Alumni Spotlight

PhD alum spent 45 days isolated in space. Well, kind of

Alexander James Servantez — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 22:18:30 +0000

PhD alum spent 45 days isolated in space. Well, kind of Alexander Jame… Tue, 04/01/2025 - 16:18

Alexander Servantez

Robert Wilson stepped foot inside the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) facility with just a bag of clothes, some headphones and a journal. He looked around his new home—a 650-square-foot closed habitat with two narrow floors and one small loft.

Robert Wilson (PhDMechEngr'20) and his fellow crew members during the 45-day simulated mission to Mars.

Wilson, a PhD graduate from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, was living every child’s dream. For the next 45 days, he and a team of three crew members from around the world were embarking on a simulated mission to Mars.

Their NASA-sponsored mission was simple: live and work like an astronaut. But life in the deep space domain isn’t as glamorous as it seems, even if it’s just a simulation.

“When the door was sealed shut behind me, things got real, fast,” Wilson said.

The HERA research habitat, housed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, is one of the country’s premier locations for isolation and confinement research. Scientists across the nation use HERA studies to analyze the effects of deep space on human health and performance.

One day, insights gathered from HERA simulated missions could help guide the development of new, innovative strategies aimed at helping astronauts overcome challenges and perform complex tasks while in space. Maybe it’s a series of models that can predict an astronaut’s levels of stress and fatigue, or inform crew dynamics so they can work better as a team.

For Wilson, maybe it’s something more than that. Think of TARS, Matthew McConaughey’s robot companion in the movie Interstellar, who uses a vast bank of knowledge on human behavior to assist the crew during their cosmic mission.

“There’s a lot left on the table when it comes to studying and using biometric data,” said Wilson. “The goal is to provide artificial intelligence systems with better data on humans to help them make more informed decisions.”

Experiencing space without ever leaving the ground

Wilson, currently a senior researcher at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, received his PhD from CU �鶹ӰԺ in 2020. His research focused on analyzing and modeling one of the hardest populations in the world to work with: people.

Wilson standing in front of the HERA facility.

“I was mostly interested in biometric data—how we can use it to answer questions and inform our decisions,” Wilson said. “But it’s the human element that makes it difficult. People are ‘squishy’ and engineering with ‘squishy’ things is very hard. Not all things are generalizable across all people, and being able to solve problems in this space relies on our ability to gather reasonable and consistent data about how humans behave or perform.”

There are other variables, such as environment, that make collecting human data more difficult, as well. Few humans have experienced the isolated no-man’s-land that we call outer space, and the data we have collected is too little to represent the infinity and beyond.

That’s why Wilson and others are choosing to take matters into their own hands as research volunteers at the HERA facility in Houston.

“When I was researching the HERA facility and learning what it takes to be a test subject, I realized that I fit all of the requirements. I could be data,” said Wilson. “So I applied just to see what happens. I got accepted, I went through physical evaluations, psychological evaluations and was lucky enough to be selected for the simulated Mars mission.”

Wilson and his fellow crew members familiarized themselves with the habitat, completing a few weeks of training before the real mission was set to begin in November. They needed to be prepared to handle communication delays as they “approach” Mars, maintain life support systems aboard the analog, and conduct the 18 different human health studies related to a spaceflight-like environment.

Once the team “took off,” they were on their own. Other than a weekday Houston newspaper and a weekly family call, the crew was completely cut off from the outside world.

It was as if the vast unknown had suddenly become very small, and the only way to stay on track was through each other.

“You really have to rely on the crew dynamics,” Wilson said. “I call it team maintenance. Not every day is a winning day. It’s about being open with each other and figuring out how to navigate the challenges.”

Human-machine teaming in space and at home

Each of these simulated missions to Mars is just one small step for mankind. More missions must be completed and more data gathered in order for researchers to develop impactful tools for astronauts during space travel.

Wilson tinkering with some machinery in his HERA facility workspace.

For Wilson, these tools rely on a new, multidisciplinary field called human-machine teaming.

Picture your ordinary robot. It may have its own special capabilities that are useful to humans, but Wilson sees more. What if the next generation of human and robot teams operate under shared cognition—they can understand each other and achieve a shared goal?

“Maybe we can pair [astronauts] with a rover that has an idea of how they are doing,” said Wilson. “It can still keep track of their life support systems, but it can also help them make informed decisions based on their levels of stress and fatigue.”

