Maddy - Biomedical Engineering

During the design phases, we used Fusion 360 for mechanical parts and Fritzing for electrical circuits. Our mobile manipulator used Mecanum wheels for horizontal movement and line-following sensors, while our PCR machine featured an aluminium block with Peltier heating elements and temperature readouts via LCD screens. Before these projects, I'd never really seen myself as a leader.

These projects taught me to thrive under pressure and lead teams effectively. When our 3D printed parts snapped right before the presentation, we had no time for reprints. Instead, we grabbed scrap wood from the iForge and used handheld tools to create new supports on the spot – allowing us to complete our demonstration successfully. The Diamond's resources were essential: the iForge for laser cutting and 3D printing, the electronics and control lab for circuits, and even the bioengineering bacterial labs where we tested our PCR machine against professional equipment under UV light. We learned C++ coding through Arduino and how to pitch to expert panels as the "Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification Heroes."

Building on that foundation, I discovered I genuinely enjoyed becoming team leader and ensuring we hit deadlines successfully. This led directly to my placement in Programme Management at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains. The similarities between university group projects and industry teamwork are striking – when units fail on dynamometers, I organize investigations between engineering and test teams, just like when our parts broke at university. Communication remains key whether ensuring team members hit deadlines or aligning engineering and performance teams on business plans. The Diamond didn't just teach me engineering skills – it revealed my passion for leadership and problem-solving under pressure.