Spotlight: Nora Ayanian

Year: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: None

First co-op:

Where: Lockheed-Martin MS2, Moorestown, NJ

Group: Electronics Packaging

Responsibilities: In the electronics packaging group, I was responsible for writing test plans and procedures for humidity, temperature, shock, and vibration testing of electronic components and assemblies for Cruiser ships.  I was also responsible for designing characterization tests and a test fixture for the MTRJ fiber optic interface, to determine whether or not it was suitable for use on ships.

Second co-op:

Where: Graco Children's Products, Exton, PA

Group: Car Seats

Responsibilities: Along with another Drexel Co-op, I was responsible for developing Graco's first side impact crash test for car seats.  I investigated and presented my findings on prevalent crash kinematics, injuries to children, and injury mechanisms in lateral impact collisions.  In addition, we took many trips to auto dealers to measure the interiors of the most popular vehicles in order to determine a mean rear-seat geometry, and compare it to the current geometry for the frontal crash test bench.   Based on our findings, lateral impact crashworthiness criteria were developed.   I also designed a lateral impact crash test bench to retrofit the existing frontal crash test sled. 

Travel: I had the opportunity to travel twice to see actual car seat crash tests at Graco's Ohio test facility, and play with crash test dummies.  In addition, as part of my research, I went to the SAE Government/Industry meeting in Washington, DC, to learn about crashworthiness.

Certifications: I completed the 32 hour NHTSA Child Passenger Safety Training Program to get a Child Passenger Safety Technician certificate.  I participated in two car seat safety checks, educating parents about how to properly install car seats to protect their children.

Third co-op:

Where: MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA

Group: Optical Systems Engineering

Responsibilities: Creating and running finite element models using MSC/PATRAN and MSC/NASTRAN, analyze model results, structural and thermal testing, research, and running software analysis codes.

Why did you choose Drexel University?

I chose Drexel because of co-op, the opportunity to get real world experience before you graduate.  Co-op is an amazing opportunity; not only do you get to fund your own education, but you get the chance to try different fields without making a long term commitment as in full time jobs.  If you love it, you can go back; if you hate it, try something else.  Without co-op I would have never discovered that what I actually want to do is teach engineering at the college level. 

What made you choose Mechanical Engineering as a major?

I chose mechanical engineering because I like to tinker with things; how things work always fascinated me, especially flight. Unlike electrical engineering, in mechanical engineering you can actually see what is happening.  Mechanical engineering is so broad, it allows you to do almost anything.

Are you in an accelerated degree program (BS/MS or BS/PhD)?  If yes, what made you choose to do this/bennefits of the program?

Are you a member of any engineering organizations?

I am a member of SAE, Society of Automotive Engineers.

What has been your most valuable class at Drexel?

My most valuable classes at Drexel would have to be Control Systems, MEM 255 and 355.  After taking those classes, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  I enjoyed them so much that I became a teaching assistant for MEM 255. 

Research Experience:

As part of the Hess Undergraduate Research group, I am currently working on a project in controls with Dr. Calin Belta called ?Control for Groups of Fully-Actuated Robots?.  Basically, if there were hundreds of robots at some initial location, how could you get them all to a final location, while avoiding obstacles on the way?  I became much more familiar with MATLAB while creating a simulation for the controller.

Teaching Experience:

I am a teaching assistant for MEM 255, Introduction to Controls.  Teaching is probably the greatest experience I have had at Drexel.  Not only do I get to share the knowledge I have, but I learn more every time. 

Extracurricular Activities:

Outside of school, I am a very active member of the Armenian Youth Federation.  As part of my Freshman Design Project, my team did a renovation of the basement of our community center to create a youth lounge.  After Freshman Design, I applied for a grant and got $3,500 for the renovation.  We are finally getting a move on it, and we hope for the renovation to be finished by December of 2004.

Internships:

Through the Armenian Youth Federation, I completed an internship in Armenia in the summer of 2001, where I worked for the Armenian Red Cross Society as a translator and received first aid training.  I participated in their national first aid competition with my fellow interns as the first USA team to ever compete.  We won second place and received national recognition; everywhere we went, people would recognize us and yell our team name!