding me toward my career goals. The support from university staff, particularly from ACCESS and Liz Atilano has been immense, fueling my perseverance.
Learning the critical role of snowfall in the Sierra Mountains for the Central Valley's agriculture and overall well-being in Snow Hydrology, then experiencing 40-year record snowfall was incredible. This unique circumstance provided an extraordinary opportunity to translate our theoretical knowledge into practical application. We gathered data for water flow prediction models in the field, turning classroom learning into hands-on experience.
My next plan involves making a positive impact on both the environment and my community by translating my gained knowledge into tangible contributions that align with sustainable practices with energy efficiency green building or water quality/conservation.
I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to my significant other, Monica, for her unwavering love, inspiration, and support throughout my academic journey. I hope that my efforts serve as an inspiration to our two beautiful children.
I want to also acknowledge the important role of my two younger sisters, my parents, and my aunt and uncle, Elizete and Uriel.
Humberto’s passion for the environment began at Lincoln Elementary school in his hometown of Santa Rosa, California. There he learned about the impacts of global warming on a heronry located in his neighborhood. After high school, he enrolled at his local community college with the goal to one day transfer to a four-year university and pursue a degree in Environmental Engineering. In the Fall of 2018, Humberto started his first semester at UC Merced. His research interest on the climate change effects on water resources found him at the Water Systems Management Lab, led by Dr. Josué Medellín-Azuara. There he got the opportunity to do fulfilling research working with disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley. Next, Humberto plans to work in industry before returning to pursue his graduate education in the Fall of 2021.
Jesus is a first-generation university graduate that first and foremost credits his current successes to the struggles endured by his parents, who immigrated to the United States nearly 20 years ago. His work-ethic and perseverance stems from them and he is eternally grateful for the support his family and partner have shown him. He hopes to repay them one day for their sacrifices. Jesus first became drawn to the field of environmental engineering through the numerous trips he took growing up to the Sierra Nevada Range with his brothers. Through these adventures, Jesus first became aware of the serious environmental issues facing Californians. Coupled with his skills in math and science, choosing environmental engineering was simple. Through his years at UC Merced, Jesus was able to be readily involved. He served as a tutor with the Center of Educational Partnerships, helping local middle schools students prepare for their state exams. He was also able to conduct research under Dr. Peggy O’Day in projects related to the remediation of mercury contaminated soils and investigation of uranium contamination in groundwater. Finally, Jesus gives thanks to the outstanding faculty that taught him and gave him the opportunity to develop his professional skills. In the future, Jesus plans to expand upon these skills by pursuing his Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering and applying his knowledge to help mitigate California’s present water crisis.
I joined UC Merced because of its close connection to the Latino community. As a first-generation Mexican-American student navigating California's higher education system, knowing that a significant portion of the student body shares similar cultural roots gave me confidence that I could foster a sense of belonging while embracing my heritage. In addition, UC Merced’s status as the newest UC campus inspired me to believe in its growth and innovation. I was captivated by the variety of research opportunities available, knowing that being part of a growing institution would allow me to contribute meaningfully to cutting-edge projects.
I've always wanted to be an engineer since engineering enables us to experience and contribute to the world in unique and imaginative ways. As a naturally curious and rational person, I was drawn to the problem-solving mindset that defines engineering. The choice of the particular engineering field, however, was far more difficult. I grew up in a small Mexican town surrounded by mountains and green landscapes, which gave me a great respect for the natural world and a strong connection to it. This connection sparked my sense of responsibility to preserve the world around me and the resources that support us. I now see that environmental engineering was my passion and that I was meant for it.
I’ve been inspired by different people at different points in my life during my academic career. My family has always been my greatest source of inspiration. I learned the value of perseverance and commitment from my parents, who were never able to pursue an academic education. They have given a lot for my siblings to pursue higher education in Mexico, and their commitment inspires me daily to take advantage of every opportunity I've been given. My nephews and niece also inspire me, as I strive to be a role model for them, encouraging them to dream big and always work towards being their best selves. I've had the privilege of finding inspiration in my mentor, Dr. Erin Hestir, at UC Merced. She offered me the opportunity to demonstrate my skills, welcomed me into her lab, and had belief in me. Watching her excel as a strong, accomplished woman in the field of engineering has been incredibly empowering. Her example has shown me that not only is there a place for women in engineering, but we can also thrive and lead in this field. My family and mentors' support and guidance have fueled my determination to succeed and shaped me into the person I am today.
One of the most impactful academic experiences I’ve had was participating in the programs offered by UROC and UC LEADS. These opportunities transformed the way I approached and experienced academic life at a university. Through these programs, I was able to develop essential research skills and gain invaluable hands-on experience.
My two research summers, one at UC Merced and the other at UC Davis, were not only enriching but also incredibly rewarding. They challenged me to grow academically and personally while fostering a sense of curiosity and perseverance. I gained a deeper knowledge of what it means to contribute to research as a result of these experiences, which were full of opportunities for collaboration, problem-solving, and discovery. In addition to the knowledge and skills I gained, these programs connected me with a group of people who now help and mentor me in my career.
I strongly believe that research is where my future lies. However, after graduation, I plan to spend a few years exploring various opportunities to identify a specific problem or topic that truly excites me. During this time, I aim to gain practical experience, deepen my understanding of the field, and refine my research interests. Once I’ve found the area that resonates with my passions and goals, I intend to return to academia to pursue a PhD.
I would like to express my gratitude to my mentor, my family, and all of the people who have helped me along the way. They have been essential in helping me to feel at home at UC Merced and in California in general. One of the most difficult experiences in my life has been my time at UC Merced. Navigating significant adjustments and transitioning to a completely unfamiliar environment challenged me in ways I never could have imagined. But despite all of its difficulties, this experience has been just as exciting, rewarding, and enriching. I've never been happier and prouder with who I've grown into. Reflecting on the fact that I am not only the first member in my family to graduate from a university with international recognition but also the Outstanding Student of the School of Engineering, is very fulfilling.
Sierra Lema grew up in California and tested out of high school, attending Diablo Valley College before transferring to UC Merced to earn her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering. Sierra tutored at Mathnasium in San Ramon, CA while in college from 2018 to 2020. She became actively involved in two research groups under Dr. Marie-Odile Fortier and Dr. Erin Hestir. Through these research activities, Sierra investigated how direct land use and albedo change contribute to the life cycle environmental impacts of electricity generated from coal in the US; identified the interrelated factors that could affect the efficacy of the climate engineering approach of ocean iron fertilization; used remote sensing to identify watersheds with wildfire-related sediment and carbon discharges to kelp forests in California coastal waters; and computationally modeled the impacts of wildfires on watershed hydrology.
Sierra is planning to continue building a research career with broader impacts to environmental protection and climate change mitigation by pursuing a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the Geospatial Energy Resources and Life Cycle Assessment (GERLCA) research group headed by Dr. Fortier.
From the greater Santa Cruz area, Spencer Cole joined his elder brother as a UC Merced student in 2015. Initially driven to study Bioengineering due to the strong impacts of health conditions on family, his disinterest in the medical field as a career and developing concern for environmental issues led him to transition focus to the Environmental Engineering program. During his first year, he joined Theta Tau to develop his professional skillset. As an active member he served as the scholarship chair for three consecutive terms beginning in 2017 and on the executive board as a scribe in 2019. In his sophomore year, he dabbled into research, briefly training as a drone pilot for remote sensing of agriculture. As a junior, he joined the Water Systems Management Lab under Dr. Medellin-Azuara, where he conducted research involving hydroeconomics and agricultural modeling in the Central Valley. He presented at the annual American Geophysical Union conference in 2018 on climate change impacts on agriculture and livestock in California’s Central Valley. As a researcher, his most prominent goals are to make science more accessible and meaningful to the population at large and to improve interdisciplinarity. Academic rigor has landed him on the Chancellor’s list every year of his undergraduate career, and this summer he succeeded in passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, the first step in pursuing licensure as a professional engineer. He is extremely grateful for the opportunities provided by his university, mentors and family and is proud to be a graduate of UC Merced. He plans to continue his education at UC Merced as a master’s student in the Environmental Systems program, studying California’s complex water system.
Zachary Clemens is a graduate in Material Science and Engineering with a focus on nanomaterials and materials simulations for quantum computing applications. Previously, he has worked as an undergraduate researcher on density functional theory simulations of perovskite oxides and further at UC Santa Cruz studying the synthesis of nanomaterials in electrochemistry applications. As a participant in the 2020Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Data Science Challenge, he hopes to continue to apply data science and machine learning to complex materials problems in the future. In his free time, Zachary flies RC airplanes at local airfields and volunteers at the Castle Air Museum inside the restoration hangar. He is also an avid explorer and backpacker making frequent trips to Yosemite during the summer months. After graduation, he hopes to make an impact in cutting-edge materials research at companies such as Intel, Tesla and Google.
UC Merced's small and growing campus was a big reason why I chose to attend. Rather than feeling just like a number, UC Merced made me feel welcomed and valued. The faculty and classes offered made me feel excited to learn and helped me become more confident in my major. Watching how much UC Merced has transformed in my short 4 1/2 years has made me feel proud to have been apart of an unstoppable force of the Bobcats.
I took a leap of faith when I chose the major as I knew I wanted a career that allowed my creativity and innovative ideas come to life. I heard about nanotechnology from my International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems & Societies (IB ESS) class I took my senior year in high school. At the time, I was unsure if i should go into Environmental or Mechanical Engineering when I decided to do some research into what is nanotechnology later that day. After watching videos and reading some articles I was led to Materials Science and Engineering. Equipped with the fruits of my research, I took a chance on this major and it was the best decision in my life. I've been able to teach my family and friends something new from all the knowledge I've learned and have made unforgettable experiences.
My biggest inspiration comes from the conversations I have with my parents when talking about my classes or about general topics. They are my #1 fans and always support my decisions. I want to thank Dr. Viney who has been a mentor and someone I look up to as how to be a professor when I become one. I would also like to thank Dr. Lu who has equipped me with vital lessons as a researcher and student with unconditional support. They've inspire me to always seek more knowledge and never stop thinking of crazy ideas.
