Joshua Nelson

Why did you choose to attend UB?          

I chose to attend UB because of the plethora of research opportunities UB provides to undergraduate students.

Why did you decide to major in MAE?     

Ever since the landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars, my life goal has been to participate as much as I can to humanity's exploration and expansion of space. I saw the MAE program as my best option to obtain the skills necessary to reach my goals.

What is your fondest memory so far at UB?

Watching the first Falcon Heavy launch with my peers at UBNL. Remembering the chorus of cheers when the rocket passed Max-Q serves as a reminder that I am doing what I love.

What was your involvement outside the classroom? (i.e. student clubs, athletics)

I have spent much of my extracurricular time working as a Guidance, Navigation, & Control lead for the University at Buffalo Nanosatellite Laboratory under Dr. John Crassidis.

Were you involved in internships and/or undergraduate research? What was that like?

I earned the Zimmer Expanded Research Scholarship in 2018, which gave me funding for Summer research here at UB. I spent that Summer converting a planetarium into a hardware-in-the-loop testbed, under the advisement of Dr. Frank Lagor.

What makes your UB story unique or noteworthy?

I entered UB as a transfer student from Dutchess Community College, and I will be a PhD student this coming Fall. I believe my story stands as a testament to effectiveness of community colleges and the SUNY seamless transfer system.

What are your plans after graduation?     

I will be interning at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM this summer. This Fall, I will begin my journey as a PhD student at the University of Colorado at Boulder under the advisement of Dr. Hanspeter Schaub.

What is your advice to current and incoming MAE students?

Participate in undergraduate research! If you do not know where to start, ask your favorite professor if they are looking for student helpers. In my opinion, undergraduate research is the best way to figure out just what kind of engineer you want to be.