Texas A&M Engineering: SoundBytes

Howdy and welcome to Texas A&M Engineering: SoundBytes. Sit back, relax and meet the members of the PodSquad in this inaugural episode of The Wire.Reach out to us at EngineeringSoundBytes@tamu.edu

Two years ago, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas, leaving devastation and destruction in its wake. Dr. Ali Mostafavi, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, shares how his expertise and work in infrastructure and disaster resilience has unearthed ways to improve how people and cities respond in the wake of disaster – looking through the lens of Harvey’s aftermath.

We're kicking off the fall semester. On this episode of The Wire, learn about upcoming events, need-to-knows and hear the premiere of Voices of ZACH - a segment featuring Texas A&M Engineering students in the Zachry Engineering Education Complex.

The Study Break is made by students, for students. On this inaugural episode, two seniors and Ingenium bloggers sit down and chat about their tips and tricks for the Zachry Engineering Education Complex, as well as their experiences in the building. Gain insight into ZACH and learn everything new students need to know about their engineering hub.

On this episode of The Wire, learn about upcoming events, need-to-knows and the latest Voices of ZACH from the engineering career fair. Also, learn about some exciting research out of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

From emergency response to sitting at a desk from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., we all face workplace challenges. Dr. Ranjana Mehta, associate professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, shares her research in the emerging field of neuro ergonomics, where she seeks to combine the study of brain function with human factors and behaviors on the job site to help engineer better tools and technologies.

Get ready to party! On this episode of The Wire, learn more about the student blog, Ingenium, and its upcoming birthday celebration in the Zachry Engineering Education Complex. Then, hear what motivated a few of our students to become engineers in this week's Voices of ZACH.

The Study Break is made by students, for students. On this episode, sophomore Ritika Bhattacharjee sat down with Professor Shayla Rivera to talk about ENGR [x] and the importance of feeling comfortable and confident in yourself, while pushing to break the mold as an engineer.

On this episode of The Wire, hear the best study tips from a few of our students in this week's Voices of ZACH. Also: Fall weather, pumpkin carving and a few reminders.

Speaking in front of others, whether it’s in a classroom or in the workplace, can be intimidating. It’s hard to practice public speaking in a setting that will adequately prepare someone for the real experience. Dr. Theodora Chaspari, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering is testing whether virtual reality technology can help.

On this episode of The Wire, we talk about the historic all-women spacewalk and how researchers in the aerospace engineering department at Texas A&M are working on a NASA funded project to design a spacesuit for planetary exploration of the Moon and Mars. Plus: Ingenium student bloggers share why they wanted to get involved.

On this episode of The Study Break, Ritika Bhattacharjee and Inaam Hajj-Ali talk about what its like to come to college feeling out of place and how they overcame their fears to get involved in organizations to bridge the gap of college and the cultures from which they were raised.

On this episode of The Wire, we talk about how the U.S. Navy and first responders are using small drones for new purposes in the field and how that connects to research in the College of Engineering.

On this bonus episode of Texas A&M Engineering: SoundBytes, we dive into what life is like as a graduate student. Joined by Bryton Praslicka, we chat about the impact of study abroad, graduate research and why Bryton decided to become an Aggie engineer.

NASA put out a call for a university-led initiative to return to commercial supersonic flight, a challenge Texas A&M University answered. Dr. Darren Hartl, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, shares how the research team is developing adaptive materials to reduce the noise of planes traveling faster than the speed of sound.

On this episode of The Wire, we talk about how Texas A&M Engineering researchers are predicting the potential impact of tsunamis caused by underwater landslides in the Gulf of Mexico. Plus, what are you thankful for?

On this episode of The Study Break, Ritika Bhattacharjee and Amanda Beeck talk about how to find opportunities to get involved and become leaders through various student organizations. They also discuss the many things they have learned during their journey of involvement, while maintaining their grades as engineering students.

This week on The Wire, join Hannah, Steve, Ritika and the rest of the SoundBytes team in looking back at the first four months of the podcast!

