Why did you choose to study at WPI? 

WPI was a place of opportunity. I learned about the project-based learning style that heavily emphasized lab work as well as WPI's core ideal of theory and practice. These opportunities made me excited to become a WPI student. Going to WPI also allowed me to run track and field – a chance I couldn't pass up.

How are you involved with the WPI community? 

I run the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, and triple jump for the WPI track and field team. I enjoyed that, from the moment I stepped onto campus, there was an entire team at my back that would encourage me both athletically and academically. I practice six days a week with a team that has become my friends and support me with everything I do. My team hosts dinners and study sessions that are an absolute blast.

I am also a member of the Tea Club, which meets twice a month for students to relax, drink authentic teas, and socialize.

What’s your favorite thing about WPI? 

Every time I talk to a prospective student or someone asking about WPI, I say my favorite thing about WPI is the people. Every person I talk to at WPI has been compassionate and has something passionate to talk about. I also like the experience that professors have and the stories that tell.

Do you have a faculty or staff mentor? 

Two professors have made a significant impact on me. Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Professor Ulkuhan Guler has been an active mentor in my research for the Goldwater Scholarship. She provided guidance on classes I should take to advance my work and recommendations for tools I should use. Without her, my work would not be where it is today.

The second professor who has impacted me is Professor Stephen Bitar, another ECE professor. He has huge amounts of industry experience that he willingly shares with his students. Coincidently, nearly every roadblock in my research was addressed by material from his class.

How has WPI’s project-based learning influenced your education?

The Undergraduate Independent Study Program (ISP) process at WPI has given me opportunities to explore projects such as an Analog Dot Product Circuit, Audio Aliasing Detection, and Scroll Expander Design. These were student run projects overseen by professors who taught me an immense amount, not to mention the lab experiments in engineering classes that provide critical hands-on experience applicable to the real world.