Want to know what it's like to be a UW engineering student? These successful students talk about their experiences, challenges and goals.

Amy Nibert, Aeronautics & Astronautics undergraduate

Jon Morgan, Human Centered Design & Engineering grad student

Jolyn Chew, Electrical Engineering undergraduate

Michele Giachetti, Aeronautics & Astronautics undergrad

Jason Hower, Chemical Engineering grad student

Linda S. Gaulke, Civil & Environmental Engineering PhD candidate

Student Profiles

Aeronautics & Astronautics Undergrad, Amy Nibert

“Make friends because study groups will save your life... and leave time for enjoying the college experience, take advantage of student-organized events, ...”

Why did you choose the University of Washington?
I chose the University of Washington because they are one of the leading universities in engineering and can be trusted to present the most up to date material and top of the line equipment and facilities.

Why did you choose Engineering and your department?
I chose engineering because I’ve always been good at math and science, and have a fascination with space, so astronautics seemed the place for me.

What I love about my department is that it’s a lot smaller than the other engineering departments and everyone knows everyone. It’s like a family: we all see each other everyday, morning to sometimes midnight, and hang out outside of school. An added bonus is the student lounge, which leads to some intense ping pong and pool games.

What do you study/research?
I am studying to become an astronautical engineer. My main study of research is currently undecided but will most likely be in space system design or robotics.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
After I graduate I plan on working in the industry in designing spacecrafts.

What advice would you give to incoming undergraduates?
Make friends because study groups will save your life. And learn to prioritize what’s important but still leave time for enjoying the college experience, take advantage of student-organized events by the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), such as game nights and barbeques to meet new people and have fun.

Human Centered Design & Engineering Grad Student, Jon Morgan

“Human Centered Design & Engineering provides an unbeatable set of advantages at the graduate level. The department’s small size fosters a level of interaction with the faculty that larger departments can’t match.”

Why did you choose the University of Washington?
I came to Seattle knowing that I wanted to come to UW, but not knowing exactly what discipline I wanted to study. I had long been aware of UW’s reputation as an elite public university. When I discovered in myself an emerging interest in the tech field, I know that UW—with its strong connections with local industry and research organizations—would be a natural fit.

What do you like most about your graduate program?
The department of Human Centered Design & Engineering provides an unbeatable set of advantages at the graduate level. The department’s small size fosters a level of interaction with the faculty that larger departments can’t match. In addition, the department’s strong presence in the University of Washington’s interdisciplinary Human-Computer Interaction group, DUB (for “design, use, build”), means that students here are ideally situated to learn from and collaborate with students and professors in other HCI-focused departments and schools, such as Computer Science and the iSchool.

What do you research?
I am currently researching communicative practices and social roles in collaborative online creative environments (like Wikipedia) with HCD&E professor Mark Zachry. Our research is aimed at creating better tools to support and understand computer-supported cooperative work.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I would like to work in government or industry, in a research and design-related role.

Electrical Engineering Undergrad, Jolyn Chew

“Make full use of all the benefits and opportunities available at the UW. There are all kinds of study support that are offered by honor societies, or engineering clubs... Professors are always looking for interested students to get involved in research. ”

Why did you choose the University of Washington?
It offers the best Engineering program in the state of Washington.

Why did you choose Engineering and your department?
I was interested in studying Electrical Engineering... I specifically chose EE to study because it is a fast-growing industry.

What do you study/research?
I enjoy having the opportunities to do research and it is a great benefit to have a Co-op department that is actively informing students about job opportunities in the real world.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I will probably get a job, but with plans of returning for my masters. Currently, I am considering an MBA or law school to become a patent lawyer. If all else fails, I will become a full time mommy!

What advice would you give to incoming undergraduates?
Ignorance is NOT bliss. Make full use of all the benefits and opportunities available at the UW. There are all kinds of study support that are offered by honor societies, or engineering clubs. Employers are always holding info sessions so you can invest into a good company to secure a good relationship with the employer. Professors are always looking for interested students to get involved in research. There’s always so much to do and not enough time to do it all! So make sure you spend some time to find out about all that UW has to offer.

Aeronautics & Astronautics Undergrad, Michele Giachetti

“I chose the University of Washington because of its Aeronautics program and research opportunities, which are some of the best in the nation. I also love the Pacific Northwest along with its people, culture and stunning natural beauty...”

Why did you choose the University of Washington?
I chose the University of Washington because of its Aeronautics program and research opportunities, which are some of the best in the nation. I also love the Pacific Northwest along with its people, culture and stunning natural beauty which make it an excellent place to live and study.