Bringing together fact and fiction - be it the lunar landing or "That's no moon" - space exploration has been a fascination for humankind throughout history. Now, as NASA sets its sights on a return to the moon and beyond, Dr. Ana Diaz Artiles, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, is designing the future of spacesuits.

How is picking a lock similar to breaking into a computer? Dr. Jeyavijayan "JV" Rajendran, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, poses this exact question to his students. Rajendran is researching ways to improve hardware security, which has a become a weak link in cybersecurity. He also has found a passion for helping students get excited about cybersecurity through a "capture the flag" type competition called Hack@DAC.

This week on The Wire, how students from across the globe are coming together to design solutions to far-reaching challenges.

Join Ritika Bhattacharjee in welcoming her new student co-host, Drew Dehaven from the Student Engineers Council, in this episode of The Study Break! Learn about why they each chose engineering at Texas A&M, what they like to do for fun, what organizations they are involved with and what to expect on this semester of Soundbytes.

On this episode of Ask an Engineer, the SoundBytes team asks Dr. Freddie Witherden how the average person can spot a deepfake image. The answer might surprise you...

Deepfakes have made headlines more and more in recent years, with many discussing way to detect and combat these computer-generated images. At Texas A&M University, an ocean engineering faculty member is working with his students to develop better ways to tell the difference between real and fake images. We sat down with Dr. Freddie Witherden, assistant professor, to learn more.

In this special episode of SoundBytes, we're recording live from the 3rd annual Invent for the Planet at Texas A&M University. From a student with an inside view of the global competition to participating students located in Egypt and Qatar, the SoundBytes team is sharing a special look at the event!

What is the Student Engineers' Council (SEC)? What part do they play on Texas A&M University's campus? What does student leadership look like in a prominent organization? This week, we are kicking off a new series, Just a SEC, where we talk leadership, professional development and more.

This episode of The Study Break includes a very honest conversation with guest, Celeste Lundy. The hosts dive deep into cultural roadblocks, perceptions and how Celeste personally overcame those in her college career thus far. In honor of Black History Month, Celeste explains what it means to her and what motivates her to become a Black female engineer.

On this episode of Ask an Engineer, the SoundBytes team asks Dr. Astrid Layton about the challenges facing recycling.

Nature and industry may have more in common than we think. Dr. Astrid Layton, assistant professor in the J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, is taking concepts from food webs and applying them to power grids to find ways to help the systems run more efficiently.

In light of the news regarding COVID-19, we want you to know what is happening in the Texas A&M University College of Engineering. In this miniseries, we will talk about various aspects of our new normal - chatting with students about how things are going, sharing how our faculty is coming together under the circumstances and discussing mental health with the Student Counseling Services. We hope you'll join us!

SoundBytes student hosts Ritika Bhattacharjee and Drew Dehaven share what it's like being a student during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they are adapting to the new circumstances.

Texas A&M University Career Center associate director for engineering Roland Block and career coordinator Amarette Renieri share how they're helping Aggies be better prepared for the job market, even at a distance.

Tommy C. Wild, a psychology intern with Texas A&M University Counseling and Psychological Services, shares resources and best practices for dealing with stress and maintaining mental health in stressful times.

Dr. Yossef Elabd, associate dean of research in the College of Engineering, shares how Texas A&M Engineering is working rapidly to bolster the community and healthcare providers in combating COVID-19.

Texas A&M Engineering students Zach Mendoza and Noble Knight Gutierrez share their experience participating in the Aggies Against COVID-19 event and, along with their respective teams, designing solutions to pressing challenges brought on by the coronavirus.

Dr. Sunay Palsole, assistant vice chancellor for engineering remote education, shares an inside look at how the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University made the rapid shift from in-person to distance learning during the spring semester and - as COVID-19 continues to make an impact - how they are preparing for the fall semester.

Co-hosts Hannah Conrad and Steve Kuhlmann are joined by SoundBytes team member Jenn Reiley for the finale of the Engineering, Connected miniseries. Plus, hear from listeners how they have been adapting to the challenges brought on by COVID-19.