In spring 2023 I took the Polymeric Materials graduate class with Dr. Viney. At first it was a bit intimidating being with graduate students as they are older but I got acclimated to the class and enjoyed being able to talk with the graduate students about lectures where sometimes the understanding level was pretty similar all-around. One lecture I'll never forget is when Dr. Viney explained why rubber is the way it is using first principles which was impressive as rubber is found in many applications. With learning rubber's properties using first principles maybe many of our problems lie with in looking carefully at fundamental equations to find the answers.
I am currently applying to PhD. programs for Fall 2024 in Polymeric Materials where I wish to explore the synthesis and surface chemistry of nanoscale materials. I hope to also conduct research dealing with brain trauma and develop non-invasive materials that can provide instant relief and accurate readings concerning the health. For the time being I will take a much needed sleeping break with my cat, Eos.
It is bittersweet to be leaving when so many changes and exciting things are coming to UC Merced, but I look forward to seeing how UC Merced will grow and change in the upcoming years while I'm in my PhD. program. I enjoyed looking up at the starry night sky along the lake and watching the sunsets from the 4th floor of the library and recommend everyone to spend time on campus.
Growing up, one of my favorite shows to watch was How It’s Made, on the Discovery Channel. The idea of transforming a basic resource from the earth into something more complex was really entertaining to witness. As a hobby, playing games like Minecraft, helped me gain more appreciation for every material that we use in today’s world. All materials featured in that game always had some way to be useful, and I believe the same idea can be applied to all materials in our world. Without the knowledge obtained from material science, we would not have many technological, societal, and mechanical advancements that we have today. Throughout my journey at UC Merced, I joined multiple clubs to develop my social life, as well as improve my professional skills. Clubs such as PAA and PASE helped me achieve these milestones by hosting various events and workshops. Attending all these events gave me the confidence to pursue more opportunities and associate with more individuals that could further enlighten me. From summer 2021 to fall 2021, I joined my first ever research group, led by Professor Roberto Andresen Eguiluz. Under the guidance of him and the rest of the group, I learned more in depth about surface science and tribology by conducting experiments that identify the angle of contact that a fluid will have on a material surface. In my last semester, for my Capstone design class, my team and I are working for a client to help them develop an eco-friendlier asphalt mixture by using a renewable bio-oil binder instead of traditional oil binder. This project has helped me gain more experience in considering how to minimize waste and use materials more efficiently for the future. After I graduate, I plan to continue working in various laboratories, preferably as a lab technician, to obtain more knowledge and experience working with materials. Once I become a reliable expert in materials, I hope to one day be a materials consultant for engineering firms or for future companies. Helping teams and companies make the best decisions for their goals is a simple goal of mine, and I know that once I achieve that goal, I will make my family proud and let them know that their endless support was worth it.
As a decisive person, I identified materials science and engineering as the major I wanted to pursue my sophomore year of high school. Since it is a smaller field, there were limited schools in California that even offered the major. Among these schools, UC Merced emerged as the forerunner due to their prompt offer of acceptance. With my interest piqued, I attended an outreach mixer hosted by UCM, and after meeting some of the MSE faculty, their welcoming environment was something I came to associate with the school and the MSE department. I knew that my time at UC Merced would not only be academically enriching, but also would allow me to take advantage of all opportunities presented to me in order to make the most out of my college experience. Coming into college I wanted the full experience, including performing research and becoming a leader in the campus community, and I saw the potential for that early on at UCM.
As a first generation student, I didn't have any role models whose career I wanted to emulate. Something that my high school counselor stressed to me was the disparity between genders in STEM fields. Attending college in general was a leap of faith due to the financial and time commitment required, so I wanted to pursue a degree where I saw the highest chance of success for myself. With this in mind, I found an interest in engineering because it relies on ingenuity and creativity, and more specifically materials science and engineering because it is foundational for other disiplines. After my freshman year I found a genuine passion for the field, and after declaring my second major, computer science and engineering, I am proud of the skillset I have developed in my time at UC Merced.
Since the MSE student body is small, we have developed a close knit community at UC Merced. I ended up receiving contact info for someone a few years older than me before I even began my freshman year, and she was immensely helpful in my transition to college and in helping me navigate what courses to take. Although she has since graduated, her impact on me my first couple of years helped make me into the person I am today.
Additionally, I have had the pleasure of conducting research in three labs during the course of my undergraduate career. Dr. Sarah Kurtz took me in as early as my freshman year, mentored me, and showed me how research could be conducted with a variety of projects. From there, Dr. Valerie Leppert helped me develop lab skills and how to plan and successfully execute a detailed experimental procedure. Finally, I concluded my years with Dr. Jennifer Lu who has given me a peek at how graduate school will be by placing higher expectations on me and pushing me to perform effectively.
I will always look fondly back at the good times I had in my upper division courses with the other MSE students. Once I started my upper divs the same set of familiar faces began to emerge, and I found many friends from this group as we laughed in class together, formed study groups, and worked on projects in smaller teams despite the virtual setting. Additionally, I enjoyed my time employed as a Resident Assistant for three years, as my co-workers, supervisors, and residents made my time in the dorms memorable.
I have just finished submitting my graduate school applications, where I will be pursing a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering with a focus on computational methods. This field allows me to utilize both of my degrees cohesively in order to contribute to an up and coming area of research. I am excited to be attending a graduate school out of state, as I believe it is a great chance to have a new experience and see more of the world! Upon graduating with my PhD, I plan on going to industry to gain experience, before transitioning into a National Lab setting to return to my research roots. Before retirement, I would like to conclude my career back in academia with my own research group in order to give back to the students and mentor others who are just beginning their career.
I want to give a shoutout to the Society of WomenEngineers and Theta Tau, the professional engineering fraternity. All the SWEeties were a support system for me, especially my freshman year, and I appreciate their friendship and mentorship early on. I gave back by serving as Treasurer, then President to continue mentoring young women in STEM who were just beginning their college career. I joined Theta Tau my second year and made lifelong connections within the brothers, especially among my potential class and in my family, Hephaestus. Theta Tau helped me get more involved with the campus engineering community and I will always remember the good times we had.
Before coming to UC Merced, I was definitely not considered an 'outstanding student' so UC Merced was only school to accept me. What I ended up enjoying about Merced was the amount of research opportunities and the atmosphere that allowed me to focus on my academics.
I chose mechanical engineering because I wanted to understand how the world works. Also, mechanical engineering is a multifaceted major that gave me a strong basis for many different potential career paths.
One of my mentors while I was at UC Merced was Dr. Ricardo Pinto De Castro. I took his circuit theory class towards the beginning of my time at UC Merced and ended up doing research in his lab later on. He always provided the help and guidance I needed to do my best, all while pushing me towards bigger and better things.
One night, while studying with some friends for a circuit theory midterm, I figured out a good way to explain a difficult concept. As I was walking my friends through the process, another group of people in our class was walking by and stopped to listen in. As I kept explaining and going over more problems, more and more people from the class began to join us. What started as only a few friends studying together turned into a big group of people collaborating and working together.
After graduation, I plan on moving home to Los Angeles, where I will hopefully find a job that will support me getting a masters degree in the future. I am unsure exactly what kind of engineering job I am going to get, but I know that my time at UC Merced provided me a strong foundation for my career.
The reason I chose UC Merced was the opportunities that were provided and the student population. As a first-generation student, I felt I could identify with the UC Merced student population with similar backgrounds and experiences. Since UC Merced is a fast-growing campus, I saw it as a chance to take advantage of the growing programs and research opportunities that were constantly provided to undergraduate students and help the campus grow itself.
Throughout my time in high school, I never enjoyed subjects such as History, English, and Writing. I was more intrigued by the STEM field subjects such as Math and Physics. I was also in the TRIO program in high school called: Upward Bound Math & Science. This program helped significantly grow my interest in the engineering field.
Throughout my time at UC Merced, I had many people who kept me motivated as an undergraduate student. My biggest supporters were my family who have always been there for me and made sure they had my back no matter what. I also had supportive friends and brothers that I made along the way who always encouraged me to take on new opportunities and exceed the limits. I would also like to thank my professors and faculty as without them, I would not be where I am today.
A memorable academic experience would be the semester of Fall 2021 when I took Thermodynamics. I was already intimidated by the class since it was my first engineering upper-division course and it was the first semester back in person after the pandemic year.
I initially struggled with the class grasping concepts and solving problem sets. As the semester went by, I had to dedicate extra time to this class by
reading, attending office hours, and studying. But with my hard work, it was slowly paying off. This class was also what formed a supportive friend group that I had in the following years. After completing the course, I was able to receive an offer for a research lab assistant position working for Dr. Palko.
After I graduate, I plan to enter the job industry as an entry-level Mechanical Engineer. My short-term goal is to work as a Manufacturing Engineer in the automotive industry and pass the FE exams as soon as possible. While I am still indecisive about obtaining a PE license, I do plan on returning back to school to pursue a higher education.
I chose the University of California, Merced due to many reasons. For starters it was the only university within 40 miles from where I live that had the major that I was interested in (Mechanical Engineering). I did my research on Faculty support for undergrads and was amazed from the reviews I read. Knowing that I was going to to go into a University where professors actually took time to teach us with precise during lecture hours but also opened doors to their office hours where anyone could attend to learn more about a topic that was not understood during lecture. I also read online that most professors are involved in critical research topics of their interests and I thought that it could be a great opportunity for me to go into a research of my interest (Engineering). Overall, I am beyond blessed that I got to attend UC Merced.
Mechanical Engineering can be considered “The Jack of all Trades” when it comes to engineering majors. I personally did not know what I wanted to do during my senior year of high school but I was sure it was going to be Engineering related. When I learned that opportunities were endless with a Mechanical Engineering degree I was hooked. I had 4 years to truly understand what field of Engineering I want to go into (Controls) thanks to the fact the Mechanical Engineering program at UC Merced allows you to dip your feet in mostly all the Engineering fields and that is what lead me to like Controls Engineering the best.
My inspiration comes from my Mom and Dad who sacrificed everything they left in Mexico to allow my siblings and I for a better and bright future. I am forever in debt to them for giving me the opportunity to get a higher education. I also want to thank the Mechanical Engineering professors at UC Merced for never making you feel not good enough whenever a simple question is asked.
My most memorable Academic experience has to be when I was taking Thermodynamics and the professor (Abel Chuang) was telling us that this was going to be the hardest class we ever take, he then proceeds to say “First things first, class picture!” And took a picture with everyone in the class.
