The Bridge - Issue 1, 2022 - 28

Student Profile
Aaron J. Burke
Missouri University of Science
and Technology
Gamma Theta Chapter
Aaron Burke is a senior Electrical Engineering major
at Missouri University of Science and Technology
(MS&T). He has tried his hand at about everything
there is to do on a campus, from being a student
ambassador, to being a grader, to being a research
assistant. He has also been a fundraising chair for
the IEEE Student Branch, where he helped raise
over US $10,000 for operational expenses. While
at IEEE, he and his team competed in the Region 5
Robotics and Ethics competitions. The team took first
place in the Region 5 Ethics Competition. As Pledge
Chair for the Gamma Theta Chapter, he presented
at the ECEDHA/IEEE-HKN Town Hall and helped to
induct over 10 members. In his limited free time, he
enjoys playing chess, reading, and studying foreign
languages. He married his high school sweetheart,
Abigail, and they have three wonderful cats: Kits, Fish,
and Beans.
Why did you choose to study the engineering
field (or the particular field you are
studying)?
When I was a kid, I thought electricity was magic. It
simultaneously powered my home and shocked me
on the carpeted floors. Electricity was the invisible
force that provided me with my favorite forms of
entertainment: movies, games, and gadgets. In high
school, I competed in national robotics competitions
and loved the process of programming autonomous
systems. When choosing my field of study, I wanted
THE BRIDGE
to pursue a degree where I could understand
electricity and incorporate it into robotic design.
Now, as a senior in Electrical Engineering, I can say
with confidence that electricity is magic, and it is still
shocking me today.
What do you love about engineering?
I love problem solving. The " Ah-Ha " moment
when you realize what you need to do to solve a
particularly challenging problem is always exhilarating.
I especially love learning how to solve new problems.
Whenever I learn something new, it feels like I have
added a new tool to my toolbox. These new tools
have immediate effects on the types of problems I
can solve and how well I can solve them. The process
of adding new tools and solving more problems is
what constantly excites me about engineering.
What don't you like about engineering?
Engineering is hard. We can all see that engineering
is used in our daily lives in a variety of ways, but
learning about engineering is a challenge. You must
have a good foundation in several other fields to
be a successful engineer. You need to be good
at math, communicating, and the specific science
that you study. As a student or as an educator, it
can be especially difficult to identify where in that
process you have gone wrong and correct it. I enjoy
engineering because of its ability to solve complex
problems, but I think it can be a very discouraging
field for those just beginning to pursue engineering.
What is your dream job?
Currently, I like the idea of becoming a professor.
There are a lot of nice perks associated with
continuing my education. I can continue to focus on
my interest in robotics, share my knowledge with
the world, and have a strong impact on the quality
of the education of future students. In my opinion,
there is no better field for someone with strong
communication and technical skills. In addition, there
is so much interesting, cutting-edge research, and
I want to be at the forefront. Becoming a professor
isn't just some far-off dream, it is the career I am
actively pursuing. I am in the process of performing
undergraduate research, in hopes that I can build a
competitive resume for graduate school.
The Bridge - Issue 1, 2022

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