Active Learning

Interning at Samuel Engineering

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 02 May 2025 21:16:52 +0000

Interning at Samuel Engineering Alexander Jame… Fri, 05/02/2025 - 15:16

Jafar Makrani is an graduate student in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. He interned at Samuel Engineering during spring 2025.

Jafar Makrani, graduate student in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering and intern at Samuel Engineering.

Where did you intern over the summer and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?

This spring, I interned at Samuel Engineering, Inc. in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Samuel Engineering is a multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm that offers services in process, mechanical, electrical, civil, and pipeline engineering for oil and gas, power, mining, and chemical sectors. I worked with the Pipeline Services team, supporting and reviewing projects with clients such as Suncor Energy, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, and Tallgrass Energy.

My role focused on reviewing drawings, getting trained on project design tasks, and building custom engineering tools that enhanced workflows. It was a great opportunity to see how engineering decisions are made in real time on complex, safety-critical projects.

What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on over the summer?

Throughout my internship, I contributed significantly to several pipeline engineering and trenchless technology projects. One of my main contributions was developing a Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Geometry Profile Calculator in Microsoft Excel. Unlike commonly available tools such as Technical Toolbox, our calculator could handle compound bends, providing a more realistic and flexible approach to complex HDD designs.

I also assisted in preparing technical deliverables such as HDD feasibility reports, site-specific bore profiles, bend radius checks, wall thickness calculations, and HDD pullback load analysis. These experiences helped me sharpen both my technical design skills and my ability to present findings clearly to project stakeholders.

Was there a particular challenge you encountered that really pushed you to learn something new?

Before starting my internship, I didn’t have any background or knowledge in pipeline engineering. I had no idea about the amount of technical detail and planning that goes into designing and executing projects like HDD or open-cut installations. It was a completely new world for me, from understanding bore profiles and clash detection to calculating geometric designs and material specifications.

At first, it was overwhelming because there were so many factors to consider that I had never encountered in the classroom. But by asking lots of questions, shadowing experienced engineers, and working on these real projects, I was able to bridge that gap. It pushed me to learn quickly, adapt, and build confidence in an entirely new field of engineering.

How did what you learned look different than the way you learn engineering in class?

In class, engineering problems are usually well-defined. You know the starting point, the assumptions you’re allowed to make, and what a good solution should look like. But during my internship, the real world didn’t come with neatly packaged problems. Every project was filled with uncertainties, incomplete information, and competing priorities.

I learned that engineering in practice is much more about decision-making under uncertainty and balancing technical feasibility with client requirements, budgets, and timelines. It’s less about finding the “perfect” answer and more about finding a good, practical solution that works within constraints. This experience really changed how I think about problem-solving and showed me how important communication, teamwork, and creative thinking are in addition to technical knowledge.

What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?

My biggest advice is to stay curious, proactive, and committed to learning. Even if you’re not directly assigned a particular task, don’t hesitate to ask how you can support ongoing projects or suggest improvements when you see opportunities. Most importantly, chase excellence, not success. If you focus on developing your skills, understanding your field deeply, and consistently delivering high-quality work, success will follow naturally.

I'm proud to share that by maintaining this mindset during my internship, I’m currently in talks for a full-time position at Samuel Engineering even before my internship has officially ended. It was a rewarding reminder that when you strive for excellence and take ownership of your contributions, opportunities will come to you without needing to chase them. Keep pushing yourself to improve a little every day and doors will open when you least expect it.

Jafar Makrani is an graduate student in mechanical engineering. He interned at Samuel Engineering during spring 2025.

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Interning at Xtreme Power Conversion Corporation

Katherine Pickens McConnell — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:19:21 +0000

Interning at Xtreme Power Conversion Corporation Katherine Pick… Mon, 01/13/2025 - 17:19

Bryce Sohayda is an undergraduate student in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. He interned at Xtreme Power Conversion Corporation during summer 2024.

Where did you intern over the summer and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?

Bryce Sohayda during his summer internship with XPCC.

This summer, I had the opportunity to work at Xtreme Power Conversion Corporation (XPCC) in Denver, Colorado. They specialize in Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) to create power solutions for customers of all types. What excited me the most about this company was the opportunity to work for a supervisor with both entrepreneurial business skills and an engineering background. I appreciated being able to learn from his journey through different areas of engineering and gain an insight into the fast-growing industry of battery back up.

What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on over the summer?