After graduation I plan to apply to anything related to controls. I want to work with PLCS or PIDS. Retire and Live on Hawaii.
Thank you to all the friends I made along the way.
After my successful transition from the U.S. Marine Corps, choosing UC Merced for my mechanical engineering program was a thoughtful decision. The campus' commitment to innovation and cutting-edge research aligns with my passion for staying at the forefront of technology. The classes here provided a more personalized learning experience, allowing for meaningful interactions with professors and fellow students. As long as you’re committed to the academic goals you set for yourself, the faculty here will go above and beyond to make sure you get to where you want to be. Additionally, the university's location in Merced offers a very affordable cost of living and short commute to and from campus, it is often something many people tend to overlook, but it makes up a significant part of having a good quality of life and a smooth academic experience.
To me, mechanical engineering is a vibrant and continually evolving discipline that allows me to blend creativity with technical expertise. Growing up, I was a tinkerer who always tried to take things apart simply out of curiosity. It used to get me into a lot of trouble because breaking things beyond repair was also a significant part of learning how things don’t work. This passion of mine was further enriched during my last years in the U.S. military, where I gained valuable experience in drone building and prototyping through 3D printing technology. It was my first exposure to this type of work that awakened the inner child in me and solidified my decision to pursue higher education in mechanical engineering. My enduring passion for this technical field has its roots in a fascination with unraveling the inner workings of various systems and a desire to foster innovation.
Enlisting in the U.S. Marines right out of high school presented one of the most challenging transitions into civilian life after years of honorable service. The inspiration to succeed stemmed from the men and women who had gone through the exact same path and undergone the same strenuous transition to become successful in the world outside the military. I would like to dedicate this success to my wife, Amara, who stuck by my side through all the uncertain times we have faced and for being the loving, caring life partner through our journey together.
One standout academic experience was a hands-on project where I collaborated with a team to design and build a prototype olive harvester for an agricultural research project at UC Merced. Seeing those ideas and designs from a computer software model slowly come to life is one of the most gratifying experiences as an aspiring engineer. This project not only honed my technical skills but also emphasized the importance of teamwork and problem-solving. It was a defining moment that solidified my love for the practical application of engineering concepts.
I’m currently on the lookout for a rewarding position in the mechanical engineering field, with the goal of actively contributing to innovative projects. I am exploring opportunities in San Diego, where I plan to relocate after completing my program at UC Merced. The prospect of applying my skills in a real-world setting is genuinely exciting.
On a personal note, I'm eagerly looking forward to achieving stability in my career, alongside my wife, Amara, who showcases her talents at LinkedIn. As we work towards building a foundation for our future, the prospect of starting a family is a cherished goal for both of us.
Balancing professional growth with personal milestones is a journey I'm prepared to embrace with enthusiasm. In this moment, we are expecting our first child and joyfully await their arrival.
My name is Katie Bibas and I am from Irvine, California. I am an undergrad here at UC Merced studying Mechanical Engineering, but I transferred from Santa Barbara City College in the Fall of 2017. I will be graduating from UC Merced in December of this year, 2019.
I have had some great opportunities over the past two and a half years. I have gained invaluable experience as an intern at both L3 Harris as well as General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. During these internships, I was introduced to industry standards while practicing my design, analysis, and communication skills under extremely knowledgeable professionals. These are skills that I know will benefit me greatly in my career, so I am glad to have already formed a foundation to grow from. I also had the opportunity to gain exposure to hydrogen fuel cell research in Abel Chuang’s lab, TEEL. He is an incredible teacher and I believe a grew a lot from the experience. I am currently taking the Fuel Cell and Batteries class to further my understanding. I am also taking Capstone this semester and have the privilege of working with Reza Ehsani and Erin Hestir on a miniaturized optical sensor system for farmland soil sensing.
Post-graduation I plan to start my career. I am in the early stages of the interview process with a few companies, so I am hoping to be able to start shortly after graduation.
I appreciate this nomination greatly. I feel honored that someone finds me deserving of this award.
Kovin, known as Kevin by family and friends, thanks the school for the opportunity to pursue his passion in design and the engineering sciences. He is glad to have had the support of his loved ones during his time at the University of California, Merced, and the help of all the faculty here that pushed him to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. As a first-generation immigrant, Kevin’s family placed a large emphasis on higher education. A large motivation for his success came from the sacrifices his grandparents and parents made to provide him with the opportunity to be the first in his family to attend college. As an Assyrian-American, he wishes to use any success that may come his way to empower his fellow Assyrians. Kevin co-founded the Assyrian Association of the University of California, Merced, where he organized Assyrian students on campus to exchange culture and language and build unifying connections. He remained President of the club until the completion of his degree. As an employed undergraduate student, Kevin took advantage of research and small project opportunities in the fields of robotics and thermodynamics under the guidance of respected faculty. Kevin plans to pursue a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering upon graduation to explore the field of space and aviation. He intends to apply his degrees towards creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.
I would like to thank the School of Engineering at the University of California, Merced for the opportunity to earn my degree in mechanical engineering. I’m grateful to have chosen to transfer to the University of California, Merced from a local community college in Orange County, California. As I have always had a passion for science and engineering ever since high school my lifetime goal is to become a reliable engineer. I’m very grateful this University had such helpful faculty and useful resources to help me further achieve my lifetime goal. My experience at the University of California, Merced has been a good one and I’m grateful to have been an engineering student here. As it was exciting to be part of a newly developed University within California my realization of the number of resources available was overwhelming. Considering I’m a Southern California-born individual I came to Merced not expecting such a peaceful and small University. As not much is known about the University of California, Merced from where I’m from I can say with confidence that my experience here was most valuable. I will continue to develop as an engineer and provide all I can for the current industry. As I want to acquire a second degree in electrical engineering I wish to become a professional engineer within the state of California. I’m again very grateful for my time at the University of California, Merced and I hope this University will continue to help other students like myself to achieve their lifetime goals.
As a first generation low-income student I did not have a lot of knowledge about post secondary education. However, I did know that I wanted to attend a university within the UC system. With UC Merced being oneof my top choices due to it's affordability and size, I chose to attend Bobcat Day. After attending and getting to see the campus in person for the first time, I knew that I would be going to UC Merced. Not only was the campus great but the community of people from UCM that I interacted with werevery welcoming and comforting.
I chose my major because I have always been very intrigued by the STEM field and I wanted to have the knowledge to be able to work on my own personal projects one day.
I have many people that have motivated me and inspired me to become who I am today and who I want to be in the future. First is my family that have always encouraged me to do whatever will make me happy and have never discouraged me from pursuing my current endeavors.
Second is one of my high school teachers, Mr.Frank who always motivated me to do better academically for myself and no one else. Lastly, is my current faculty mentor Dr.Ashlie Martini. At the time of our first conversation I was not sure what I wanted to do with my degree. But now after having been apart of her lab and with her guidance I have found a path that I am very excited to take.
One of my most memorable academic experiences has to be working on and completing the Four-Ball Nitrogen Chamber Project with one of the Graduate students from the Martini Lab, Jose Arturo. I remember having the most satisfying feeling when we ran our first successful test after multiple days of work. Arturo even pointed out that I had a large grin on my face.
After I graduate, I will be coming back to UC Merced to begin the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program. I will continue to be a part of the Martini Group and working on my current projects.
Priscilla is a first-generation college student who knew very little on what college entails. She knew how to study and succeed academically but had no idea how the professional world worked. Fortunately, after joining Ingenieros Unidos, they taught her how to begin her professional career which eventually helped her begin her engineering career by helping Professor Sun and his two graduate students. She would especially like to thank her parents for always supporting her and pushing her to follow her dreams. After graduation, Priscilla will be working at Honeywell where she will be rotating within the different sections in the Aerospace department.
My name is Tamunotubo George. For most, I go by Tam. I am a Mechanical Engineering student. I chose this major because it allowed me the creative space to learn about things I wanted to know. I enjoy learning about topics like thermodynamics, fluid mechanicals, material strength and more. UC Merced has gifted me more than I ever expected, from my freshman year till now, UC Merced continues to give. I am so proud and thankful to be nominated as the Outstanding student in Mechanical Engineering at UC Merced. Through the years, UC Merced has helped to bring new friends, new connections, internships, research opportunities, scholarships and more into my life. And finally, in no small part, UC Merced has helped me secure the job I really wanted. I am proud and very thankful to God that I have been offered employment from Chevron, for the role of a design engineer. I love UC Merced, I will miss UC Merced, and I hope to give back to UC Merced as much as it has given me.
P.S shout out to Prof. Francois Blanchette, a great mentor, role model, and friend.
Tanner’s family has been his strongest supporters throughout his life. His mom and dad were his greatest mentors who taught him to be disciplined, respect others, and to never give up. Tanner would like to acknowledge his brother, Chase Ragan for guiding him onto the path of research and for teaching him to live and treat life preciously. Tanner wanted to make the most out of his college experience at UC Merced by working hard throughout his courses and learning from his faculty and peers. It wasn’t until 2020 when Tanner decided to pursue undergraduate research in Dr. Martini’s Lab. Due to the pandemic COVID-19 lockdown, Tanner adapted and learned numerical modelling. This experience led him to enjoy research in computational fluid dynamics. Tanner hopes to earn his PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering and use his experience to help others strive for success.
Out of all the campuses I applied to, UC Merced stood out to me because of its strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and student success. I was particularly drawn to the opportunity to be part of a university that is still evolving. As the newest campus in the University of California system, I felt that I could grow both personally and academically while actively contributing to its dynamic and collaborative culture.
From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in engineering, but it wasn't until I saw my father working on his classic car
that I realized mechanical engineering was the path for me. Watching him rebuild the engine and transmission with the goal of restoring the car sparked my fascination with the intricacies of machines and systems. Mechanical engineering offers the perfect blend of creativity and technical expertise, allowing me to apply problem-solving skills to design, build, and optimize mechanical systems. The hands-on experience in this field is invaluable and can be applied across a wide range of industries, making it both a challenging and rewarding area of study.
My parents have been my greatest mentors because they have instilled in me the values of hard work, perseverance, and integrity. Through their actions and guidance, they showed me the importance of education and giving back to the community. They taught me that doing my best is the most anyone can ask of me, and that dedication will take me far in life. Their emphasis on approaching challenges with a positive mindset and always striving for excellence has shaped my approach to both personal and academic pursuits, and has been a key foundation for my success.
