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Submission Number: 496
Submission ID: 1639
Submission UUID: 8e4956c2-3564-48a2-a348-520eaed9c096
Submission URI:/center/mortenson/form/webform-1367
Created: Sun, 03/23/2025 - 21:07
Completed: Sun, 03/23/2025 - 21:07
Changed: Sat, 04/19/2025 - 14:37
Remote IP address: 104.0.82.124
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
{Empty}
Julia
Dajnowiec
She/Her
Corona Del Mar
California
United States
92625
Biomedical Engineering
English
"How did they build that?" I would ask my dad, my chin up and head turned back in pure awe at the sight of the towering skyscrapers in Times Square. My fascination with building began at an early age. How was it possible to structure a 30 level skyscraper that defies gravity? I am still amazed by the accomplishments our engineers reach today. The more I have learned about the structural applications of engineering, the more my curiosity has grown, leading me to question how each small decision in a project is made and why.
Visiting Rome enormously extended my appreciation for the great diversity in engineering and architecture. Surrounded by centuries of engineering marvels, from the ancient Colosseum to Renaissance cathedrals to modern restorations, I vividly remember walking along great paths designed for exploration. In my opinion, timeless Roman engineering holds great beauty. The architecture and diverse sculpting techniques that I observed as a child echoed the culture of the city I was visiting. Engineering is a form of art, and from that moment on, that is how I associated it to myself. While the numerous steel skyscrapers in the US were justifiably admired, buildings in Rome came from unique stone designs utilized in arches and domes that balance strength with beauty. To firsthand see such rich diversity in engineering styles reinforced to me that building is more than just achieving height and novelty; rather, it contains the elements of building something that can endure, respect culture, and integrate well within its environment.
Beyond my overseas travels, I searched for opportunities to broaden my understanding of engineering adaptation. Shadowing the Principle of Design at MVE + Partners allowed me to view how architects and engineers must balance functionality, aesthetics, and environmental considerations in contemporary projects. My visit to their Rafferty Project in Santa Ana was specifically inspiring. Although this apartment complex was built in an older town, they used architectural techniques to help the 5-story building blend into the industrial rural area. I learned that engineers could site-adapt the building purposely so that it could be timeless and cohesive with its surroundings. Witnessing the rationale behind site-specific design reaffirmed my belief that great engineering involves knowledge of the surroundings.
These past experiences have prepared me for the Global Engineering RAP by summarizing that engineering is not a theoretical discipline; it must peruse the whims of culture, geography, and purpose. Whether it is an ancient Roman masterpiece, a sleek big-city skyscraper, or a sustainable modern intervention, every single project will forever echo its environment and appear timeless. I look forward to finding out more about how engineering solutions are adapted for different regions and cultures through this program, sharing my curiosity with peers from divergent backgrounds, and developing a global mindset to orient my efforts toward shaping the future and possibly adding to the creative molding of the world.
Visiting Rome enormously extended my appreciation for the great diversity in engineering and architecture. Surrounded by centuries of engineering marvels, from the ancient Colosseum to Renaissance cathedrals to modern restorations, I vividly remember walking along great paths designed for exploration. In my opinion, timeless Roman engineering holds great beauty. The architecture and diverse sculpting techniques that I observed as a child echoed the culture of the city I was visiting. Engineering is a form of art, and from that moment on, that is how I associated it to myself. While the numerous steel skyscrapers in the US were justifiably admired, buildings in Rome came from unique stone designs utilized in arches and domes that balance strength with beauty. To firsthand see such rich diversity in engineering styles reinforced to me that building is more than just achieving height and novelty; rather, it contains the elements of building something that can endure, respect culture, and integrate well within its environment.
Beyond my overseas travels, I searched for opportunities to broaden my understanding of engineering adaptation. Shadowing the Principle of Design at MVE + Partners allowed me to view how architects and engineers must balance functionality, aesthetics, and environmental considerations in contemporary projects. My visit to their Rafferty Project in Santa Ana was specifically inspiring. Although this apartment complex was built in an older town, they used architectural techniques to help the 5-story building blend into the industrial rural area. I learned that engineers could site-adapt the building purposely so that it could be timeless and cohesive with its surroundings. Witnessing the rationale behind site-specific design reaffirmed my belief that great engineering involves knowledge of the surroundings.
These past experiences have prepared me for the Global Engineering RAP by summarizing that engineering is not a theoretical discipline; it must peruse the whims of culture, geography, and purpose. Whether it is an ancient Roman masterpiece, a sleek big-city skyscraper, or a sustainable modern intervention, every single project will forever echo its environment and appear timeless. I look forward to finding out more about how engineering solutions are adapted for different regions and cultures through this program, sharing my curiosity with peers from divergent backgrounds, and developing a global mindset to orient my efforts toward shaping the future and possibly adding to the creative molding of the world.