Wilson says robot companions equipped with these types of AI systems can be extremely impactful back on Earth, too. Believe it or not, outer space isn’t the only environment that poses great risk to humans.

“There are people everywhere, in all kinds of environments,” Wilson said. “Maybe these systems can help people in areas where temperatures get really hot or really cold, like Antarctica. Maybe it’s people working long hours or doing things they can’t do all the time.”

The world and its celestial surroundings are diverse, meaning there is plenty of room for researchers like Wilson to leave a mark. His experience inside the HERA facility holds one of the keys to unlocking that potential.

“Space is a really interesting thing because humans are not designed to be there. We don’t even fully understand cognition on Earth,” said Wilson. “If we can find an effective way to monitor that experience then we can figure out a way to improve it, as well. But we have to get data first.”

Robert Wilson (PhDMechEngr'20) spent 45 days locked inside NASA’s HERA facility, a high-tech simulation designed to test the limits of human endurance in deep space. His mission could help shape the future of space exploration—and life back on Earth.

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Colorado-based startup launch rover to explore lunar south pole

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:40:38 +0000

Colorado-based startup launch rover to explore lunar south pole Alexander Jame… Wed, 03/12/2025 - 11:40

AJ Gemer (AeroEngr'10; MMechEngr'12; MAeroEngr'16) is the co-founder and chief technology officer of Colorado-based startup company Lunar Outpost. The team recently launched their new MAPP exploration rover, set to land on Thursday, March 6 at the lunar south pole, one of the most strategically and scientifically significant locations in space.

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NASA selects crew for 45-day simulated Mars mission in Houston

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:42:59 +0000

NASA selects crew for 45-day simulated Mars mission in Houston Alexander Jame… Mon, 12/09/2024 - 09:42

Robert Wilson (PhDMechEngr'20), a senior researcher and project manager at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, has been selected by NASA to participate in the last simulated mission to Mars in 2024. NASA scientists use these simulated missions to study the effects of deep space on human health.

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Behind the Blades: How Paula Pérez Engineers Equitable Wind Energy Solutions

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:28:32 +0000

Behind the Blades: How Paula Pérez Engineers Equitable Wind Energy Solutions Alexander Jame… Mon, 12/02/2024 - 11:28

Paula Pérez (MechEngr'22; MCivEngr'23) is a Wind Energy Analyst and Equity Researcher for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) who has used engineering to help local communities across the globe find sustainable solutions to water and energy challenges.

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Alumni Spotlight: ShoeSense is off and running, with help from CU �鶹ӰԺ entrepreneurial ecosystem

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 15:20:34 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: ShoeSense is off and running, with help from CU �鶹ӰԺ entrepreneurial ecosystem Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/02/2023 - 08:20

Michael Lock Swingen

When Connor Winter (MechEngr’16) decided to pursue a Certificate in Engineering Management in conjunction with his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, it put him on a path that would lead to the founding of his own startup company, ShoeSense.

The concept of ShoeSense is to pair a wearable sensor with a smartphone app that provides advice on what type of running shoes to wear, insight into the user’s running gait and exercises that will help improve their form.

The genesis of the company was Winter’s knack for utilizing the resources at his disposal while an undergraduate at CU �鶹ӰԺ.

Winter, who ran track and cross country as a student-athlete, pursued an independent study at the Locomotion Lab on campus, where he conducted a statistically driven analysis on how the right, or wrong, pair of shoes can drastically affect the biomechanics of a runner and their overall performance.

Taking that data, Winter developed a sensor that leverages the computational powers of an accelerometer, which measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, and a gyroscope, which measures angular velocity and an object’s deviation from its desired orientation.

Measuring the step of a runner 400 times per second, the sensor uses three axes of motion – vertical impact, braking force, and the acceleration of your foot laterally – to develop metrics that an end-user can use to improve their running style or avoid injury.

For example, the vertical impact of a single step when you run can amount to six to 10 times your body weight. That can build up over time and cause injury. However, it often takes four weeks for an injury to manifest. If the sensor measures an incremental buildup of excessive loading on a runner’s legs, the app will tell you in advance that you are at risk of injury and suggest a day off.

“The sensor can’t just give you numbers,” Winter said. “It has to give you a path to make better decisions as a runner.”

While at CU �鶹ӰԺ, Winter worked with Venture Partners, an office that helps to commercialize research done on campus. Through their training program in Intellectual Property (IP) Management, Winter patented his shoe sensor.

