Allow us to introduce you to Tyler Simpson, a Mechanical Engineering Major who has worked at UDRI as a part-time student intern for the past year. Tyler is closing in on the end of his junior year at the University of Dayton. As a local who attended Alter High School, Tyler chose UD for the proximity to home, short commute, and access to scholarships. Tyler is someone who has always known what he wanted to pursue in life. He wants to work on developing technology that moves humanity towards the future. 

About a year ago he started his job search on Handshake, searching for a position close to campus where he could utilize his skill set, explore his interest in laser manufacturing, and know that the employer would work with his school schedule. Luckily for us, UDRI checked all of those boxes. Tyler has always found lasers to be fascinating and working with our laser manufacturing technology department (LMTD), has been a great way to gain experience in the field. 

This experience has included projects such as making sample parts out of aluminum and steel so that flaws and cracks can be created with lasers to mimic structural damage, building test kits for airmen to measure flaws in material, and working in SolidWorks to make a 3D array. Tyler has been able to learn through hands-on experience at UDRI how to design and execute system construction for laser systems. These real-world fast paced projects and scenarios have helped him learn how to troubleshoot and then bring valuable solutions to the table. He has been given the autonomy and space to make mistakes and learn how to solve them. 

Tyler expressed how much he has learned from his supervisor, Chris Taylor. He admires the calm and steady manor in which Chris approaches engineering. Tyler has continued to enjoy the full experience of working at UDRI, especially working in the summers. He loves the flexibility and how the longer days allow him to get caught up in creating solutions. 

In the future, Tyler hopes to stay on at UDRI full-time. He is also considering furthering his education, either by pursuing a master's in aerospace or an MBA. An MBA would open avenues for Tyler to explore the business side of engineering, giving him the opportunity to remain in a technical environment while gaining valuable insight into the business world. Tyler is driven by a desire to be well-rounded and to be a person that always takes on new challenges. He has been a great asset to UDRI and we can’t wait to see all that he accomplishes in his upcoming senior year!