One of my most memorable academic experiences was a project in my Computer-Aided Engineering course, where we were tasked with designing an impact press. It felt like I was stepping into the role of a design engineer, working within specific constraints to explore different alternatives and bring our design to life using SolidWorks. The challenge of balancing creativity with technical requirements, along with the satisfaction of seeing our design come together, made the experience both rewarding and intellectually stimulating.
After graduation, I plan to enter the industry to gain practical experience and explore different areas of engineering. This hands-on experience will help me identify a specific specialization that aligns with my interests and strengths. In the future, I hope to pursue a graduate program to deepen my expertise in that area, further enhancing my skills and knowledge in the field.
Deniz credits her curiosity in biophysical phenomena for her decision to study Bioengineering. She has participated in several research opportunities over her undergraduate career. In 2018, Denizjoined the Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines and Dr. Arvind Gopinath’s lab to mimic spermatozoa motility using Brownian dynamics simulations. She identified canonical deformation states and used these phenomenological categories to perform computational experiments that successfully mimicked the observed instability patterns. In 2019, Denizparticipated in the Stanford Summer Research Program and joined Dr. Jessica Feldman’s lab to study the localization and function of a Partition abnormal protein in the intestine of C. Elegans embryos. Utilizing confocal microscopy, she identified PAR-1 to localize in the apico-basolateral junctions based on fluorescence signals. Denizconcluded that PAR-1 contributes to the maintenance of the intestine after depleting it to observe function. In 2020, she participated in the Rosetta Commons Summer Research Program after becoming interested in studying proteins. As a scholar in Dr. Jeffrey Gray’s lab at Johns Hopkins University, her main goal was to improve antibody structure prediction using deep learning. She implemented a network for side chain predictions based on DeepH3. With this opportunity, Denizdiscovered my passion for protein engineering and solving complex biomolecular problems. In March 2021, Denizdecided to join the UC Berkeley –UC San Francisco Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering. Her ultimate goal is to lead a team of scientists on cutting-edge protein engineering and drug design research as a professor.
After a diagnosis in high school of Type 1 Diabetes, Kurtis initially struggled to manage his chronic health condition with daily insulin injections and finger pricks. He eventually obtained an insulin pump and glucose sensor which greatly improved his standard of life. Kurtis’s personal experience motivated him to learn the fundamentals of producing medical technology which led to him to major in Bioengineering at UC Merced.
During his time at UC Merced, Kurtis was involved in research in the labs of Professor Anand Subramaniam and Professor Changqing Li. In the summer of 2019 he participated in the Frontiers of Bioimaging REU at the University of Illinois.
This fall he will join the UC Berkeley – UC San Francisco Joint Bioengineering PhD Program and explore various opportunities related to developing biotechnological advancements in cases of chronic conditions such as Type 1 Diabetes.
I wanted to be a part of a UC program because I have wanted to pursue a career in research and STEM. Furthermore, when looking into schools, I have been told by my advisors in high school that UC Merced would be a great option because there would be more available labs to work in. I also enjoyed how the school was part of a rural community, which allowed me to not only expand my worldview but create a space for myself to thrive.
I originally came to campus as a Human Biology major but realized that I love the math aspect of STEM and decided to pursue Bioengineering. I want to help develop new machinery for diagnostics and therapy in the medical field, especially for patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders, and I found that the Bioengineering major was able to give me insight into this type of research.
My main inspiration has been my family and my significant other, who have instilled in me to always become a better version of myself and to strive to use my abilities to help others whenever I can. I am also grateful for my peers and faculty on which I could rely for professional and personal growth, especially professors such as Dr. Victor Muñoz, Dr. Changqing Li, and Dr. Patricia LiWang, and a graduate student, Jesse Rodriguez Reyes, who have been large influences on my path in research and academia.
Unfortunately, a good chunk of my academic career at UC Merced has been online, but this past year, I have been most grateful for the hands-on experience I have obtained from working in the Muñoz Lab. Also, working as a tutor for the SALA Program and STEM Tutoring Hub has been a rewarding experience as I am able to provide knowledge and interest in learning for my students.
After graduating, I will be taking a gap year to pursue research in Protein Engineering in Dr. Muñoz’s lab and continue learning about Bioimaging techniques in Dr. Li’s Lab on campus while looking into other opportunities at other campuses. Afterward, I will be applying for graduate schools for Bioengineering in the field of Biotech.
To anyone interested in the Engineering program, or any program for that matter, I would advise working on time management and always taking everything as a learning experience and an opportunity to grow. You can only take as much as you give, and that includes your time and energy.
UC Merced's commitment to research was a significant factor in my decision. I was excited about the chance to work closely with professors and gain hands-on experience in my curriculum. The campus' smaller class size also allowed me to gain a more personalized learning experience, with opportunities to engage in class discussions and receive individual attention from professors. Also being from San Jose, choosing UC Merced allowed me to easily stay connected with my family and friends while pursuing my academic goals.
My favorite subjects in high school were physics and biology, so I chose to major in bioengineering to combine my proficiency in science and passion for health-related fields. I continued to pursue bioengineering as I enjoyed learning how principles from biology, physics, and engineering can be used to solve complex problems related to healthcare, biotechnology, and sustainability. I also value the creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking skills that bioengineering programs encourage us to use. Choosing to major in bioengineering is challenging but it has definitely been and continues to be a rewarding path for me and my passions.
My primary inspiration has been my family and close friends, who continue to support me and my endeavors. I want to thank Dr. Subramaniam for sparking my interest in biotherapeutics and providing me with opportunities to participate in enriching summer programs and obtain my fellowship in the Subramaniam Lab. My confidence in laboratory skills and competence in engineering has grown significantly since having joined Subramaniam Lab and I'd like to especially thank my mentors and fellow labmates Alexis Cooper and Nimra Khurram for creating such a welcoming lab environment and playing a significant role in my personal growth.
Thank you to my teammates, Coach V, and Coach Alex for challenging and motivating me every day.
Although a significant portion of my undergraduate experience was online, I am grateful to have been an undergraduate researcher in-person at Subramaniam Lab in my final semesters. I am also thankful for Luis Carrasco and my fellow tutors at the STEM Tutoring Hub as it has been a fulfilling experience to help students achieve their learning goals.
After I obtain my bachelor's, I will be continuing my education here at UC Merced as a Bioengineering PhD student this upcoming fall. I am excited to delve deeper into my research interests and develop new skills. I am grateful for this opportunity to give back to the academic community that has already helped me grow so much both individually and professionally and continue working with the faculty and students that are passionate about the field and inspire me to make a difference in the world.
My biggest advice to other engineering students is use your professors and TAs as a resource. Take advantage of attending a research university! Asking for help may be scary but take the initiative to engage with them outside of class, attend their office hours, and seek their mentorship and guidance in classes, career paths, or other opportunities.
I chose UC Merced for its ongoing support for first generation college students. As a first generation student, it was important for me to find a university that supports their students. I quickly found that there are an abundance of resources and programs for first generation students in all disciplines to further their education and find opportunities, such as undergraduate research.
My interest in bioengineering began in highschool where I participated in a lot of engineering courses. I enjoyed learning how engineering concepts can be applied in biological processes, and became confident that I wanted to pursue a career as a bioengineer. As a bioengineering major, I can understand biological processes from the point of view of an engineer, and apply engineering concepts to answer the many challenges this field faces. Being an engineer provides an outlet for me to bridge biology and engineering to push the boundaries of science and medicine.
To my family and friends, thank you for your support throughout my undergraduate career. To my research advisor, Dr. Andrea Merg, thank you for giving me the opportunity to start my career in research early, and to Anthony Perez, for being the best graduate mentor I could ever ask for. I want to give my gratitude to everyone in the Shipman Lab at UCSF. Thank you for welcoming me into the lab. To the UROC team and UC LEADs, thank you for giving me multiple opportunities to conduct research as an undergraduate student. Without your support and belief in me, I would not be where I am today. Thank you all!
My most memorable experience has been the many research opportunities that I have experienced. As a UC LEADs scholar, I had the unique opportunity to conduct research at UC Merced as well as UCSF. During my time as a UC LEADs scholar, I’ve presented at multiple symposiums, I became a co-author for the Merg Lab, and won first place at the 2024 Emerging Researchers National Conference. I am grateful for all the opportunities I took during my time at UC Merced.
I am excited to continue my education at the University of California, San Diego. I will begin my new chapter as a bioengineering PhD student starting Fall 2024!
To all current and future undergraduate students, please take full advantage of the resources provided by UC Merced. I am where I am today because I received support from my instructors, mentors, and the entire UROC team. They helped shape me into the student and researcher that I am today. Seize the opportunity; email professors about undergraduate research, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn.
UC Merced gives many opportunities for undergraduate students to pursue research. I value all of the unique perspectives of students and faculty around me at our Hispanic-Serving Institution, and have
used that to guide my research interests.
I chose to pursue Environmental Engineering because of its mission to providing sustainable solutions for environmental problems, while taking into account the social and economic implications of engineering
decisions. The work is very relevant and it's innate to be passionate about current issues.
Both Dr. Colleen Naughton and Dr. Josué Medellín-Azuara have been pivotal mentors in my research experience at UCM, teaching me vital lessons as a researcher and student with unconditional support. They've encouraged me to
embrace my background and use my perspective to conduct meaningful research for the benefit of members in my own community and beyond.
I've been fortunate enough to be published first author in a peer-reviewed journal on a paper through the Naughton Lab. I have also conducted research at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography through UC LEADS at UCSD, and partnered with universities in Mexico through the WSM Lab to collaborate on research efforts regarding climate resilience in drought-ridden communities.
After graduation, I will continue to conduct research at UC Merced throughout the summer with the WSM Lab. In the Fall, I will begin my pursuit of a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering with the Osman Lab at Stanford University. There, I will further explore and develop sustainable and equitable solutions for water management in the state of California. I hope to be a professor one day at a research university.
I would like to thank every faculty member in the Environmental Engineering department for continually supporting me in my studies and pushing me to be better student and engineer. I would also like to thank Jorge Arroyo and UC LEADS for giving me the opportunity to enter the realm of research, and the constant support they've provided me to be where I am today. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents for always encouraging my interests in the environment and the arts, and not let anything hinder my love for learning.
I chose UC Merced because I wanted to be a part of something new and growing. Also studying a new major on campus, I enjoyed the smaller community and more individualized support.
