When Chen Shi was applying to universities, he was attracted to the University of Washington because it was a highly-ranked research institution that offered many undergraduate research opportunities.
Once at the UW, Chen wasted no time getting into the lab. As a freshman, he worked with BioE Professor Suzie Pun, learning the skills necessary to perform work in a lab. Along the way, he discovered a love of circuits and robotics and started taking electrical engineering courses. With support from Professor Pun, his next move was to the Biorobotics Lab in the Department of Electrical Engineering, where he was able to blend his interest in bioengineering and electrical engineering by working on surgical robots.
Scholarship support has helped open up a world of diverse research experiences for Chen. He spent a summer at the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute as a summer scholar, developing an augmented reality display for surgical microscopes. He volunteers with Bioengineers Without Borders in the Department of Bioengineering, helping design low-cost and noninvasive medical equipment for developing countries. He’s also a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
After graduation Chen plans to pursue his PhD in electrical engineering, focusing on medical robotics. He credits private scholarship support for helping him discover his research passions, and enabling him to spend time doing volunteer work that benefits society.