Berkeley Engineering

In this episode of Exploring Engineering at UC Berkeley, we dive into the powerful and often misunderstood world of Nuclear Engineering. Undergraduate students Conrad Buck and Isaac Duarte Valdez share how curiosity—and a little serendipity—led them into a field full of untapped potential. Then, hear from Professor Ellie Tubman, a fusion researcher and former Lawrence Livermore scientist, who offe...

What does a robot-fetching chicken, baking, and diagnosing breast cancer have in common? Mechanical engineering! In this episode of Exploring Engineering at UC Berkeley, host Laura Vogt talks with Aashray Manchanda, a recent graduate of the M.E.T. program, Michael McNabb, an alum with a passion for invention, and Professor Lydia Sohn, who bridges physics, biology, and the science of cooking. Toget...

In this episode of Exploring Engineering, we dive into the dynamic and often overlooked world of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). Faculty member Mary Scott reveals the wide range of career paths in the field—from biomaterials to aerospace and electronics—while undergraduate Ava Daniels shares how a high school summer camp led her to discover the multidisciplinary power of MSE. We also hear...

Welcome to Exploring Engineering at UC Berkeley! In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research — better known as IEOR. Join host Laura Vogt as she talks with UC Berkeley faculty member Rhonda Righter, current student Kenny Wongchamcharoen, and alum Nanavati Low. Discover how IEOR blends math, data science, and optimization to solve complex re...

What do contact lenses, Newton rings, and computer science all have in common? For Jacqueline Thibault, a fourth-year Engineering Mathematics and Statistics major at UC Berkeley, they all came together in her first internship. In this episode of Exploring Engineering, host Laura Vogt sits down with Jackie to talk about what it means to be part of the Engineering Science program—a unique, interdisc...

What do robotics, video game mods, and chip design have in common? They’re all part of the incredibly broad and exciting world of EECS at UC Berkeley. In this episode, you’ll hear from faculty member Claire Tomlin, a MacArthur “Genius” and former chair of the EECS department, as well as undergraduates Robert Nochez, Julian Rickenbach, and Evan Sandoval. They’ll share how they discovered EECS, how...

In this episode of Exploring Engineering, host Laura Vogt guides us through the many layers of civil engineering. You’ll hear from faculty, recent grads, and alumni who’ve carved out careers in transportation, public service, and cutting-edge construction. Parson Galicia (City of Oakland), Kimberly Leung (San Francisco MTA), and Nelson Jurado (student) share how they discovered their passions and...

What does it mean to merge engineering with biology? In this episode of Exploring Engineering at UC Berkeley, we dive into the world of bioengineering—a field that’s as interdisciplinary as it is impactful. You'll hear from Na’im Pierce, a recent graduate with a passion for genetic engineering and neurosurgery; Professor Kevin Healy, who shares his journey from artificial hearts to micro physiolog...

Ever wonder what it’s really like to study rocket science? In this episode, we dive into UC Berkeley’s newest engineering major: Aerospace Engineering. Hear from current students Evan Smart and Maxwell Stolarz, who share what inspired them to pursue aerospace and how broad and exciting the field really is. You'll also get insights from Professor Panos Papadopoulos, who helped launch the program, a...

Welcome to Exploring Engineering at UC Berkeley—a new podcast series where we uncover what it means to be an engineer and dive into the paths that lead there. Hosted by Laura Vogt, director of student communications for Berkeley Engineering, this first episode features an inspiring conversation with Tsu-Jae King Liu, former dean of Berkeley Engineering and current president of the National Academy...

Debuting Tuesday, July 8, Exploring Engineering at UC Berkeley is your introduction into each of the academic departments and programs that are part of UC Berkeley Engineering. For a transcript, please visit the episode page on the ESS podcast hub

In our final podcast of the summer, we speak with Luis Castillo, associate director of student development in ESS, and returning engineering students Andrea Limon, Gabriel Sianez and Rosalind Martinez. They will introduce us to the Center for Access to Engineering Excellence (CAEE), a program in ESS that includes academic support, a computer loan program, professional and leadership workshops and...

Students transferring to the College of Engineering face many changes. Among them, they must learn to navigate an entirely new college environment. To support these students, we asked Heidi Maqueos, program manager for transfer success initiatives in ESS, to tell us about two resources that are for transfer students, by transfer students: the Engineering Transfer Center and Transfer Ambassadors. M...

Are you interested in someday making the leap from student to entrepreneur? This week, we are learning about the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology and its Student Innovation Fellows program. Engineering students Rachel Eizner and Claire Holland will give us pointers on signing up to be a fellow and ways you can engage with this program to grow your entrepreneurial mindset. For a...

We don’t expect students to always know their post-graduation plans. You will spend the next two to four years learning about the many opportunities that await you after graduation. This week, we are delighted to have Kate Zuby, from Berkeley’s counseling & psychological services, here to introduce the Career Library — a resource that will help you explore majors, careers, graduate programs and mo...