This internship was very hands-on and allowed me to work on several different projects. At the beginning of the internship, I worked on recharge and repair for the on-hand inventory and I used my basic circuits background to know voltage and current loads for an efficient recharge and restock system. Through the middle of the summer, we worked on a large value project including over 400, 3-part units where I got to rewire a user plug-in for modular enclosures and private label each unit. Toward the end of the summer, I switched to building 120V battery trays for large backup power units, where 40 of the trays go into one power unit. I got a very in-depth understanding of the UPS world and how many solutions there are to meet growing customer demand.

How did what you learned look different than the way you learn engineering in class?

One thing I learned from our engineering classes is that they teach us to problem solve more than anything else. There is no specific formula to use on some of these projects and it is up to you to figure out the process needed to complete the project. Unless you are in a position specific to a topic from class, don’t worry too much about the nitty gritty parts of that class. Instead, think about what processes and skills you gain from learning that subject.

What has been the most impactful part of your internship experience?

The most impactful part of my internship was understanding the model of an engineering company and learning what it takes to manage, build, or run a company. I got to experience each moving part of the business. At the simplest level, the company is all UPS based. A company may have great people but a mediocre product. A company may also have a great product, but mediocre people. However, when a company has both of these working simultaneously, that is when you see a company grow and succeed, and that is what I experienced at XPCC. Learning and experiencing this allowed me to combine all of my technical skills from engineering and social skills from business to provide XPCC with quality work.

What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?

If you are interested in business-related engineering, first find a field that interests you. The best way to use your engineering degree in this way is to understand the field and product down to its smallest components and build from there. Because of the engineering knowledge that our degree gives us, we can understand the product intricately which provides us with the opportunity to share that information with customers and other companies. That allows us to grow the company because we understand the company starting with the technical fundamentals and moving all the way to the sales, management, and distribution phases. In my opinion, the best part of engineering is that you can make the degree as small or big as you want, so keep your eyes open for opportunities to join a company or start a company to change the world.

Bryce Sohayda is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering. He interned at Xtreme Power Conversion Corporation during summer 2024.

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University of Colorado students are taking part in advancing robotics to help first responders

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 18:35:53 +0000

University of Colorado students are taking part in advancing robotics to help first responders Alexander Jame… Fri, 12/06/2024 - 11:35

Sean Humbert, professor in mechanical engineering and director of the Robotics graduate program, chats with CBS News Colorado about some of the technology him and his students are working on at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. One of their builds is a robot that the Boulder County Sheriff's Office uses to support their bomb squad team.

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Undergraduate research with the Animal Inspired Motion and Robotics Lab

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 21:38:17 +0000

Undergraduate research with the Animal Inspired Motion and Robotics Lab Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/04/2022 - 15:38

Riley McGill

Riley McGill is undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. She is working on research in the Animal Inspired Motion and Robotics Lab (AIMRL).

Riley McGill

I had the opportunity to work in the Animal Inspired Motion and Robotics Lab (AIMRL) this year through the Uplift Program. In the AIMRL, we are studying cockroaches and spiders to design a robot that mimics their movements and the robustness of their bodies. During my time there, I have been helping build a palm-sized, six-legged robot. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the people I get to work with every week.

Fall semester was a shadowing period, and I was lucky enough to help and gain hands-on experience. I learned the most during this period as I was being taught to operate prototyping machinery. While my focus has been on the building and designing process for the legs and body of the cardboard robots, I have also learned a lot about other projects in the lab related to things like electronics, kinematics and electroadhesion.

The skills that I learned during this time are extremely important and will have the most impact in the long run. Although they may seem like simple tasks, operating the laser cutter, heat press, drill press, soldering iron and other machinery was an extremely important part of my time in the lab. Not only have these skills allowed me to contribute to building the robots, they will also allow me to succeed in any engineering position I acquire.

I have learned a lot about electronics and coding as well. The robot’s legs are powered by motors, with the speed and direction controlled using an app and a bluetooth connection. Because my focus has been on the mechanics and structure of the robot, I have not often work on the electronics. However, I have still learned a lot about Arduino coding language and circuit boards compatible with Arduino. There were many trials and errors when trying to construct the code properly, so I also got to experience that aspect of engineering design.

Prototype of the six-legged robot.

I am still working on this project and continue to learn more about robotics, design, electronics and the engineering process every time I work. The overall experience of this project and working in a research lab has been very exciting and rewarding. I have learned so much about engineering that I have not learned in a classroom because I am gaining hands-on experience.

