David Saeb — Research Award
CBEN
Post-graduation plans: masters degree in chemical engineering at CU Boulder,then applyto medical school
This award recognizes undergraduatestudents with demonstrated excellence in research.
What is your favorite memory from your time at CU Boulder?
I love Halloween in Boulder. I've especially enjoyed going to the mall crawl on Pearl Street!
What accomplishment are you most proud of, either academically or personally?
I'm most proud of getting involved in a wide range of activities including research, off-campus work, student government, campus orchestraand student organizations. I am so grateful for being ableto meet people from all over campus with unique experiences.
Tell us about a moment (or moments) when you felt like you hit your stride or felt like you were “officially” an engineer.
I felt most like an "engineer" when I was engaged in research. It's enormously exciting to apply the problem-solving skills I've learned in classes to unfamiliar problems. I love learningabout new technologies and how tosynthesize new ideas with knowledge learned from classes.
What was the biggest challenge for you during your engineering education? What did you learn from it?
Learning remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic was really difficult for me. I tend to enjoy working collaboratively and get a lot out of socializing in classroom environments. I learned that I need to ultimately choosea career where I interact with lots of people. Additionally, I grew to appreciate in-person learning, connecting with other studentsand the school environment as a whole.
What is your advice for incoming engineering students?
Get involved in activities and groups that are challenging for you and different from what you havedone previously. This will let you meet new people and gain new perspectives, and it might even change your future plans and interests. There are so many amazing students, faculty and mentors to meet and learn from.