Angshuman Deka

Where are you from?

My hometown is Namrup, a small town in northeast India. I have been living in the Western New York area for the last 7 years.

Why did you choose UB?

I chose UB because of its excellent engineering program, extensive course offerings in the various engineering departments, and exciting research opportunities.

Why did you choose to go into engineering?

Growing up in a town with three industrial plants, I was able to watch machines at work since early childhood. Every now and then, I got to go on tours of these plants. I can still remember the excitement of visiting the sites and admiring the people at work. From then on, I had a fascination for machines and the engineering behind them. The problem-solving aspect of engineering drew me to it. During high school, I honed my knowledge of math and science and decided to pursue my passion – a career in engineering.

What do you like most about engineering at UB?

The excellent learning and research opportunities at engineering at UB stand out. The diversity of courses offered by the departments is an excellent avenue to gain knowledge in interdisciplinary areas. The research labs and helpful faculty and staff members are also a source of inspiration to seek and gain more knowledge.

What is your favorite place on campus?

I have two favorite places on campus. One is the Lake LaSalle where I enjoy the lake view and some quiet time after classes. The other is the Health Sciences Library where I study. 

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on a project that uses an inverse design method to determine material composition of an additively manufactured composite for desired mechanical properties. To say it simply, the traditional way to determine mechanical properties of a composite material is to perform experiments which are time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, a designer can use this method to computationally determine the material composition for desired mechanical properties of an additively manufactured composite by leveraging the mathematical relationships connecting the composition and properties of a composite.

What have you done that you are most proud of?

I am proud of my contributions at MKS Instruments (Richardson Gratings) in the area of diffraction gratings. As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, I am involved in new product development, which can be applied in a wide variety of areas from analytical instrumentation to astronomy. 

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about acquiring knowledge and developing skills that help my personal and professional development. I believe these two play an important role in helping one grow in life and make a positive impact in society.

What are your future plans?

I plan to work in the science and technology domain making sure I continue to solve real world problems which makes an impact in people’s lives. 

What is your advice for prospective students?

My primary advice would be to make good use of your time at school and don’t keep yourself limited to books and labs. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and make sure to have fun in life!

Angshuman Deka received a 2021 Leaders in Excellence Scholarship from the University at Buffalo Engineering Alumni Assocation (UBEAA).