My advice for any student interested in research is to just try it. I would also encourage any student who is unsure what kind of job they want to pursue after college to get involved with research. It is difficult to know exactly what you want to do when most classes during the first 2-3 years of college are conceptual and equation driven. Research has been extremely helpful in teaching me how to apply what I am learning and what kind of fields I can pursue with a mechanical engineering degree.

Watch videos from the Animal Inspired Motion and Robotics Lab

Riley McGill is undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. She is working on research in the Animal Inspired Motion and Robotics Lab (AIMRL).

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Mechanical engineering students competing in national wind energy competition

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 22:58:11 +0000

Mechanical engineering students competing in national wind energy competition Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 02/17/2022 - 15:58

Rachel Leuthauser

A group of mechanical engineering seniors will be the first �鶹��Ѱ�� team to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) – an event in which future engineers are challenged to find a unique solution to a wind energy project.

Wind Team Members

Aaron Schwan - Systems Engineer
Alec Kostovny - Logistics Manager
Anika Levy - Manufacturing Engineer
Erik Feiereisen - Electro-mechanical Engineer
Claire Isenhart - Project Manager
Charles Candon - Test Engineer
Graham Blanco - CAD Engineer
Kiro Gerges - Electro-mechanical Engineer
Luke Walker - Electro-mechanical Engineer
Simon Grzebien - Financial Engineer

Header image: The 2021 team's prototype, which the 2022 team is drawing inspiration from.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s Wind Team, founded in Senior Design, won its spot in the competition because of the students’ successful preliminary design and plans. The group first entered the event as a learn-along team, which meant they could participate but not be in the running for the actual competition.

For the 2022 competition, organizers decided to open one spot for a learn-along team. They recognized the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Senior Design Wind Team’s hard work and promoted the group to the full competition, which will happen May 16-19 in San Antonio, Texas.

“When we were being graded as a learn-along team last semester, we really didn’t know if we were going to make it or not,” said Claire Isenhart, the team’s project manager. “Then we found out in January that we actually won the first phase against other learn-along teams. It will be a great opportunity for us.”

Each team is tasked with multiple projects as part of the CWC, since the multidisciplinary competition aims to prepare students for all parts of the wind industry. These projects include building an offshore wind turbine prototype, developing a site plan for a hypothetical wind farm and partnering with industry professionals and K-12 educational programs to raise awareness of wind energy in their community.

Teams competing in the CWC will be judged and receive points for each of these three individual projects. Teams with the top three highest combined scores will win first, second and third place, respectively.

Claire Isenhart getting a progress report from her team members.

Members of the team taking measurements for their design.

Students working on a a piece of their design.

The Senior Design Wind Team is already making progress. They have completed preliminary design reports for the wind farm and plan to visit a middle school in March to get young people excited about wind energy. The team’s financial engineer, Simon Grzebien, said they are making advances with their turbine prototype as well.

“We just started making our parts for the prototype in the machine shop,” Grzebien said. “We haven’t had any issues so far, but I’m sure there will be challenges that pop up. Our team feels prepared.”

Each of the students on the Senior Design Wind Team earned their place in the group. Students had to apply and interview with team director Roark Lanning to be accepted. A key piece of being offered a position was an interest in wind energy, since a core component of the competition is assessing real-world research questions surrounding the industry.

“I do want to pursue a career in the field,” Isenhart said. “I knew I wanted to work in clean energy, but I wasn’t sure how I wanted to do that until my sophomore year when I was part of the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship. I researched ways to cool wind turbine generators and methods to produce wind turbine parts. I thought that was such a cool project and I discovered I was interested in the materials.”

Her team members have similar career goals to help the world run off a cleaner source of energy. Luke Walker, one of the team’s electro-mechanical engineers, said he intends to devote his career to climate-change mitigation by using carbon-free energy technologies.

“This project provides the opportunity to study how wind energy, one of the most prolific clean-energy solutions, is accomplished from an engineering and logistical standpoint,” Walker said. “Working with wind energy is without a doubt the best way to learn about the challenges that face large-scale deployment of many forms of renewable energy.”

Erik Feiereisen, another electro-mechanical engineer on the team, added that he is interested in learning about how kinetic energy from the wind is transferred into usable electrical energy.

“It can power most everything in our lives,” Feiereisen said. “I found this project to be an interesting engineering challenge and look forward to seeing what all we can accomplish by the end of the year.”