I have always been interested in how things are built, and as a kid I loved passing construction sites. Growing up, I excelled at math and problem-solving which pushed me toward engineering. I've always had a passion for sustainability, and with a degree in civil engineering, I hope to apply my skills to sustainable projects.
My family has been an integral part of my academic journey. They have always supported me without judgement which allowed me to grow into who I am today. Additionally, the civil engineering faculty are passionate about the new program and continually advocate for student success.
I have enjoyed many of my classes here at UC Merced, and appreciate the opportunity to take classes outside of my major. One of my electives is a remote sensing class, where we learn about satellite imagery and how to use it for our own research. I find it fascinating how we can connect the impacts of human activity on the environment through space, strengthening my passion for sustainability.
After graduating, I will be moving to Maryland for a job at a construction contracting company. I am excited for a new adventure and to apply my skills from school to the field.
Armaan Kapoor is graduating with a major in Computer Science and Engineering with a minor in Management Analytics and Decision Making. He would like to thank his family for always supporting him. Armaan completed his degree in three years. He always knew he had potential and the ability to accomplish big things. As an evolving cybersecurity enthusiast and a 2x intern, he spent most of my free time catching up on the latest tech news. Also, at the same time, helped teams of students to develop large-scale community service-oriented projects, being the treasurer and Cyber Division Lead of an interdisciplinary, homegrown organization known as Q Project. He thinks his best accomplishments included a weekly cyber workshop series that he hosted alongside a team, which formed a growing cyber presence at UC Merced. It is also an official security campaign on IT’s website. Armaan has been featured on SA writing Other and led Virtual Academies teaching high school students various STEM topics such as Cyber, Robotics, and LoRA. Also, by deploying a LoRA network across the Central Valley, IoT sensors running a specific LoRA network can now visit the internet through Q Project’s internet gateways. Armaan has set the foundation for UC Merced undergraduates to learn hands-on skills such as 3d printing, drone building, cyber hygiene, and even network skills through the FIRST CCNA lab at UC Merced. He has established a student-led tech space so that everyone from any major can gain any hands-on skill with no obstacles. He hopes that students will continue to fight for the projects that they are passionate about and deliver results that follow industry standards.
Devanshu Kumar came into the University of California, Merced as a B.S Computer Science and Engineering major. Upon completing his first year, he was inspired by various topics in the field of Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence from the Cognitive Science perspective. Hence, Devanshu also pursued a minor in B.S Cognitive Science along with his major in Computer Science and Engineering. Devanshu was involved in a diverse range of experiences at UC Merced. He worked as an Undergraduate Assistant –Data Quality for Stefano Foresti at UC Merced School of Engineering since 2018 where he assisted the transition of most processes into automation for the Innovate to Grow team using software and data. Furthermore, he took the responsibility of serving as a client for a capstone project and guided 3 CSE 120 teams to build a Minimum Viable Product for Veracruz Ventures.In parallel, he also worked on a research project under the guidance of Dr. Tao Ye in creating an application to simulate electric field on the nanoparticle surfaces and he helped scaled the existing simulating software to MERCED Cluster. His research project was approved to be presented in the SACNAS 2019 research conference. Lastly, Devanshu also worked on another research project under the guidance of Dr. Alberto Cerpa, which comprised of building a classification model to detect sensor faults in building HVAC systems. Devanshu attributes his success to his Principal investigators, work mentor, and professors who consistently posed challenges that allowed him to get out of his comfort zone and let him express himself through unfamiliar environments, thus allowing him to learn invaluable skills in research, technical, and professional development. In his free time, Devanshu likes to play sports such as Cricket and Tennis and he likes to take spontaneous trips in the nature or in the city to unwind. He also likes to spend time learning about stock markets as Devanshu will be joining Vanguard as a Software Developer in Malvern, PA upon graduation. Finally, Devanshu shares gratitude towards the UC Merced faculty and his friends and family for making his undergraduate experience a memorable journey towards the next phase of his life.
Tony originally planned to become an artist but came to UC Merced as a CSE student and challenged himself to take as many classes as he was interested in. The result was that he completed his degree in three years. Originally he thought he would pursue a career right out of college but instead has decided to deepen his knowledge by joining the Computer Science Master’s program at University of Washington Bothwell this fall.
Juan is a first-generation CSE student with an Applied Math minor. While he came to UC Merced with little programming experience, he enjoyed the chance to explore common and specialized languages. He recommends new and current student to join clubs on campus and attend events such as game nights and mixers to meet new people and gain exposure to company recruiters.
It's rare that as an undergraduate, you have the opportunity to make real changes to a school. UC Merced is new and constantly improving, so there are tons of opportunities available! I truly believe that UC Merced allows students to get as much out of the experience as they want to put in.
Choosing Computer Science and Engineering was always a "natural" choice for me. I spent much of my childhood and free time in high school building things, from Raspberry Pi clusters, to websites for friends and organizations I was a part of. I realized that as a CSE major, I would have the ability to continue working on the types of projects I find interesting while also learning the concepts behind them at a deeper level.
Both Professor Erin Hestir and Professor Xiaoyi Lu have been wonderful mentors to me. I took a spatial analysis course taught by Professor Hestir not knowing what to expect. I originally found the course because it fulfilled a degree requirement, but I ended up finding the course incredibly interesting. She offered me a position in her lab as an undergraduate research assistant, though which I was able to apply my programming experience and knowledge of computer science to real problems with real impact. I can't thank her enough for helping me navigate poster submissions for conferences and the application process of wonderful programs like NASA DEVELOP. Professor Lu helped me realize that pursuing Systems in graduate school was possible by giving me the opportunity to work in his lab on a real research topic.
Many of the courses I have taken here include a team-based project of some kind. Depending on team dynamics, skill levels, and the amount of time everyone has to devote, these projects can go extremely well or extremely poorly. I consider myself "lucky" enough to have experienced leading teams in both scenarios, and I think my leadership skills are better for it.
I was lucky enough to be accepted to multiple graduateprograms and had to make the difficult decision of choosing just one. Because of my positive experiences with research as an undergraduate, UC Merced won out, so I will be starting this coming fall as a first year PhD student.
I chose the University of California, Merced because I wanted to study with the best. UC Merced provides a high quality education with top professors who are willing to help when needed. The university is also conveniently located near Silicon Valley, the heart of technology and innovation. There are many career fairs that are hosted throughout the semester, which encourages students to apply for internships to various companies and jumpstart their career. UC Merced also offers the best financial aid within the UC system, bringing many students like me closer to their academic goals. I am grateful that UC Merced has offered a number of opportunities to prepare and thrive in the tech industry.
I majored in Computer Science and Engineering because I believe in building meaningful software to make technology more accessible and user-friendly. I want to be able to provide people in need with the proper technological resources to ensure they can achieve their fullest potential.
I would like to thank Dr. Santosh Chandrasekhar for being a generous and dependable mentor. He was very helpful in my capstone class and I learned a lot about how to interact with clients and how to manage my time to accommodate their needs. He was also very supportive in my decision to attend graduate school. Dr. Chandrasekhar has inspired me to become a much more well-rounded person.
My advisor, Christina Mayo, has also been of great help in preparing for my bachelors. She directed me to various resources that would further enhance my experience at UC Merced.
I would also like to thank my family and friends, who have been very supportive of my academic career and encourage me to become successful in my future endeavors.
My most memorable academic experience happened during my capstone class. This class allowed me to experience what working with a client was like, how to communicate our product effectively with them, and how to manage our time to complete a product that satisfied our client’s requirements. We also learned how to present our project in a way that was easy to understand, yet meaningful. This class gave me a taste of what it was like to work in the tech industry, which allowed me to become more prepared when performing a job.
I will be attending graduate school at the University of California, Irvine, where I will pursue a masters in Human-Computer Interaction and Design (MHCID). I hope to use the skills I’ve obtained from both my bachelors and my masters to make technology more accessible and user-friendly to people in need.
I chose UC Merced primarily due to its location. Having grown up in bustling urban environments, I was keen to experience the tranquility of a smaller city. UC Merced's setting offers a serene backdrop conducive to focused academic pursuits, without the distractions often found in larger metropolitan areas. Additionally, UC Merced's emphasis on research opportunities greatly appealed to me.
I decided to major in Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) because of my love for technology and computing. Growing up, I've always had a strong interest in computers. So when it came to choosing my major, it's obvious what kind of career path would suit me best: one where this passion can be put to good use while also making some sort of impact within the constantly evolving field of technology. CSE was the right choice for me because it offers a diverse set of abilities that can open up numerous job paths. From making software to designing algorithms or exploring data analysis, CSE provides fundamental knowledge in computing principles that is useful in many types of work fields.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my family for their unwavering support and encouragement, propelling me forward throughout my college journey. Their belief in my abilities has been a constant source of strength. In terms of academic inspiration, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all my CSE professors, with special appreciation for Dr. Florin Rusu, Dr. Santosh Chandrasekhar, and Dr. Hyeran Jeon. Their guidance and dedication have been instrumental in shaping my academic journey, inspiring me to delve deeper into the world of computing. Thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement.
A significant academic experience would have to be the semester I took Thermodynamics. I started that class with fear of failing because I had heard it was really hard. Initially I had a very hard time learning the concepts and learning thermodynamics with a mechanical engineer perspective. I then made sure to take extra time to study, attend office hours and study sessions that eventually paid off. This is a big part of my success now because after I took that class I received an offer for a research lab assistant position from Dr. Palko. This was a sign that my hard work and determination was noticed and that no matter what the struggle is just ask for help and keep going.
One of my most memorable academic experiences stems from my involvement in group-based projects during my Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) classes, particularly in my capstone class. Collaborating with my peers proved to be both exhilarating and challenging. Through these projects, I not only learned a great deal but also surpassed my initial expectations, thanks to the collective efforts of my teammates. Their support and collaboration propelled me further than I could have imagined, transforming what could have been an ordinary academic endeavor into a truly enriching and fulfilling experience.
After graduation, my next step is to secure a full-time position in Software Engineering. I'm eager to apply and expand upon the skills and knowledge I've gained during my academic journey.
As a Central Valley native, I found myself in a uniquely comfortable and familiar environment at UC Merced. The relative youth of the university, coupled with its modest size allowed me to foster meaningful relationships with my professors and peers. The academic environment, paired with the strong sense of community, has given me not only an exceptional education, but also lifelong friendships and a sense of purpose.
