Describe your professional, academic, or life experience and skills you have that enhance your ability to be an excellent contributing member to the SULI Program.
My most relevant experience as a mechanical engineering undergraduate has been in my machine shop class. There were two main projects in that class, one of them being the manufacture of a spinning gyroscope. I learned a lot about the manufacturing process and the machines that manufacturing engineers use to create parts. I was given some generic metal shapes, and was instructed to machine them down into the parts required to assemble the gyroscope. I read engineering drawings and used mills, lathes, drill presses, and CNC machines for this project. I formed the parts from start to finish while conducting precise measurements using calipers and micrometers to ensure the parts' accuracy.
After the completion of this class, I took a 3D printing orientation which now allows me to use the 3D printers in the engineering lab for personal and academic use. I learned how to create parts from scratch in Solidworks and publish them into the type of file that would allow me to set up the device for final part printing, along with some basic knowledge on how 3D printers work.
I have great ambition and competence to learn new things; with currently a nearly 3.8 GPA and a semester ahead in math. Even with this, I am still taking additional classes such as "Freshman Seminar: Join The Maker Revolution!" and "Introduction to Environmental Design." These classes are not required but I found them very engaging nonetheless and forced me to retreat from a computational thought process into a more artistic approach. For example, in the environmental design class, I was instructed to design an aesthetic sustainable landscape that could exist on campus. I have also participated in Habitat for Humanity on two occasions, both of which were positive experiences with admirable people.
I believe that I have much to offer to the SULI program as a well rounded individual with considerable strengths in STEM. I will be able to work effectively as an engineering undergraduate researcher. I can stay motivated and will do anything I can to help my colleagues.