The SoundBytes team kicks off its second season with a brief preview of what's to come.

Are you looking to (virtually) shake hands with the company of your dreams at the SEC Career Fair? Want a sneak peek on what to expect with the virtual SEC Engineering Career Fair? Join the SoundBytes student hosts as they kick off season two with this episode of Just a SEC, featuring Blake Fishbeck, a chemical engineering major and member of the Student Engineers' Council (SEC) working on the online career fair, and Roland Block, associate director for engineering at the Texas A&M University Career Center, to learn all the tips and tricks you'll need to prepare and succeed at the upcoming fall SEC Career Fair.

Do you remember trying to fit in while in middle school? Have you ever tried to assimilate to a new school in a new country while learning a new language? Tune in to hear more about Sebastiao's journey and how he uses those lessons to make a difference in the world.Read about his love for coastal cities: tx.ag/Sebastiao

Medical grade masks are a vital piece of equipment in the fight against COVID-19. However, by design, they're only made to be worn once, leading to a shortage in supply. But what if there was a way to recycle these masks so they could be returned to healthcare workers sterilized and help reduce the potentially dangerous lack of them? Fortunately, Aggie researchers are on the verge of a solution.

Looking for tips and tricks on how to reach out to companies and make professional connections? Are you searching for an internship, but don't know where to start? Get an inside look into the world of professional networking with the former corporate relations co-chair of the Student Engineers' Council, James Kirkland, on this episode of Just a SEC.

This episode on SoundBytes, we ask Dr. Srikanth Saripalli about how self-driving cars work.

Growth can be uncomfortable, but it has the potential to make us better neighbors, siblings, friends, and most of all: engineers. On this episode of The Study Break, Ritika and Drew speak with Samie Ahmed, president of the Texas A&M Chapter of the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE), and Anais Baca, president of the Texas A&M Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) about diversity, unity, and how to make our campus a better place.Learn more about NSBE: https://www.tamunsbe.org/ and SHPE: https://www.tamushpe.org/.

A team, led by Dr. Farzan Sasangohar of the Wm Michael Barnes ‘64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, is seeking to develop technological solutions to improve the mental health of veterans, college students, health care workers and more. The Mental Health Evaluation and Lookout pilot program — also known as mHELP — combines commercial smartwatches with advanced machine learning and a wide range of sensors to detect signs and symptoms of high anxiety and direct the user to mental health and self-care resources.

On this episode of Just a SEC, student host Drew DeHaven dives into the inner workings of the Student Engineers' Council's Directed Summer Internship. From chatting with the leader of the initiative born from internships getting canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic to hearing from a participant of the program, tune in to discover more about how the SEC has brought the student body of Texas A&M Engineering together to do great things during COVID-19.

On this episode of Ask an Engineer, Dr. Jeonghee Kim shares how assistive technology can be used to enhance the lives of those with disabilities.

While traveling internationally has halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs office has worked tirelessly to develop opportunities for students to benefit from experiences abroad. Dr. Maria Alves, senior director of the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs office and Antonella Acosta, student ambassador, spoke with Drew and Ritika about what students can expect for the spring 2021 trips.

Doctors and nurses work long, 12-hour shifts which impact their physical, mental and emotional health, with or without the additional stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers in the Wm Michael Barnes '64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University are researching the impacts of these shifts and ways to help health care workers. One part of that research looks at a potentially dangerous side effect of fatigue: drowsy driving. In this episode, we’re joined by Alec Smith, a doctoral student in the department, to learn more about his research on drowsy driving among nurses.

This episode, Interim Department Head Dr. Timothy Jacobs shares how the College of Engineering's newest department — the Department of Multidiscipinary Engineering — is helping students build the futures they envision for themselves.

On this episode of Just a SEC, our student hosts talk community service and how to take action to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Joined by REACH Project founder Max Gerall, they discuss how the Aggie-started nonprofit is supporting university service workers by weaving together all segments of the campus community and making "invisible Aggies," visible.