But that was just the beginning of Winter’s journey to founding ShoeSense. “It’s one thing to come up with an idea or product,” Winter said. “But it’s another matter entirely to bring that idea to market.”

The Certificate in Engineering Management aims to provide tools to understand the business framework in an engineering and technology environment. Winter found the class Entrepreneurial Product Development the most useful for him. In the class, Winter pitched his shoe sensor idea, and it was one of the few selected for the class to develop a business plan around throughout the semester.

Upon graduation, Winter took his product and his business plan and ran with it.

ShoeSense launched their website in December. A customer pairs up with a running specialist from the company, who helps them first determine what type of shoe is ideal for their stride and body type, according to the metrics. They then develop a training regimen designed to improve their overall performance as a runner. The customers range from a 60-year-old jogger to a 20-year-old professional marathoner.

As the streams of data come in, Winter is always looking for ways to refine the metrics. And as often has been the case, CU �鶹ӰԺ helped give him the resources to succeed.

While using the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering's summer internship-for-credit program, Winter took on an intern who has become the company’s principal data analyst. Since then, the customer base of ShoeSense has continued to grow.

“CU �鶹ӰԺ has been such an integral part of the experience of creating this company,” Winter said. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”

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Alumni Spotlight: Alicen Kandt - National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Anonymous — Mon, 16 May 2022 15:08:51 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: Alicen Kandt - National Renewable Energy Laboratory Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/16/2022 - 09:08

Rachel Leuthauser

Alicen Kandt (MSMechEngr'04)

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), alumna Alicen Kandt’s goal is to inspire people to embrace more resilient and sustainable energy options.

Kandt (MSMechEngr’04) has spent nearly two decades at NREL helping state, local, federal and international stakeholders assess energy opportunities. She helps these partners identify ways to make their buildings more energy and water efficient, their communities more resilient and their operations less carbon intensive.

Kandt’s path to becoming a mechanical engineer was unique and interdisciplinary. Rather than starting her education with engineering right away, she first earned a bachelor’s degree in math with a minor in English from the University of Puget Sound.

“After a short stint as a technical writer for a trade magazine, I decided I wanted to work in something more applied and impactful,” Kandt said.

This choice led her to attend the �鶹ӰԺ for graduate school. She earned her master’s degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2004 and continues to be involved in the engineering community as an alumnus.

Read more about Kandt’s experiences as a mechanical engineer and how her work has a valuable impact on our world.

Tell us about your background. What inspired you to become a mechanical engineer?

I attended a non-profit career fair at CU �鶹ӰԺ, and NREL was there. I got an internship that began right when I started graduate school in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. It was perfectly timed because I could directly apply what I was learning in school to my internship, and likewise, I could tailor my coursework to topics I was intrigued by at NREL.

Kandt on site in Puerto Rico.

How does your work with NREL help society?

The work I do helps society by identifying and implementing pathways to support decarbonization and energy system transformation, ultimately supporting the fight against climate change and the building of resilient communities and organizations around the globe.

What are some of the projects you’ve been a part of that you are most proud of?

One of my favorite projects was in support of the recovery efforts at El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, after the forest was heavily impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. I got to visit El Yunque, tour the damaged facilities, and even got to visit the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Iguaca Parrot Aviary – an aviary for the endemic and critically-endangered Puerto Rican Parrot. The aviary has a bird safe room where the birds are housed during hurricanes. I helped identify the critical energy loads of the aviary and analyze the optimal solar and battery energy storage system to help the aviary maintain critical services in the event of an electrical grid outage. The system was just recently installed and commissioned!

What was your favorite part of being Buff?

I live in �鶹ӰԺ and enjoy being engaged in alumni programs, mentoring, and speaking to students about careers in clean energy and the impact of helping to transform our energy system. I also love attending CU �鶹ӰԺ sporting events with my family!

What advice do you have for current mechanical engineering students?

Get an internship, at least one, preferably one during each summer of school to start homing in on a focus area and building a broad network. And be open to a non-linear career pathway; sometimes it takes trying one thing to discover something else may be a better fit.

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer with NREL, alumna Alicen Kandt’s goal is to inspire people to embrace more resilient and sustainable energy options. She earned her master’s degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2004.