I fell in love with Computer Science long before I applied to UC Merced. The nature of the problems as well as their context were always exciting for me, allowing for collaboration and creativity in ways I didn't find anywhere else. The rush of successfully solving a challenging problem is something that I have always found deeply rewarding. It is a feeling that never gets old, and one that fuels my passion for Computer Science. The thrill of discovery and the sense of accomplishment are what drive me to pursue excellence in the field.
Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate enough to have a multitude of sources for inspiration and motivation, each of which has played an integral role in shaping my personal and professional development.
First and foremost, my parents have been instrumental in providing me with a strong foundation for success. They showed me how to apply myself and my skills to the things I care about. Additionally, they taught me the importance of loyalty, both in my personal relationships and in my professional endeavors. These have served as a guiding force throughout my personal, academic, and professional pursuits.
My high school robotics coach also played a pivotal role in shaping my approach to work and collaboration. Under her guidance, I learned how to effectively communicate with others, even in high-stress situations, and how to work well within a team to achieve shared goals. These skills have proven invaluable in my academic and professional pursuits, enabling me to excel in group projects and collaborate effectively with colleagues.
Finally, my professors at UC Merced have played an instrumental role in my academic and personal growth. I'd like to specifically name Dr. Chandrasekhar, Dr. Lu, and Dr. Rusu, who have exposed me to facets of the industry that I never knew existed, broadening my horizons and fueling my passion for the field. They have consistently challenged me to push beyond my comfort zone, encouraging me to go the extra mile and strive for excellence in all aspects of my work.
Lots of my classes offered good, challenging experiences for me. These usually came in the form of group projects, which offer a unique challenge of collaboration placed on top of what is often a project with more breadth than most personal projects. Managing a project with others with a deadline is always an interesting challenge and often provides a memorable experience.
I don't have any serious plans locked down right now, but that's ok. I've been working with a tutoring startup here in Merced for the past few months, helping them put together some software solutions they need to streamline their operations. I anticipate continuing to work with them for a bit. Beyond that, I hope to find somewhere to apply my skills long-term, where I can continue to be challenged and where I can feel the impact of my work. I am also considering graduate school as a way of further expanding my skills, but I have no immediate plans.
I chose UC Merced because, as a modern university, it followed new trends in academia and didn't shy away from trying new things in academia and pedagogy. Alongside its location in the Central Valley, the great financial aid, and the tight-knit community, it was clear that UCM was the go-to university to study at.
When I was younger, playing games like Minecraft and Touhou Project inspired me to get into programming, hacking, and even building small hardware projects - all of which I learned on my own through trial and error. Turns out, those skills also transfer into real-world applications. I chose Computer Science and Engineering because I was interested in how modern computing worked - starting from the high-level software development practices, all the way to the low-level hardware design. I hope to use my knowledge to help develop better tools to improve productivity, as well as pass on my knowledge to those who want to get into computer science but might not have the right resources to get started.
I am grateful to all of my professors and mentors here, however in particular I would like to thank Professor Cerpa and PhD Student/TA Jothi for making my CSE career worth it with his Computer Networking course. This challenging course not only flipped my perspective of networking, but also my approach to problem solving with all of the tough (but fun!) labs.
I also acknowledge Dr. Santosh Chandrasekhar and Dr. Stefano Foresti for organizing the Innovate To Grow capstone experience, which I enjoyed for the collaborative experience. It's perfectly designed to let students test out their knowledge against practical problems and create practical solutions, resulting in more experience and happy clients.
I thank Tom Wahlquist at Walpole ITS/Platform TA for my initial software development summer internship experience two years ago, which I am glad to still be a part of now. It has been a great opportunity to apply my skills to more real-world experiences, affecting and improving the work of many others.
Finally, I express gratitude to every student here at UCM (and some outside!) who have made my time here extraordinary. Many projects like my course searching and scheduling bot and the facility scraper tools have only been made possible because of their inspiration and motivation, and I am sincerely indebted to them.
For me, the Innovate To Grow capstone project was my most memorable experience, working with my three other team members to build a project. We developed an employee coaching tool for US Cold Storage to improve their data entry routine over a few months, and I'll never forget the stress from meeting project deadlines and the consequent relief. Fortunately, it won 1st in our I2G track and impressed our client, making the experience all the more rewarding.
For now, I'll continue working at my internship/job, however, I have plans to continue my research in running small neural networks on microcontrollers and better image searching/matching. Anything's up for grabs at this point, so let's see where life takes me!
Take it easy!!!
I chose UC Merced because I was interested in attending a growing college that came with the same connections you get from more established UCs. Also, being from Fresno, I wanted to go to college near enough to home that visiting would be easy but far enough that I'd still get to be away from home.
I majored in computer science because I found programming to be an amazing creative outlet. There aren't many majors where you can think of something you want to build, and from your laptop you can design and implement it on your own, whether it's something useful for a class or just a side project for fun.
I'm especially thankful to professor Hyeran Jeon and the MoCA Lab as a whole, I got to work with them for a research internship during the summer of 2022 and that was a great experience that really opened my eyes about what research looked like for computer science. I'd also like to thank my family for being supportive throughout, I wouldn't be here without them, and of course my friends, for making the long days and late nights working on our classes bearable.
I'd say my most memorable academic experiences were the various group projects I've worked on. In computer
science you learn by doing, so working on full scale projects with a group who all have their own specialties and things to teach each other is the fastest way to pick up new skills. On top of that, making a MIPS simulator for the Computer Architecture class with professor Jeon. We spend a lot of time learning to program and not worrying about the very low level processes, but I think it's really valuable to have an idea for what was happening every
step of the way from actual binary to application execution.
Keep applying to jobs and hopefully find something in California so I can start building practical experience as soon as possible. I am considering pursuing graduate school but it's not something I'd do in the near future.
Being a first generation college student I knew nothing about college while I was growing up, but I dreamed of going. Everything I learned about selecting a college, a major and a career, I learned on my own through google. I had a short list of potential schools because they had to be schools with environmental engineering in California that I had a chance of getting accepted to. There was a time when I thought I would never make it to college because of tuition costs and my lack of knowledge. When I found UC Merced, it seemed like a place I could thrive at, since it was a somewhat smaller campus, had a strong focus on sustainability and had a community aspect a lot of other schools do not have. When I got accepted I didn't consider any other option.
I chose environmental engineering because I have always been passionate about environmental justice, preservation and solving problems. I was always the nerdy science kid growing up. I wanted my future career to combine my love of technical subjects with my passion for environmental science. After stumbling upon and doing some research on environmental engineering I knew it was for me. I want to be able to make a difference in the world by helping my community and our environment through innovative solutions.
I have had the opportunity to be a part of three research groups throughout my time at UC Merced and each mentor has had a great and distinct impact on me. Dr. Colleen Naughton gave me the chance to be a researcher with her group when I was a second-year. She taught me the importance and social responsibility that comes with being an engineer. She was my first female engineering role model and I will be carrying all of her advice with me for the rest of my life. Dr. Lilian Davila hired me to join her research group during our fully online academic year. She kept me focused on my goals while every other aspect of life was chaotic. Dr. Marie Odile Fortier brought me into her research group this year and has given me the chance to be a part of a project that directly relates to my future goals. Her support has been the most integral to my success post-graduation.
Academics were always my main focus, so a lot of my friendships started out as lab partners or members of study groups. So I will remember a lot of group projects in upper division courses where I was able to struggle through the task with people I was actually friends with.
After graduation I will be living on my own and working full-time as a field engineer with the Lane Construction Corporation in Southern California. I will be a part of the corridor project on the I-10 highway! I also plan to be a licensed PE within the next five years, as I will have taken (and hopefully passed) the FE exam by the time everyone is reading this. Working in industry and being a licensed professional engineer has always been my goal so it's amazing to see it coming into fruition!
I would not be where I am now without SWE and all the SWEeties! I was able to hone my leadership style, mentor lower classmen and inspire the next generation. I held a board position as a freshmen, then became secretary and then president. I have met forever friends and strongly believe that I would have changed my major if I would not have joined the organization. The women I met have become an integral support system for my success. The national SWE conference I attended my fourth year is also where I interviewed for and received my job offer that I will be pursuing after graduation!
Arianna has always been drawn to the environment. Ever since she was little, her favorite past times were working in the backyard pulling weeds and gardening. As she got older, she started working on bigger projects with her dad such as the planning and building of a retaining wall and a water irrigation system for the garden. This is when she noticed she loved engineering. The planning, designing, and execution of a project was exciting and the added element of the environment made it that much more of a perfect fit. During her sophomore year of college, she became part of Dr. Colleen Naughton’s lab where she developed her own research plan to study nitrate contamination in drinking water in relation to thyroid cancer and environmental justice.
Community engagement motivates Arianna to give something back as a repayment for the opportunities she had, but also to honor her family for all they have taught her and continue to teach her. She has seen how much her parents had to struggle to get her to this point and is appreciative of all the work and adversity they overcame. The exceptional and encouraging faculty at UC Merced have been integral to her growth as an Environmental Engineer; specifically the mentorship of Dr. Colleen Naughton. Dr. Naughton was a prominent figure that helped guide Arianna through her academic journey and is one of her role models. Arianna plans to take all her experiences from UC Merced and implement them in graduate school on her path to pursue a PhD in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Arizona.
As a first-gen Latina, I was inspired to attend UC Merced because of the large Latinx/Hispanic community on campus. UC Merced was also one of the only schools that I applied to that offered Environmental Engineering in its curriculum, and when I was accepted, the excitement I felt made me realize UC Merced was going to be my top choice.
I chose Environmental Engineering from a career survey that I took in my middle school's AVID class. I was inspired by the focus on environmental injustices and protecting the planet’s natural resources.
I was fortunate to have Dr. Colleen Naughton as a professor and mentor for the majority of my undergraduate career. I started off as a course reader for Dr. Naughton in Spring 2023, then joined her FEWS-US lab the following academic year as an undergraduate researcher. I am grateful for all the opportunities she has provided!
My most memorable academic experience would have to be working on and completing my capstone project. I had such an amazing team that put in a lot of time and effort that paid off when we earned Top Finisher at Innovate to Grow!