This episode, graduate student Shreedevi Arun Kumar shares what vaccine delivery systems are, why they are important and how new developments could pave the way for a more efficient and cost-effective future.

On this episode of The Study Break, student hosts Ritika and Drew discuss the importance of self-care and mental health, no matter what challenges may arise. From pandemics to anxiety over finals, they are joined by Carmen Mota, a new member of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) team who serves students out of the Zachry Engineering Education Complex, to stress "We are valuable not because of what we achieve, but because of who we are."

The rise in popularity of electric vehicles and aircraft presents the possibility of moving toward a more sustainable future. While advancements have dramatically increased the efficiency of these vehicles, there are still several issues standing in the way of widespread adoption. One of the most significant challenges facing electric vehicles has to do with mass, as most current electric batteries and supercapacitors are incredibly heavy. Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus, professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, and her team are approaching this problem from the unique angle of utilizing the chemical dopamine to strengthen electrodes.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to run for office? Clarissa Rodriguez, an industrial distribution senior and the student senate constituency affairs chair, joins SoundBytes to talk about Senate's far-reaching impact on everything from monuments and dining dollars, to student rule seven, which allows excused absences for interviews. This episode also covers how to run and campaign in the upcoming election cycle.

Throughout history, ships have had to battle waves, facing the risk of going past their tipping point in capsizing. Whether on a family cruise, participating in a sailing competition or serving on a military vessel, when people are out on open waters, they want to make sure somebody is working to make it as safe as possible.Naval architect and professor in the Department of Ocean Engineering, Dr. Jeffrey Falzarano has more than 30 years of experience researching and developing new ways to keep ships and their crews safe. His team’s current research focuses on two areas — designing wave energy devices and researching how ships maneuver differently on waves from shallow to deep water.

Explore the world of student startup businesses in this episode of Just a SEC. Join our student hosts as they talk with chemical engineering undergraduate Ben Omonira about his experience with entrepreneurship and what he's learned during his time working on Lazarus, his non-lethal bullet.

Did you know that your professional network started developing from the very day you entered Texas A&M? From the people you sit next to in class, to the same professors teaching those classes. All these relationships can blossom into long standing partnerships. Join cohosts Drew & Ritika as they speak with Martha Bellens-Martin '85 to discuss her journey into technical sales and how she continues to build her network and give back to the Aggie Women Engineers Network (AWEN). Learn more about AWEN: tx.ag/AWEN

Learning about how materials change between phases, from solids to liquids to gases, is a hallmark of primary school science class. To the average person. This building block of material science is often thought of in the simplest terms, but what if your home could use the energy involved in these transitions to help passively heat or cool it, just by changing out the molding.On this episode of Engineer This, Dr. Emily Pentzer, an associate professor in the Departments of Material Science & Engineering and Chemistry, discusses how her research is working to design next generation materials by using simple and scalable techniques.

COVID-19 has brought with it new stresses and a heaviness shared by people throughout Texas A&M Engineering and the world. On this episode of Just a SEC, our student hosts are joined by SEC representatives Baylee Becka and Justis Morales to discuss the importance of mental health awareness and the upcoming mental health campaign hosted by the Student Engineers' Council.

With the rise of remote learning due to COVID-19 came the challenge of combating remote cheating methods. On this special episode of SoundBytes, student host Drew DeHaven talks with Dr. Angie Hill Price, associate dean for undergraduate programs at Texas A&M Engineering, about what academic dishonesty is and how Aggie engineers can uphold their honor code in the virtual classroom.

How much do you actually know about the field of nuclear engineering? On this episode of the Study Break, senior Kaya Mariello describes how her passion for healthcare and the field of nuclear engineering intersect and the many opportunities open to nuclear engineers.Read more about her internship at UT Health Science Center - San Antonio: tx.ag/CareerPathIn this episode, Kaya mentions the ETAM process. Learn more about Entry to a major here: tx.ag/ETAM

Plastic waste is plaguing our planet, filling landfills and oceans with trash. However, research at Texas A&M University is working with bacteria that feed on wastewater sludge to harness a byproduct of this process — materials that can be used to develop biodegradable bioplastics. On this episode of Engineer This!, our hosts talk with Dr. Bella Chu, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and doctoral student Fahad Asiri, to learn how they are finding ways to innovate the plastics industry, ranging from aquaculture to medical fields to the plastic bottles we use every day.

