Student Profile
Jonathan Woolley

Mechanical Engineering Graduate Studies '08

Even after spending several years in school at UC Davis, Jonathan Woolley is still trying to figure out what he wants to do. After working through his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, Woolley chose to continue his graduate studies at UC Davis as well, hoping to focus his area of interest in the university’s more flexible graduate environment.

Both a mechanical engineering student and a sustainability activist, Woolley has spent his time in Davis exploring research that will allow him to combine these two passions. Crafting his thesis around alternate/sustainable fuel source research, Woolley has used his time in graduate school to narrow his research, and, with the help of the college, create an interdisciplinary niche for himself.

Supporting his interest in sustainability is the Davis lifestyle. Woolley describes Davis as "a supportive community. Davis is an independent place that shows strong dedication to sustainability and environmentalism as it fosters free thinking and ideas."

By becoming involved in the California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC), as well as the UC Davis Institute for Transportation Studies, Woolley feels he has been given the opportunity to be "more than just an engineer." He encourages other students of all disciplines to "find a purpose for yourself. Be motivated by a specific and tangible purpose, and find a way to create work that is fulfilling for you."

When Woolley graduates this spring, he hopes to continue his advocacy work as an engineer at a company focused on energy efficiency.