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Meet Graduation Recognition Ceremony Keynote Speaker Craig Sampson

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 14:41:33 +0000

Meet Graduation Recognition Ceremony Keynote Speaker Craig Sampson Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 04/22/2022 - 08:41

Rachel Leuthauser

Alumnus Craig Sampson (MechEngr’82) is the founder and leader of the Chicago consulting firm TBD Innovation. He will be delivering the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s keynote speech during the Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, May 7.

Craig Sampson (MechEngr'82)

As mechanical engineering students walk across the graduation stage, alumnus Craig Sampson (MechEngr’82) wants them to embrace the unknown.

Sampson, an innovator with a career spanning more than three decades, has found that much of his success was cultivated by pursuing the paths that did not always have a clear destination, but inspired excitement instead.

“So much of design and so much of life is embracing the unknown,” said Sampson. “That doesn’t mean we don’t know or will never know the answers, but it does mean that it’s up to us to figure it out. I like to lean into the unknown, the possibilities.”

Sampson is the founder of TBD Innovation – a consulting firm based in Chicago that is dedicated to finding solutions based on human-centered design. The independent firm helps companies innovate and create new products, new services and new businesses.

Sampson’s career in design started while studying mechanical engineering at the �鶹ӰԺ. Toward the end of his CU �鶹ӰԺ career, Sampson began taking design classes as an independent study. After graduating with honors, he attended Stanford University for graduate school, earning a master’s degree in product design.

Sampson spent much of his career with the global design and innovation company IDEO. He founded and lead IDEO’s office in Chicago and IDEO’s Global Healthcare Practice.

“The big arc of my career is one of ever-expanding interests,” said Sampson. “Just because you have a lot of technical acumen doesn’t mean you can’t also be a creative professional that cares about things like art, history culture and psychology. There is a Venn diagram in design thinking that includes technical feasibility, business viability and human desirability. You need all three to truly innovate. I love swimming in the center of those three – Technology, Business, and human-centered Design – and that’s why I named my company TBD Innovation.”

Along with leading TBD Innovation, Sampson is also a graduate design instructor at the Segal Design Institute at Northwestern University.

Sampson said he is excited to get back on the CU �鶹ӰԺ campus. He grew up in southeastern Colorado, so �鶹ӰԺ and the entire state will always have a special place in his heart. He said the view of the flatirons always felt like a touchstone to orient himself in the world.

“One time I was driving in Chicago and there was a storm coming from the West,” said Sampson. “It was a sunny day but there was this big wall of clouds coming in, and for a split second out of the corner of my eye it looked like mountains to the West. I felt a little bit of butterflies at the thought. That’s when I realized I really miss �鶹ӰԺ.”

Alumnus Craig Sampson (MechEngr’82) is the founder and leader of the Chicago consulting firm TBD Innovation. He will be delivering the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s keynote speech during the Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, May 7.

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Alumni Spotlight: Sreyas Krishnan - Helping launch ULA rockets into space

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 14:42:00 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: Sreyas Krishnan - Helping launch ULA rockets into space Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/14/2022 - 08:42

Rachel Leuthauser

Sreyas Krishnan (MSMechEngr'16) stands in front of ULA's Atlas V rocket.

Mechanical engineering alumnus Sreyas Krishnan has played a critical role in United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) latest Atlas V rocket launch, which carried another weather satellite into space on Tuesday, March 1.

Krishnan (BSMechEngr’12, MSMechEngr’16) supported the production and launch for the rocket’s first stage propulsion systems as the primary Booster Propulsion Tiger. This meant that he tracked the rocket through assembly, test and launch, and provided technical support throughout the process.

The NOAA-NASA GOES-T weather satellite will track destructive wildfires, lightning, Pacific Ocean-based storms, dense fog and other hazards that threaten the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska.

Serving as a Booster Propulsion Tiger is one of the many roles Krishnan takes on as a Propulsion Systems Design Engineer at ULA. He said the job allows him to constantly learn and see new things to expand his knowledge base. It is a career path that he has been dreaming about since he was a kid whose parents are also University of Colorado alumni.

“CU �鶹ӰԺ was my dream school growing up in South Denver, so being a Buff is everything to me,” Krishnan said. “One of my early inspirations to work in aerospace was Dr. Kalpana Chawla, who was the first woman of Indian descent to go to space. She was also a CU �鶹ӰԺ alumna. She meant a great deal to me as the son of Indian immigrants and CU grads.”

Once he was at CU �鶹ӰԺ, Krishnan just had to choose the major that would propel him to his dream career. He shared with us why mechanical engineering was the path he took and how valuable his education and experience as a Buff has become.