The Senior Design Wind Team has also recruited students from outside the mechanical engineering undergraduate program to bring more perspectives to these complex projects. The team has brought on civil engineering and graduate-level mechanical engineering students to assist with their designs.

Isenhart said collaborating with these students has helped the team come up with more interdisciplinary solutions to wind energy challenges, which is what each team member will also need to do in their future careers.

In 2020-21, the first �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Senior Design Wind Team participated in the CWC as a learn-along team but did not compete in the full competition. Learn more about that team’s design and plans.

Explore all 2021-22 Senior Design Projects

The group of mechanical engineering seniors is the first �鶹��Ѱ�� team to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) – an event in which future engineers are challenged to find a unique solution to a wind energy project.

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The Return to Campus: A renewed energy in the Department of Mechanical Engineering

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 20:24:26 +0000

The Return to Campus: A renewed energy in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/21/2021 - 14:24

Rachel Leuthauser

If there was a mantra for fall 2021 in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, everyone would be saying ‘it’s good to be back.’

After months of connecting only through Zoom calls and getting to know people’s home offices all too well, the �鶹��Ѱ�� has welcomed students back to campus for fall 2021. Halfway through the traditional in-person semester, there is still a collective joy at seeing students mingling in the Engineering Quad or moving through the Engineering Center hallways.

Students walking onto campus near the Engineering Center.
Header image: Students chatting outside the Engineering Center.

“I just like the intangible little things about being on campus,” said Andrew Brodsky, a mechanical engineering senior. “The hallway conversations, the intricacies of hands-on learning that cannot happen on Zoom, being in other people’s presence and simply wearing pants instead of sweatpants!”

The infectious buzz is, however, a tentative enthusiasm. Health and safety are still two of the top priorities on campus.

“I love being in person but there has definitely been a transition period of learning how to be around people again,” said mechanical engineering senior Claire Isenhart. “The energy needed to be in the classroom and in person is different from being online last year.”

There are various COVID-19 protocols in place to keep Buffs healthy. You can read about the university’s latest public health measures here.

Not all courses are fully in person, either. While most mechanical engineering classes are in person this semester, there are a few such as Mechanical Engineering Design Projects and Manufacturing Processes and Systems that are hybrid.

“Hybrid is nice,” said Cordelia Kim, another mechanical engineering senior. “Some students even attend the remote session together. We meet in a conference room for the lectures.”

In either scenario, the ability to educate and learn from one another without the separation of a computer screen has brought a renewed energy to the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The benefit can be as simple as making eye contact during lectures or as valuable as obtaining the experiential education that ME is known for.

Click each tab below to read about how the return to campus has been a welcomed change in ME’s classrooms and labs.

The �鶹��Ѱ�� has welcomed students back to campus for fall 2021, allowing ME faculty to bring back traditional hands-on labs and classes for the first time in nearly two years.

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Alumni Spotlight: Morgan Kauss - Exo-Seat, a device to aid wheelchair users

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 15:09:04 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: Morgan Kauss - Exo-Seat, a device to aid wheelchair users Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/15/2021 - 09:09

The idea for the Exo-Seat came to Morgan Kauss when she was working as a caregiver for a local woman, Cindy, who has Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

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Students win first place in national Solar District Cup competition

Anonymous — Tue, 18 May 2021 18:22:03 +0000

Students win first place in national Solar District Cup competition Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/18/2021 - 12:22

The team, which included mechanical engineering student Hannah Livingston, developed a large solar PV system.

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How I built an electric bass from scratch

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 23:39:21 +0000

How I built an electric bass from scratch Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/13/2021 - 16:39

Noah Gilsdorf

Noah Gilsdorf is a double-degree student at the �鶹��Ѱ�� working toward a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a bachelor of music in jazz studies. His performance focus is jazz bass, which includes both upright bass and electric bass.

For years I have been hearing from fellow students, teachers, and others I have met that I have an “odd combination” of majors. I have always wanted to find a way to combine the two majors and decided that the best way would be to build a bass from scratch. After a lot of research and several failures, I succeeded in building a bass from scratch. This video shows the process that I took, and how I was able to build a bass out of a small woodshop. The video gives an analysis of how the process went, how different steps affect the sound and the final product’s sound.

[video:https://youtu.be/Tic8yAUdlfw]

Funding for this project was provided by the SEE Student Grant Program in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. Details and application instructions for students interested in pursuing experiential learning opportunities are available online.