Those walking across the graduation stage are beginning a new chapter of their lives as new graduates, new hires and new engineers. On this episode of Just a SEC, our student hosts are joined by Sabrina Pardoe and Claire Riordan from the Class of 2020 to discuss what it's like to be someone with a job lined up after graduation as well as someone who had to successfully pivot and find a career after a bit of searching.

Successfully juggling responsibilities can be difficult as a student. The commitment can be challenging, but the rewards are worth it.  On this episode of The Study Break, hear how civil engineering senior Logan Welsh balances his obligations in engineering and the Corps of Cadets.

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, will forever live in the minds of many, especially those who aided in the rescue and recovery operations. Dr. Kem Bennett, senior professor in the Wm Michael Barnes '64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and vice chancellor and dean emeritus in the College of Engineering, was among those who arrived in New York with Texas Task Force One. That harrowing experience challenged the team and further instilled the need for the training facility designed and opened in 1998 — the now world-renowned Disaster City.Since its opening, Disaster City has trained people representing every U.S. state and territory and more than 100 countries. Bennett shared his experiences with Disaster City, and how the training program impacted the team's time at Ground Zero, as well as how that experience influenced training since. Please note that this episode includes content describing destruction at Ground Zero and recovery efforts that some listeners may find disturbing.

How can engineering students get a crash course in business? Through the Business Immersion Program at Texas A&M University. On this episode of Just a SEC, the student hosts chat with industrial engineering senior Edward Hirs and Dr. Andrew Loring, associate director of Reynolds and Reynolds Sales Leadership Institute, about this two-week program offered in joint partnership between the College of Engineering and Mays Business School.

Dr. John Hurtado, interim dean and interim vice chancellor in the College of Engineering and professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, has been part of Texas A&M since he earned his master's and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. Since then, his career has taken off, including working for Sandia National Laboratories on robots that are now part of a collection at the Smithsonian Institute. He's had great influence, both as a teacher and a mentor.In this episode of SoundBytes, Hurtado talks about his engineering journey, the challenges he's had to overcome and the importance in promoting a STEM education across demographics.

From the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to the Suez Canal being blocked by the Ever Given containership, 2021 has caused major disruptions in global supply chains, impacting how consumers and companies have made and transported materials and goods. But supply chains have been struggling for more than just last year. Dr. Eleftherios Iakovou, the Hartley Hubbell Professor of industrial distribution in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution at Texas A&M University,  is putting his years of knowledge toward finding ways to decrease the impact of disruptions on these systems.

SoundBytes is saying "Howdy!" to two new student hosts and interviewing one of them as we explore the role of the Student Engineers' Council's Marketing Chair - a position that uniquely combines engineering with art and business. Tenured host Drew DeHaven returns to pass the mic to new hosts Leanne Khashab and Brianna Navas on this episode of Just a SEC.

Get insider knowledge on hot tips and tricks from the associate director of Engineering Career Services on this episode of Just a SEC. Our student hosts are joined by Roland Block as they discuss what employers look for in a resume and how to be successful in an interview. 

The way we draw can reveal a lot about us. In fact, researchers have found that sketches can reveal how old a child is, if a person has had a stroke and more. Dr. Tracy Hammond, professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and director of the Sketch Recognition Lab, researches these human motions to help improve strategies in a number of fields, including education.In this episode, Dr. Hammond talks about her work and how it's impacting machine learning systems to better empower people.

Ingeniare is Texas A&M University's first professional chorus made up of engineering students. On this episode of The Study Break, Ingeniare conductor and chemical engineering senior Ritika Bhattacharjee explains the importance of music and how every engineer can learn to sing.