Why did you choose Engineering and your department?
I think it’s extremely fascinating and beautiful how the world around us can be explained by scientific and mathematical models. Like many, I understood engineering was for me at a very early age. I would always get excited about flying and loved going to the airport as far back as I can remember and since then my passion for airplanes, flight and aviation has only become stronger. The Aeronautics and Astronautics department is giving me the opportunity to pursue my dreams.

What do you study/research?
I am currently a junior in the Aeronautics and Astronautics department and will be focusing on Aeronautics during my senior year because in my opinion airplanes are even more awesome than spacecrafts. I also work at the University of Washington Aero Lab (Kirsten Wind Tunnel) where I’m part of a team of students which performs aerodynamic testing for external customers as well as for academic research.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I would like to attend grad school and eventually make my way in the aeronautics industry. I hope to become involved with projects aimed toward making air travel more widespread, energetically flexible and environmentally responsible so it can continue to prosper as a powerful means of connecting people, cultures and faraway places.

What advice would you give to incoming undergraduates?
I highly recommend that students get actively involved with the university and engineering community. The research opportunities available at UW are vast and they provide immensely valuable experience and exposure to most technical fields. Taking advantage of such great possibilities will definitely enhance your experience at UW and will help you in the future as well.

Chemical Engineering Grad Student, Jason Hower

“I like the strong social and scientific relationships between the graduate students... It is a very collegial environment that creates a good foundation for strong research.”

Why did you choose the University of Washington?
I chose the University of Washington for its unique combination of world-class research, strong academic reputation, and ideal location in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Seattle is a wonderful place to live and play and the UW is a highly-regarded leader in engineering research and education.

What do you like most about your graduate program?
I like the strong social and scientific relationships between the graduate students. You can always find a friend for lunch, or an after-work run. The graduate students are also frequently found in the halls and offices discussing the scientific details and experimental struggles of their research. It is a very collegial environment that creates a good foundation for strong research.

What do you research?
I use computer simulations to study the molecular-level interactions between proteins and surfaces. The goal of my work is to understand how a very small number of synthetic surfaces prevent protein adsorption. Once the mechanism for preventing protein adsorption is described, that knowledge is then used to develop new non-fouling materials for biomedical and consumer product applications.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
Following completion of my Ph.D. work, I plan to work as a college professor in chemical engineering.

What would you say to prospective graduate students in your program?
The Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Washington is a growing department with a reputation of excellence in both teaching and research. Our faculty and graduate students are collaborating on ground-breaking research in biomaterials, energy systems, organic conducting materials, and molecular-level engineering. The department is a friendly environment from which graduate students can springboard into both academic and industrial careers with confidence and success.

Civil & Environmental Engineering PhD candidate, Linda Gaulke

“In addition to Engineering, for my research I have worked in laboratories in the College of Forest Resources, the Bothell campus, Medicinal Chemistry, Botany, Biochemistry, Biology, and Geology.”

Why did you choose the University of Washington?
I chose the UW because of the strong reputation that my department has nationally, and the topics and quality of research being conducted campus-wide. Funding was also an important consideration. There were numerous opportunities for me to fund my masters' and doctorate through research assistantships and fellowships. In addition, it is a beautiful campus located in the Pacific Northwest!

What do you like most about your graduate program?
I have really enjoyed the tremendous opportunities, both within the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and campus-wide. The UW campus has a wonderful, collaborative atmosphere. Through the program in Environmental Engineering, I have been able to work on leading-edge research in my field.

In addition to Engineering, for my research I have worked in laboratories in the College of Forest Resources, the Bothell campus, Medicinal Chemistry, Botany, Biochemistry, Biology, and Geology. I have also participated in multidisciplinary programs (UW Worldwide, and Huckabay fellowships) which allowed me to work on a collaborative research at Jiuzhaigou National park in Sichuan China, be a visiting researcher at Kyoto University in Japan, and present a paper at an international conference in Coimbatore, India.

What do you research?
The focus of my research is to increase the knowledge and application of engineering processes that provide better protection of human and ecological health, and advance sustainable environmental technology. My research in sustainable environmental engineering has encompassed many aspects of microbial treatment processes, sanitation, and biogeochemical cycling. My work in these areas has included the fate of emerging contaminants in municipal wastewater treatment, the use of biosolids nutrients and their impact on environmental health, and appropriate technologies and management systems for decentralized wastewater treatment and water reuse.

My dissertation research focused on how bacteria degrade estrogen compounds during wastewater treatment processes, in hopes of process modifications that will alleviate adverse environmental impacts. Estrogens from wastewater treatment facility effluents are able to cause the feminization of aquatic species at trace concentrations.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I plan to teach and conduct research as a professor in sustainable environmental engineering.

What would you say to prospective graduate students in your program?
Do not limit yourself! I have many tremendous opportunities because I have pursued them. I have had departmental support in all of my endeavors, but as a graduate student I was not just handed these opportunities, your education is what you make of it!