222 Palisades Creek Drive
Richardson, TX 75080
Phone: 972-952-9393
Fax: 972-952-9435
Email: [email protected]
University of South Alabama
Mechanical Engineering
Taylor Merry
What are your career goals?
My goal is to build a career as a mechanical engineer and eventually grow into project management and leadership. I really enjoy the technical side of engineering, but I also love working with people, bringing different disciplines together, and seeing a project develop from an idea into something real. Ultimately, I hope to build a career that allows me to keep learning, take on new challenges, and make a meaningful impact through the work I do.
Do you have any research areas of interest specific to your discipline?
I am especially interested in areas where mechanical engineering can connect with environmental sustainability and real-world problems. My undergraduate research studying microplastic pollution gave me the opportunity to work with FTIR analysis and opened my eyes to how engineering and technology can be used to better understand environmental challenges. I am also interested in materials, manufacturing, and finding ways to make industrial processes more efficient and sustainable.
What is one piece of advice you have for fellow engineering students?
Do not get so caught up in how everyone else is doing that you forget to recognize your own progress. Engineering is challenging, and everyone’s path through it looks a little different. Ask questions, take advantage of the people and resources around you, and do not be afraid of not knowing something yet. Some of the best opportunities come from simply being willing to learn and putting yourself out there.
What has been your favorite engineering course and why?
My favorite engineering course has been Circuits. It was challenging at times, but I loved the feeling of working through a problem and finally seeing how everything connected. It became a course that I genuinely enjoyed, and now I have the opportunity to serve as a Supplemental Instruction Leader for Circuits. I am excited to help other students work through those same challenging moments and hopefully help them find some enjoyment in the course too.
Which clubs, campus organizations, and activities do you participate in?
- College of Engineering Ambassador
- Supplemental Instruction Leader for Circuits
- Undergraduate Research Ambassador
- Undergraduate Research – Microplastic Pollution Research
What are you most looking forward to gaining from being an FE ambassador?
I am most looking forward to connecting with other engineering students and learning more about the path to professional licensure myself. The FE exam can feel like a big and somewhat intimidating step, so I am excited to help make it feel more approachable for other students. I also look forward to growing as a leader and being someone who can encourage other engineering students as we all work toward the next stages of our careers.