Celebrating College of Engineering Outstanding Seniors
We spoke with Outstanding Seniors, of which there is one for each of our college's 13 majors. Meet these remarkable students and learn more about them below.
Some responses have been edited for clarity and length. Click the name to read full-length interviews.
What initially inspired you to pursue engineering, and how has that inspiration evolved throughout your time at UC Davis?
Sonia Bhaskaran
Biomedical Engineering
"Initially, I chose biomedical engineering because I was interested in biology and thought the combination would be really interesting and challenging. Throughout my time at UC Davis, seeing the kinds of research professors do and the clinical collaborations that biomedical engineers participate in have made me realize how much good I could do with my major. I’ve become much more interested in specific clinical applications of biomedical engineering, such as addressing neurological disorders and improving women’s healthcare."
Jared Ura
Materials Science and Engineering
"My grandfather was an engineer. He sparked my interest in chemistry and physics at a young age, and I was always in awe of how he understood the world around him at a fundamental level. Naturally, I selected materials science and engineering as my major at UC Davis. I'm forever inspired by my grandfather in my academic pursuits; he taught me how to dig deeper and understand topics in full, which continues to guide me in researching the structures and properties of novel materials at the smallest of scales."
Ashley Bilbrey
Computer Science
"I love to learn about the world around me, and I am constantly seeing how engineers make people's lives better with technology. To me, engineering is a way I can combine my passions with helping people."
Can you share a specific project, research experience or memory that you found particularly rewarding or impactful during your studies? What lessons did you learn from it?
Morgan Johnson
Biological Systems Engineering
"My experience with Engineers Without Borders at UC Davis has fortified my resolve to merge technical expertise with humanitarian values in my professional endeavors. Leading a month-long trip last summer in rural Bolivia to construct pour-flush latrines as a safe sanitation solution taught me skills directly applicable to graduate school and my future career. My experience in Bolivia gave me an appreciation for the challenges and opportunities of sustainable engineering, further shaping my research interests and career goals."
Freesia Finn
Civil and Environmental Engineering
"I was a part of Environmental Project, a water treatment team starting my freshman year, and Concrete Canoe starting my sophomore year. It was so fun to meet other civil engineers, and work to build something together. Especially for concrete canoe, building our canoe the first year back on campus was quite the process, but we got to paddle around Lake Natoma in our perry-the-platypus-themed boat."
Jackson Vaughn
Computer Engineering
"For completion of my senior design project in Applied Machine Learning, which involved designing an autonomous rover that follows someone around and uses real-time pose estimation to allow the user to interface with the rover. While I am immensely proud of the work that my team was able to achieve, the project was completed within 10 weeks. This small time constraint required us to decide what portions of the project were most important. This reaffirmed my belief in one of my favorite quotes 'Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough.'"
Who is one of your favorite engineering professors and why?
Vincent Martin
Biochemical Engineering
"I have to give a huge shout-out to Dr. Glaucia Helena Carvalho do Prado! She clearly cares a lot for the student body, putting a lot of effort into her classes while leading efforts to improve mental health awareness throughout the major. She has been a beacon of positivity and has been a great mentor for me when I have questions about classes, career advice, and life in general."
Adityaa Ravi
Computer Science and Engineering
"One of my favorite engineering professors is Dr. Dipak Ghosal. His guidance and feedback throughout my time working on the project was instrumental in making quite a headway in our project despite it being a massive undertaking. It was inspiring to see him take the time out of his extremely busy schedule to work closely with us and other student projects through his Startup Club, showing how much he cares about helping students make a lasting impact."
Looking back, what advice would you give to your freshman self, or to incoming students, about making the most of their time in the College of Engineering?
Skye Frank
Chemical Engineering
"I would say to talk to your classmates, especially early on. Engineering classes are difficult and the best way to get through them is to collaborate with your peers. I am very lucky to have a tight group of friends/peers in chemical engineering who I have leaned on throughout all of our classes together."
Genevieve Burye
Civil and Environmental Engineering
"I would tell incoming students to take advantage of all the opportunities as part of the College of Engineering. Join engineering clubs, attend info sessions, and get to know your classmates. There are many wonderful people and activities you can be involved in but you have to step outside your comfort zone."
What’s next for you after graduation?
Noah Wagner
Electrical Engineering
"I will be working fulltime at Ulteig, an engineering firm, where I will work on a team that completes large capitol hydropower protection upgrade projects."
Angel Daniel Rodas Garcia
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
"After graduating undergrad I will be continuing onto a masters in mechanical and aerospace engineering at UC Davis at the Center for Spaceflight Research in the Human/Robotics/Vehicle Integration and Performance Lab. I will be working on our space ambulance project for my masters thesis and having lots of fun while doing so."
Lovleen Kaur
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
"I head back to NASA JSC Monday after graduation weekend for my 4th rotation. I'll be working in the Applied Aerosciences/CFD branch as a Graduate Pathways Intern. After the summer, I start my masters degree at UCLA with a CFD concentration and continue rotating at NASA JSC in summers."