Tell us about your background. What inspired you to become a mechanical engineer?

I was always interested in physical systems as a kid, but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to study mechanical engineering until a couple months into my freshman year at CU �鶹ӰԺ. My Intro to Engineering course took us on a field trip to Ball Aerospace in �鶹ӰԺ and I was able to catch a glimpse of the Kepler Telescope while it was still onsite. I knew immediately that mechanical engineering was the major for me. I was so inspired by the idea that I could help design, develop or operate immensely complex physical systems. Not long after that, I started working on projects with the Colorado Space Grant Consortium (COSGC), including a high-altitude balloon payload and a 3U CubeSat bus, which set the stage for my future career path.

What is your day-to-day like at United Launch Alliance (ULA)?

The Delta IV Parker Solar Probe in Cape Canaveral.

My role as a Propulsion Systems Design Engineer at the Centennial, Colorado design center has two different flavors.

Component Engineer: I am the certified responsible engineer (CRE) for all the solenoid-operated valves used on ULA rocket propulsion systems and a CRE-delegate for several other flight-critical components like vent valves, pneumatic regulators and pressure vessels. I like to call this a ‘whatever, wherever, whenever’ role because you are responsible for the entire lifecycle of a component from pre-assembly to in-space operation. Over the years, this role has touched almost every discipline covered in the mechanical engineering curriculum, has allowed me to wear a ton of different hats and has provided me with the opportunity to learn from some incredible people. In addition to product ownership, I also led the development and qualification programs of six flight-critical components used on the new Vulcan Centaur rocket alongside my industry partners. These programs are exciting but very demanding since propulsion system components need to perform flawlessly through a multitude of challenging environments such as extreme temperatures, shock, vibration and heavy usage to ensure mission success.
Tiger Team: I support production and launch for the first stage propulsion systems of the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. This involves following each vehicle through its assembly, test and launch while helping to resolve any issues that occur along the way. This role also brings me out to the launch sites in Cape Canaveral, Florida and Vandenberg, California to complete final inspection walkdowns inside and around the vehicle, then provide on-console engineering support in the ‘back room’ of our Launch Control Center on the day of launch.

My favorite mission so far was the Parker Solar Probe, which we launched for NASA on a Delta IV Heavy rocket back in 2018.

How have the mechanical engineering skills you gained at CU �鶹ӰԺ helped your career?

The engineering program had an enormously positive impact on my career. As an undergraduate from 2008 to 2012, CU �鶹ӰԺ provided me with numerous opportunities to spend quality time in the CAD lab and machine shop in support of various engineering projects for COSGC, as well as regular course work such as Component Design and Senior Design. I credit this experience with giving me a fundamental understanding of design and manufacturing concepts.

That said, my time in CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Graduate Design Program from 2014 to 2016 was on another level. In those two years, I worked on an incredible array of projects. We built an autonomous, nerf-dart firing robot, a vascular closure device prototype, a single-pill dispensing pill bottle lid and even a 3D-printed toy Ralphie with moving legs. However, the project that literally propelled me towards my current role was a ULA-sponsored, 3D-printed thruster design project called Additive-Manufactured Aerospike Reaction Control System (AMARCS). That was my first exposure to fluid/propulsion systems design, and I was HOOKED!

What advice do you have for current mechanical engineering students?

Krishnan and the AMARCS team with CU �鶹ӰԺ's mascot Chip.

Take advantage of every opportunity afforded to you by the school – there are a ton of them! That means picking your professors’ brains at office hours, signing up for interesting extracurricular projects, doing lab research and learning new hard skills. This is your best opportunity to fully immerse yourself in a broad base of knowledge, so use it as leverage to become the best version of yourself.

Build meaningful connections with people and don’t be afraid to ask for help. As you go through various highs and lows, both in your coursework as well as in life, those people will help you persevere. It takes effort to maintain those relationships, but trust me, it’s worth it!

Develop critical thinking skills in a relatively low-consequence environment. Learning to gather data and documenting well-reasoned interpretations of said data is an essential skillset for any confident decision maker.

HAVE FUN!!! �鶹ӰԺ is amazing. Don’t graduate with regrets about missed opportunities.

