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Hamid Charkhkar’s journey into engineering began with a fascination for electrical motors and circuits, leading him to pursue an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. During his studies, he was intrigued by how electrical principles could be applied to the human body, especially the nervous system. This curiosity led him to discover neural engineering—a field that 'perfectly bridged' his interests in electrical systems and biology. 

As the Case School of Engineering’s Diversity Liaison, Lauren Biddlecombe has a key piece of advice for fostering an inclusive environment on campus: “listen, listen, and then listen some more.” “In addition to advancing one’s personal growth,” the assistant dean of strategic initiatives, said. “A listening mindset builds a culture of trust and connection to one another and provides the foundation for actions and initiatives which advance our shared goals of a diverse and inclusive campus environment. It all starts with listening.”

Growing up, Ana. G. Hernandez Reynoso wanted to be a medical doctor, but after spending some time with one of her cousins, who is an engineer, she realized that it was the convergence between medicine and engineering that she really enjoyed.

Andrew Watkins’s path to a career in computer and data sciences was nontraditional, studying English at Mississippi State University for his bachelor’s and master’s degree and spending his first few professional years teaching English in the United States and China.

Chengyu Li’s journey into engineering began with curiosity about the natural world and a desire to apply mathematical and physical principles to solve real-world problems. Now, as an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Li’s doing just that.

From a young age, M. Hassan Najafi wanted to know how things worked, especially when it came to technology. That curiosity naturally led him to explore the inner workings of computers—a fascination that only grew stronger as the concepts grew more complex.

His love for computers started when his family purchased their very first computer. “I just really loved tinkering with it,” Brian Krupp, assistant professor of computer and data sciences, said. He was in middle school when he created his own web page in HTML and published it on Geocities so that people around the world could see it. This early interest inspired his career path.

It started in high school when Neamul H. Khansur learned about the working principle of quartz watches—a watch powered by a battery with timekeeping regulated by a quartz crystal that vibrates at a certain frequency. Then he learned the term ‘piezoelectricity’, the phenomenon where certain materials generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress, and how it affects quartz crystal.

Luke E. Osborn grew up dreaming of a career in baseball. While unsuccessful in chasing that dream at the University of Arkansas, he chose to study engineering as an undergraduate student because he liked building things and wanted to learn how they worked. That’s when he realized a new passion—designing and building robots that could help people

For Peng Wang, the engineering process is a journey of discovery and innovation, beginning with the critical step of identifying a problem. The problem he is addressing? Improving operational safety, process stability, efficiency, quality assurance and sustainability in manufacturing. Through creative solutions, Wang turns abstract concepts into practical prototypes, something he finds very rewarding.

A summer spent interning with UPMC 3D Printing Program for chemical engineering student Anthony Colangelo.

An urban environment was non-negotiable during John Yang’s college search. It made sense for an aspiring civil engineer. Using Google Maps, Yang virtually explored cities across the United States, with Case Western Reserve University rising to the top of his list.

I chose CWRU because of its well-known Case School of Engineering, which includes a robust computer science program. The university offers a nice mix of urban city life, with easy access to downtown locations like Playhouse Square, while still maintaining a campus feel with plenty of green spaces. Additionally, the size of the school makes it easy to get involved in student organizations and connect with others.

Meet a postdoc helping research a solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In basketball, to shoot the perfect free throw, train your eye on the rim. In baseball, for the perfect pitch, look at the catcher’s mitt. So says the “quiet eye” technique, which calls on a period of extended visual attention to improve coordination and performance. A research-backed approach for moments of high stress that require precise motor skills, the technique has been studied not just in athletics, but in operating rooms—places where a surgeon’s “quiet eye” can aid in robot-assisted, minimally invasive surgery.