After graduation, I will be continuing my journey with UC Merced in the Environmental Systems graduate program as a PhD candidate under Dr. Colleen Naughton!
I want to thank my family who have supported me every step of the way. I wouldn't have made it this far with your love and encouragement,
¡te quiero mucho!
Spencer transferred from Modesto Junior College in fall 2017. He joined the Yosemite Leadership Program his first semester and met many motivated students with a passion for preserving and protecting the environment for the benefit of communities. Spencer will graduate from the YLP program with a certificate of leadership. As an Environmental Engineering student he looks forward to making an impact. He has found a passion for water resource management through his Hydrology and Climate course taught by Professor Mohammad Safeeq. Spencer plans to obtain his Engineering in Training Certificate and eventually his Professional Engineering Certificate in the field of water resource management.
Anthony Rodrigues is a graduate in Materials Science and Engineering, and a first-generation college student with lots of ambitions. College was no easy task but three factors that helped him greatly was the guidance of Professor Viney since he was a freshman, the career center, and the support of his clubs/organizations: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Merced Nanomaterials Center for Energy and Sensing (MACES), the Solar Energy Association, the Materials Research Society and Bobcat Boxing Club. All which have prepared him professionally, academically and have made his time at UC Merced a great one.While at school, Anthony has conducted research with MACES and has published papers with his Professor, Mehmet Z. Baykara, and his mentor Ogulcan Acikgoz. All whom have taught him a lot about Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Nanoscale friction measurements, 2D Materials, and who have nurtured Anthony’s growth in the research field. Outside school, Anthony likes to volunteer at Castle Air Museum in the restoration hangar and lend a helping hand whenever he has time.If there is one thing that he is most grateful of during his time at UC Merced is the support of his friends, mentors, professors, Baykara Lab, clubs/organizations, and his family; but in particular, his mother who has sacrificed much for their family growing up. Anthony hopes to repay his mother one day for all her carino y apoyo. Now, arriving to the end of his journey at UC Merced, Anthony prepares to begin his next journey as a Materials Engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Lancaster, in the Rocket Propulsion Division!
John attributes this enthusiasm for materials science from his mentors and instructors: Professor Jessica Wang, Professor Christopher Viney, Professor Sarah Kurtz and Professor James Bernard. John has worked in Professor Wang’s conductive polymer group during his time at UC Merced. He has been awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and GEM Fellowship for his graduates studies next year at Northwestern University. After finishing his Ph.D. he plans to work as a postdoctoral associate at a national laboratory with the intent of securing a staff scientist position.
UC Merced is a campus that made me feel welcomed. I admire how much the school has to offer and being a new research school was also something that made me like campus even more. I enjoy how faculty and students are always willing to teach and learn as well as always maintaining a positive work environment. UC Merced offers so many resources and opportunities to get involved and that is why students strive and make the best out of their undergraduate years here.
Material Science and Engineering was a major I did not know much about when applying, but I knew I wanted a STEM major. After taking my general lower division classes and taking introduction to materials, I became fascinated by how much can be done by studying and characterizing materials. There is so much that defines how something may work based on the study of its processing, properties, performance, and structure. I have learned that studying material science allows me to make something work better and more efficiently as well as learning that this major is so interdisciplinary that the knowledge can be applied everywhere.
My family have always been my greatest supporters! As a child of immigrant parents I always strive to do my best because I want to make my parents proud. My parents have worked so hard to provide a higher education for my sibling and I that my first thought about graduating with a bachelor's degree is making sure I make them proud by showing them that their sacrifices have all been worth it!
I would also like to highlight and thank my professors and the faculty because without them I would not be where I am today. They inspire me to always seek more knowledge and ask questions that lead to more success.
A significant academic experience would have to be the semester I took Thermodynamics. I started that class with fear of failing because I had heard it was really hard. Initially I had a very hard time learning the concepts and learning thermodynamics with a mechanical engineer perspective. I then made sure to take extra time to study, attend office hours and study sessions that eventually paid off. This is a big part of my success now because after I took that class I received an offer for a research lab assistant position from Dr. Palko. This was a sign that my hard work and determination was noticed and that no matter what the struggle is just ask for help and keep going.
Due to the amazing guidance from friends and mentors I am stoked to start a full time job at The Clorox Company as a R&D Packaging Scientist! I would have never thought I would be working for such a recognized consumer based company and I could not be happier. I am excited to start this new chapter in life and I know Clorox will allow me to apply my Material Science knowledge as well as learn a lot more from them.
I would also like to thank SHPE because without this organization I would not be this prepared and ready for the real industry world. I have gained so much knowledge and friendships that just keep growing. I appreciate the opportunity to attend the 2022 SHPE National Convention where I got so much networking experience and gained my full time job offer.
¡Gracias!
I was anxious transitioning from high school to university in 2018 but attending Bobcat Day and orientation help me feel at ease to UC Merced's welcoming environment.
Like many, I did not know what Materials Science & Engineering major entailed but quickly learned that Materials is the basis of many engineering applications. I loved the blend of chemistry, mechanical, and materials coursework and found it applicable so many topics, especially sustainably advancing technology. In my small class sizes, I have grown very close to my peers and professors in countless collaborative engineering labs and projects. When someone asks me "What is Materials Science & Engineering?" I usually refer to the fast-paced materials advancement of the semiconductors used in their smart phone.
As a first generation Asian-American, a large motivation for my success was my parents' perseverance to provide me with opportunities and the support needed to succeed. I would like to mention my recently deceased father and strong-willed mother that gave me strength to continue my Materials Science & Engineering degree during tough times and who have trusted me to achieve their dream of pursuing higher education.
I have been collaborating as a student researcher with Dr. Valerie Leppert for 1.5 years analyzing the photocatalytic properties of nanoparticles with the application of degrading organic pollutants. Almost instantaneously, I found myself very passionate with the experimental process and constantly asked questions. A huge take away from my time as a student researcher was when faced with inaccurate experimental results. Instead of getting discouraged, Dr. Leppert taught me how to critically think of possible mistakes I could've made in my procedure and how it would effect the data. Not only has developing a problem solving process useful to producing reproduceable results, but it has also built confidence in my academic abilities.
I plan to travel internationally over the summer before procuring an industry job in materials selection or research. I also plan to advance my career in Graduate school working towards an M.S./Ph.D.
It's a UC experience that's close to home with many available internship and undergraduate research opportunities.
Materials are the fundamental resource that every other applied engineering practice relies upon. Civil engineers, electrical engineers, bioengineers, and others use materials because they have specific properties that they want to take advantage of. Thus, materials engineers will always be needed. They understand what structures give what properties and what processes give what structures. The need for continued progress in materials understanding is what made me choose materials engineering.
Professor Leppert has been a key figure in the last few years of my education. Doing undergraduate research with her helped me apply skills that I had learned in previous courses, and it made my lab practices more refined. I can't put into words how much her electron microscopy course and materials characterization course put into perspective the amount of detail and work that goes into understanding what gives a material its properties.
Professor Viney is another inspiration. He has a lecturing style that dives deeper, on an intuitive level, than most textbooks can go. His lectures are unique and help students understand the thermodynamic and kinetic implications of materials processing. He's also quite the charismatic man - I look forward to learning guitar with him if he still wishes to.
Capstone was, and is, a great way of getting students familiar with industrial applications of their knowledge. Working with Innovate to Grow taught me the importance of planning, communication, and problem-solving on a level that no other course could.
A special thanks to Stefano Foresti, Christine Gemperle, Arnold Craig, Tim Lohman, and my team members Brian John Virtucio, Alejandro Lailson, and Yuriana Medina-Fernandez.
I'll get some more lab experience and hopefully start working in the industry. I'd like to get involved in semiconductor fabrication - even if it's just on the line.
Thank you. Simon, Abby, Danny, Neil - I won't forget you guys.
Alex has been admitted to the MS program in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC Davis. He will begin after his MACES internship this summer. Alex credits Professor Sun for giving him the idea to consider graduate school.
I chose UC Merced because it was a smaller campus but was growing at a fast pace. The opportunity to get involved into ones area of interest is very easy here at UC Merced. Also, the people who are here are just like me, so it feels like home when I am here.
Since I was a little kid I always had an interest in cars. Movies like The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift made this interest grow even more. I though cars looked and sounded cool from the outside, but I would always be confused whenever I would look at the engine bay, and furthermore understanding how the car worked. Mechanical Engineers are the people who design these vehicles and have and active role in that, so for this reason I chose Mechanical Engineering.
My immediate family are my biggest motivation and inspiration. My father is the most hardworking person I know without a doubt, and NEVER complains. My mother never fails to remind me what is important in life and never stops when it comes to providing for my sister and I. My sister has always had my back and has been my mentor since I can remember. Since my sister was a Senior when I was a first year, she helped me get acclimated into college life very quickly. Despite not knowing the flow of life of the US, my family made it happen under any circumstances, so I know that I can too.
I made many friends who are also Mechanical Engineering students. Staying up late to study or work on homework in the SRE building will always be a good memory to look back on. In addition, I enjoyed my time as a Resident Assistant where I got the opportunity to help incoming student or 2nd years with things I wish I would've known at that time.
This summer I will be working as an Intern for PepsiCo as a Supply Chain Engineer Intern. After, I hope to get hired on by them or look for an industry job in the automotive space. I believe at some point I will want to pursue a masters or a PhD, so we'll see where life takes me!
I feel like I have grown a lot here at UC Merced. Through the different events, jobs, classes, etc. I have been able to challenge the way I think and have changed the way I act as a result. Experiencing a year without people due to COVID put into perspective what life is like, which made me appreciate the opportunities when they are there. I say this because once COVID hit many clubs on campus and other activities were halted and some have not made a comeback, so it is important to take advantage of the opportunities when they are there.
I chose UC Merced because I saw the potential for the school to offer great opportunities that wouldn't be as available at otherschools. Since it is the newest UC school, it has new equipment for labs and brand-new buildings for classrooms and dorms. The campus is very beautiful,and the student community here was very friendly and accepting. I wanted tocome here because I wanted to take advantage of all of these amazing attributes to help me grow academically and socially.
Throughout my academic life before college, I was always interested in STEM topics and enjoyed solving problems whether they were physical or on paper. I wanted to become an Engineer because I liked the type of problems they worked on and the industries that they worked in. I am a huge fan of the Aerospace, Energy, and Transportation fields. With all thatin mind I did not originally know what engineer I wanted to become because I had an interest in each general area. To compromise, I chose Mechanical Engineering because I would gain knowledge in many different areas of engineering which would help me discover what career path I want to follow when I graduate.