Noah Gilsdorf is a double-degree student at the �鶹��Ѱ�� working toward a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a bachelor of music in jazz studies.

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Traveling to Nepal with Engineers Without Borders

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 22:54:54 +0000

Traveling to Nepal with Engineers Without Borders Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/13/2021 - 15:54

Emily Zuetell

Emily Zuetell is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering. She was the president of CU’s student chapter of Engineers Without Borders and has been a member of the organization for over three years.

Emily Zuetell (second from right) and the �鶹��Ѱ��EWB Nepal Team pose with the completed tapstand at the Balodaya Secondary School.

How did you first get involved with Engineers Without Borders? What drew you to that organization?

I joined Engineers Without Borders the first week of my freshman year. I had learned about EWB from the Dream Big documentary that came out when I was in high school and couldn’t wait to join a chapter as soon as I was in college. I was drawn to the organization because it was an opportunity to work with communities around the world to build infrastructure that improves their capacity to meet their basic human needs, even as an undergraduate student. It was exciting to apply the things I was learning in class to hands-on experiences in everything from CAD and hydraulics to drone surveying and construction management.

Can you tell us about a project you’ve worked on?

The first project I worked on was a water distribution system in Kalinchowk, Nepal, building a water distribution system for a school. Kalinchowk is a rural community located in the mid-range mountains of the Dolakha region, north of Kathmandu. It was the epicenter of the 2015 earthquake which destroyed almost all homes and infrastructure. Prior to this project, there was no water access at the school, which had serious implications for hygiene, the spread of illness, and school attendance. My team and I designed a water distribution system and tapstand over the semester, and I traveled to the community for eight weeks over the summer to construct the system and conduct workshops with students and the community on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) principles and menstrual hygiene management. My favorite memory was turning on the tap for the first time and calling to my teammates, “paani ayo!” which means ”there’s water!” in Nepali.

Emily (right) discusses concrete forming for tapstand construction.

What has been the most impactful part of your experience with Engineers Without Borders?

The most impactful part of my experience with EWB has been recognizing the critical role that people play in how basic infrastructure and education can empower communities to meet their human needs. When I traveled to Nepal, I lived in the community and got to know our homestay family, community leaders, and students and teachers at the school. Although brief, the experience helped me better understand how to work with a community to define problems and construct solutions. EWB has taught me how to communicate across cultures and experiences. My experience in EWB also helped me recognize the need for coordinated engineering, political, and socioeconomic work to ensure the long-term sustainability of these projects, which has guided my plans for graduate study in interdisciplinary development engineering programs.

Having the opportunity to work with and travel to a community outside the U.S. has been a cornerstone of Engineers Without Borders. How are you keeping those connections strong during the current COVID-19 pandemic?

The mission of Engineers Without Borders is twofold, to build engineering projects that empower communities to meet their basic human needs and to equip leaders to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. In the past, this has taken the form of student teams gaining hands-on global engineering experience and cultural exchange through traveling to our partner communities to implement critical infrastructure projects and connect with our in-country partners.

A key component of EWB is longstanding relationships with our partner communities. We work in a community for a minimum of five years and partner closely with in-country NGOs that work yearround in our partner communities. These longstanding relationships have helped us continue our projects through the changing landscape of COVID-19 restrictions. This change has required that we strengthen our communication with our in-country partners as our teams rely on communicating designs and surveying needs to continue making progress on our projects.

�鶹��Ѱ��EWB representatives at the 2019 National EWB-USA Conference in Pittsburgh.

Three of our teams were able to complete remote implementation this semester through extraordinary perseverance, organization and communication. Furthermore, students in our chapter are continuing to gain cultural exchange experiences through video calls and culture and language lessons from our NGO partners. While we look forward to being able to travel again, the current restrictions have required us to strengthen our communication and resourcefulness with our partner communities and provides us with yet another tool to empower our partner communities in the future.

What advice do you have for a student looking to get involved in Engineers Without Borders?

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has EWB teams working in Nepal, Rwanda, Guatemala and Puerto Rico, so you can find a team that works for you. You don’t need any experience or a specific major to join our teams. If you want to learn more about EWB and start working on virtual courses about the project process and principles of working on engineering projects abroad, you can sign up for a Volunteer Village account through EWB-USA to access dozens of e-learning resources. We are always looking for new students who are passionate about engineering, education, and service.

Attend our meetings and reach out to our teams to learn more. Meeting times and contact information can be found on the EWB website.

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