Alumni Profile
Zachary Bauer
Engineering is amazing! You get to learn and cover so many topics that have direct impacts on the real world. Find a topic you love and dedicate yourself to it! Also learn to code."
Where I've Been
Cities
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Washington, D.C.
Organizations
- Stanford University
- Sandia National Lab
- Alphataraxia
Positions
- Research Assistant
- Wind Turbine Design Engineer
- Investment Analyst
What I've Done
What types of work have you performed? What projects have you worked on?
Focused primarily on renewable energy and the electricity grid. I started off with more of the physical aspects of electricity generation but have moved into how it integrates into the grid. I have worked on high penetration renewable energy plans, small scale military wind turbines, and electricity markets across the US.
What have been some favorite aspects of your work?
The depth of knowledge and the unknowns of complex systems, particularly when you have the data and tools to find patterns that no one else has. Being fluent in many different sciences with the skills to apply the theory to the real world.
What was one of your most satisfying days as an engineer?
Hard to pick one. Maybe one of the more memorable days was meeting Leonardo DiCaprio, to be interviewed on our research project for 100% renewable energy in the US.
Was it worth it? What has your engineering background made possible for you? What value has it added to your overall life?
Definitely. I don't use many of the discrete courses taught in Mechanical Engineering every day, but it has taught my how to learn and approach problems.
Why it Matters
What would you say to the first-year students currently sitting in your shoes?
Engineering is amazing! You get to learn and cover so many topics that have direct impacts on the real world. Find a topic you love and dedicate yourself to it! Also learn to code.