My inspiration for doing all of this hard work and dedication would have to be because of my parents and my brother. All of the life lessons and stories that have been told to me from my parents remind me how lucky I am to be in the situation that I am in today. They have given me so many opportunities and I want to do my best to make them and myself proud. Me and my brother have been competing for as long as I can remember whether it’s in sports, in academics, or in music. We have a strong sibling rivalry and even though he is better than me at some things, it just motivates me to get even better and to surpass him. In school I have had some great mentors who helped me throughout my time here at UC Merced. There are many TA's who have helped me tremendously at office hours and professors who have helped me understand difficult topics. Of all of those people, the onethat stands out to me would be Professor Ashlie Martini. She has helped me a lot with the projects that I have been working on and has helped me apply the skills I have learned in the classroom to solve complex problems. Without a doubt she has helped me grow the most since I started college.
My most memorable academic experience here at UC Merced would have to be my freshman year when I absolutely failed my first physics midterm. In high school I would pay attention in class, not study, and getting A's on my tests. Getting this result gave me a huge shock because I have never failed a test, not in high school, middle school, or elementary school which caused me to become laser focused on my schoolwork. After that 1 midterm, I went to office hours every week, completed my homework 1 week in advance, and studied like crazy for the exams. Because of all that hard work, I ended up acing the rest of the midterms and the final, which got me an A in the class. This experience taught me that working hard and putting in the extra time to learn something is how I can become successful in any task or project that I want to complete.
After I graduate, I plan to enter the job industry as an entry-level Mechanical Engineer. The short-term goal is to work in either the aerospace, energy, or transportation fields and gain experience from the projects I work on. In tandem I would like to pass the FE and EIT exams as soon as possible so that I can work in more qualified positions, eventually working my way up to getting my engineering PE license. In the long term, I would like to eventually work with NASA on planet exploration projects or help develop technological systems that can help minimize global warming.
When I first came to UC Merced, I was very shy, introverted, and typically had a difficult time initiating and continuing conversations. However, when I moved into the dorms my freshman year, I made the decision that I would break out of my shell and improve my social skills. I am so happy I made that decision because I have made so many great friends and have met so many cool people that I would've never met otherwise. I can now start and hold conversations and speak to people with confidence. If it wasn't for the amazing UC Merced students in my freshman class, I would not be where I am today and I am glad that I was able to grow not just academically but socially as well. The memories that I have made during my time at UC Merced were amazing and I can't wait to see what the future will hold.
UC Merced offers accessibility and mobility. Whether that be social, financial, or academic, it is a place of opportunity.
In my eyes, mechanical engineering is a way of organizing the physical chaos around to serve a purpose. And although I majored in mechanical engineering, it's not a stand alone major. Throughout my undergraduate time, I've found that we often work with those in computer science, electrical engineering, chemistry, and more.
I'm thankful for my family, friends and the professors throughout my academic journey. They've kept me grounded and I wouldn't be where I'm at at without them.
One of the most memorable moment was joining the Martini undergraduate research team. I was exposed to some of the unsolved engineering problems. It was an opportunity to understand how we dissect issues with no clear and perfect solution.
After graduating, I'll be heading down to LA for a tribology internship at The Aerospace Corporation. Then I'll be back to UC Merced to start the mechanical engineering PhD program.
Born and raised in the Central Valley, I was nervous about the idea of leaving home and attending school in a large city. When I did my initial tours of the UC campuses, I felt out of place and small, with the exception of UC Merced, which made me feel welcomed. The campus had this sense of community that reminded me of my hometown.
Science and math have always been strong suits of mine. The concepts are interesting and keep me engaged. Mechanical engineering allows me to gain more insight into the theoretical explanations of how our world works, while also applying those concepts to practical, tangible applications; and me, I think that is so cool!
I’ve had a lot of inspiring figures in my life. My parents are such a pillar of support and really helped me to push through, truly cannot thank them enough. My brother has been such an inspiration with everything he’s accomplished academically and personally. My friends who have always been there to empathize with our shared struggles. Most importantly I want to thank my Grandfather. He was one of those naturally curious people that questioned everything. He was such a big part of my life and always pushed me to finish my degree. So when he passed away in 2022, it hit me hard. To say I was devastated would be an understatement, but it gave me more motivation to push through my degree, no matter how difficult it became.
One of the most memorable academic experiences was one of my smaller moments. It was just after my Spring 2023 semester and I received an email from one of my professors, offering me a position as an undergraduate researcher in their lab. It was a moment that took me by surprise and made me feel this overwhelming sense of accomplishment, knowing that someone so knowledgeable believed I had the ability to apply myself in a more demanding academic setting.
After graduation, I plan to take the fundamentals of engineering exam, so that I can work towards my goal of becoming a licensed engineer. I also plan to apply for a graduate program for the fall of 2025, in hopes of obtaining my master's in either mechanical or aerospace engineering, with an emphasis on fluid mechanics.
UC Merced was actually a happy accident. I didn't initially plan to attend UC Merced but applied anyway and discovered that the school was by far the best fit for me.
As grandiose as it may sound, I believe that mechanical engineering gives one the tools to improve people's lives and the world. It has always been my hope that I can take these tools and enter the field of renewable energy and or sustainability.
My family, especially my mother and father, has been the greatest source of support and motivation through my entire academic career.
Capstone design has been my favorite academic project. Getting to collaborate with other engineering students and perform real world engineering has been a great learning experience and a blast.
In the long run, I plan on entering into sustainability and doing my small part to make the world more sustainable.
When I was attending high school, I had family members attending UC Merced and studying engineering. To me, UC Merced was one of, if not, the first choices for universities that I wanted to attend because I heard such great things about it. Also, UC Merced is a very diverse school and it has made me feel welcomed and part of its community as a student with a Latino background.
I chose to study Mechanical Engineering due to it being a very broad field. Mechanical Engineers need to study many topics from many specific engineering majors. To me, because it was difficult to choose one engineering practice to focus on, I chose to take an approach that would allow me to focus on different components relating to different engineering practices which is part of the Mechanical Engineering curriculum. As for why I wanted to study engineering: I have always been interested in learning how things work, especially things people use like planes, rockets, cars, etc. Engineering allowed me to take my love of science, especially physics, and apply it to design, build, analyze, and improve systems to further technological advancements with the goal of learning more of what is unknown.
In a non-personal sense, my biggest inspirations would be Issac Newton and Albert Einstein. Not only who they were and what they stood for but also what they accomplished. These people drove my love for science and engineering. Newton tried to explain the unknown but was limited by the materials of his time, so he invented what he needed to explain his thoughts (calculus). Einstein took what we knew and flipped it and has given us a new way of looking at reality (relativity). These two have taught me that if one does not have the tools to do what one wishes, one can create new tools and to not be afraid to think differently from others.
On a more personal note, I will always consider my parents and siblings as my biggest inspirations and mentors. My siblings, though they chose different paths than me, will always be an inspiration because they have supported me every step of the way, and they have managed to navigate through life and accomplish so much which I hope to do as well. My parents are immigrants and have sacrificed so much for me to be where I am. They gave up so much of what they knew and have worked in labor intensive jobs all my life to support me and my siblings to give us a better life. I hope that I can show them one day that it was all worth it and how grateful I am.
A memorable academic experience of mine was my capstone project that I had in my fourth year (fall 2023 - spring 2024). This was memorable because it gave me a sense of what would be expected of me in the engineering industry. It sort of took me out of the classroom mindset and more a real world application mindset. This was memorable because it challenged me to apply all that I had learned in engineering to solve a real engineering problem.
After graduation, I plan to start a career in the aerospace industry because space is a personal interest of mine. I hope to one-day advance space exploration technologies. I also plan to potentially pursue a master's/PhD program with an emphasis in aerospace or mechanical engineering. I want to apply all of this experience to some real world engineering applications relating to space.
If anyone is interested in engineering, the number one piece of advice I can give is to be passionate about it. Passion is what gets you through difficult times. If you want to achieve your dreams, you need to want it more than anything else and be ready to give it all you've got.
Julian would like to thank the University of California, Merced for recognizing his efforts in school, and providing another first-generation college student with a UC education. He would like to highlight that none of this would have been possible without the support from friends, family and department faculty. He enjoyed taking Thermodynamics from Professor Palk and Fluid Mechanics from Professor Rice and sends a shout out to Professor Brokowski for challenging him the most as an engineering student. Professor Martini had the largest impact on his future. As a fresh transfer student, he met with her after studying her research publications extensively and formulating a sheet of questions to ask. She agreed to add Julian to her research group right then and there during their meeting and he thanks her for the valuable research experience he gained. He is going to miss crossing Scholar’s Bridge to get to class and having picnics by little lake, and above all else, working on problem sets with friends on the SRE whiteboards. Nonetheless, Julian looks optimistically towards the future as he prepares to pursue his master’s degree developing novel cooling strategies at Stanford University.
Lucio Alfonso Moreno is a first-generation college student who attended UC Merced because he really wanted to make his abuela proud. Everything he learned about being a hard worker and showing kindness, came from her. He is grateful for everything his family has done for him. Lucio got into mechanical engineering through his high school robotics club, where he spent countless nights designing, prototyping, and building these machines to perform basic, sometimes complicated, tasks. He really enjoyed the whole process of learning how things work, that, and being good at math, made engineering a good fit. Lucio’s years in Merced were full and remarkable. He worked as a PALS tutor in mathematics. He enjoyed teaching his peers and seeing them succeed in their courses. During his undergraduate career, he was able to participate in two internships. The first with E&J Gallo Winery and the second with John Deere after being speaking to a recruiter at an NSBE conference. He even studied abroad in London during spring 2020 and highly encourage others to take part in it as well. After graduating Lucio plans on traveling a bit to other States and then getting a job focused on 3D modeling software to create or manufacturing products. He intends to complete a master’s degree in the future.
Patricia grew up playing a game she and her siblings called “inventions” in which the objective was to enhance the functionality of common household objects. This game served her well to imaginatively problem solve and pique her interest in understanding how ordinary phenomena works. Majoring in Mechanical Engineering was a natural extension of this curiosity. After graduation Patricia plans on working toward professional certification.