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Alumni Spotlight: Jeanne Barthold - TissueForm

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 16:36:26 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: Jeanne Barthold - TissueForm Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 02/10/2022 - 09:36

Jeanne Barthold is a CU �鶹ӰԺ alumna and founder of TissueForm - a company that has developed a platform technology for the biomimicry of body tissues to repair areas of significant tissue loss or injury.

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Alumni Spotlight: Michael Lewis - From mechanical engineer to heart surgeon

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 16:25:42 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: Michael Lewis - From mechanical engineer to heart surgeon Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 02/03/2022 - 09:25

Rachel Leuthauser

Michael Lewis (MechEngr'00)

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. The versatile degree allows for students to become cross-functional engineers, the leaders in interdisciplinary industries aiming to improve society.

Alumnus Michael Lewis (MechEngr’00) took interdisciplinary to the next level. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and working at Boeing for a year, he discovered another way to help people – through medicine.

Lewis is now a surgeon in the Children’s Heart Center at Lund University Hospital in Sweden. While the path he took with his engineering degree was nontraditional, Lewis credits the opportunities at the �鶹ӰԺ for setting him up for success.

Read more about Lewis’ career from mechanical engineer to pediatric heart surgeon in the Q&A below.

What inspired you to study mechanical engineering before medicine?

I didn’t think I was going to be an engineer right away. I originally wanted to study psychology but quickly learned that wasn’t for me. I also loved music, so I changed my major to classical guitar for a few semesters. I think I must have set the record for credits and classes!

I remember sitting down at two distinct points in my life, trying to figure out what I liked and wanted to be. The first time was in the student union at CU �鶹ӰԺ. I knew I loved math, science and problem-solving, and applying those studies to real-world issues. That led me to engineering. I figured mechanical engineering was very broad and that I could use that education in various industries.

The second talk I had with myself was in my apartment in �鶹ӰԺ. I thought to myself, “Is there anything else I like doing?” I realized I like being with people and solving problems for humanity. That’s when the lightbulb went off. I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I volunteered at the student health center and realized it was something I could do.

Even with that realization, I still wanted to use my engineering degree. I worked for Boeing as a design engineer for a year and successfully sent two projects to space. It was great and I thought I was well prepared to work, but I knew wanted to pursue medicine. I attended Chicago Medical School, completed my residency and fellowships in the Midwest and on the East Coast, and finished in 2014. My family moved to Sweden where my wife and I now both work at Lund University Hospital.

Projects at Boeing

Measuring the growth of microbes

Lewis' first project with Boeing was a module to measure how microbes grow in a zero-gravity environment. The self-contained capsule was designed to doc onto a space shuttle. The module went up with Space Shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated on its way back to earth on Feb. 1, 2003. Seven astronauts were killed in the accident. Lewis' data, stored on hard disk drives, was destroyed.

Signage at the space station

Lewis' second project with Boeing was basic signage that went up to the International Space Station. He focused on the design process in order to send the signage on a shuttle to space.

Want to learn more?

Connect with Michael Lewis

What is the value of having a mechanical engineering degree as a surgeon?

If you have ever been in modern medicine – specifically inside an operating room – you can see that there are mechanical engineering needs all over the place. Everything from the heart-lung machine to the sutures that we use have been meticulously engineered. You really become aware of how useful and necessary these tools are to improve and save the patient’s life.

Plus, the basic physiology of the human body and the cardiovascular system is better understood when thinking about the changes in fluid dynamics with temperature or the changes a heart goes through with pressure and volume. My mechanical engineering education has been incredibly useful for developing my skills as a doctor and pediatric heart surgeon.

Both engineering and medicine aim to solve societal challenges. Do you view your interdisciplinary career path through that lens?

Every day. There are times when that idea can get lost in the stress of the work, but then you get a letter from a parent or child that you have operated on. You get a note from a medical student or nurse that you have helped. You see that you’ve made a difference.

I am a bit of an idealist and I think that’s what has made it possible to take this long loop to becoming a doctor. That is why I chose this career and continue to do it today.

What advice do you have for current mechanical engineering students?

Sit down and talk with yourself about what you want out of life. Irrespective of how narrow or broad you want to be as a mechanical engineer, there are options out there for everybody. That will play into every choice you make personally and professionally. Think about where you want to live, how you want to spend your time and what sort of projects do you want to work on. Make a list of the things that are important to you and start there.

Alumnus Michael Lewis (MechEngr’00) took an interdisciplinary education to the next level. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and working at Boeing for a year, he discovered another way to help people – through medicine.

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