As I鈥檝e lived in multiple countries, experiencing their diverse cultures, I鈥檝e gained a unique perspective on collaboration. Each home I鈥檝e ever lived in served as a stepping stone, contributing to how I interact with people from various backgrounds, values, and viewpoints. Being raised in Toronto, I was surrounded by many different cultures at an early age. I learned how to appreciate each individual's opinions and thought processes based on their beliefs, religion, or personal experiences. These past encounters greatly contributed to the individual I am today: an empathetic leader, skilled communicator, and someone who thrives on bringing people together and learning from their differences. Today, my largest belief continues to be that the greatest solutions discovered are the very product of collaboration amongst diverse perspectives.
Following my first volunteering experience with STEMPower She, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire young minds to pursue STEM, I developed a strong stance for diversity in engineering. During our spring workshop in 2023, I was put in charge of group teal鈥攁 meshing of 5 year olds from schools all over the county. We were put to the test to build a catapult, a structure of ambitions, and a small, but important reminder of how even the simplest projects can become an important learning experience. Through this process, I was aiming to steer the kids towards the final outcome and avoid interaction with the step-by-step process. I imagined a use of teamwork, building on their communication and comprehension; however, to my surprise, frequent miscommunications and conflicting ideologies led to a decreased development of our project. This task ultimately turned into a lesson of leadership, revealing the complexities of managing diverse personalities and aligning altered viewpoints. I realized that my role extended beyond guiding the construction to further joining the group. Drawing on my experiences, I communicated ideas clearly to unite my team, encouraged vocalization, and facilitated discussions that balanced enthusiasm with patience, demonstrating how to share resources equally.
The true lesson I hoped my group now understood was that their combination of their individual strengths demonstrated how communication leads to our ideas being 鈥渂uilt鈥 on one another, ultimately resulting in our best performance. As engineers, our main goal is to improve society. But the question remains how? If society works together, and builders and creators travel to other countries to observe altering problems that they may not face in their home-land, collectively, our like-minds can learn from one another, adapt to newly faced challenges, and work towards solving global issues as one.
Following my first volunteering experience with STEMPower She, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire young minds to pursue STEM, I developed a strong stance for diversity in engineering. During our spring workshop in 2023, I was put in charge of group teal鈥攁 meshing of 5 year olds from schools all over the county. We were put to the test to build a catapult, a structure of ambitions, and a small, but important reminder of how even the simplest projects can become an important learning experience. Through this process, I was aiming to steer the kids towards the final outcome and avoid interaction with the step-by-step process. I imagined a use of teamwork, building on their communication and comprehension; however, to my surprise, frequent miscommunications and conflicting ideologies led to a decreased development of our project. This task ultimately turned into a lesson of leadership, revealing the complexities of managing diverse personalities and aligning altered viewpoints. I realized that my role extended beyond guiding the construction to further joining the group. Drawing on my experiences, I communicated ideas clearly to unite my team, encouraged vocalization, and facilitated discussions that balanced enthusiasm with patience, demonstrating how to share resources equally.
The true lesson I hoped my group now understood was that their combination of their individual strengths demonstrated how communication leads to our ideas being 鈥渂uilt鈥 on one another, ultimately resulting in our best performance. As engineers, our main goal is to improve society. But the question remains how? If society works together, and builders and creators travel to other countries to observe altering problems that they may not face in their home-land, collectively, our like-minds can learn from one another, adapt to newly faced challenges, and work towards solving global issues as one.
According to the National Library of Medicine, more than 26,000 Americans die each year due to lack of access to affordable healthcare and assistive devices. In LA County, Coronary Heart Disease is the leading cause of the high death-rates of homeless individuals. These data findings suggest that there is a crucial divide between lower income families, and those able to pay for these higher-quality treatments. Furthermore, the rising costs in the fragmented healthcare system is not only becoming a major issue in our hometowns, but extends to our global society.
As a biomedical engineer, I am committed to addressing this divide in healthcare through innovation. Specifically, I aim to develop human-like prosthetic limbs, integrated with AI, to help amputees regain their sensory function. Although this is an ambitious goal, I鈥檓 eager to research biosignal modeling, medical imaging and experiment with alternative materials to replace costly ones used in medical devices鈥攅nsuring affordability without compromising performance. Inflation in our healthcare system is a real issue, one that will soon affect us all in years to come, no matter your socioeconomic status. As a member of the Global Engineering RAP at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, I seek to engage with like-minded individuals who are equally passionate about solving global healthcare challenges and address this issue.
Beyond research, I am committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration through my non-profit, STEMPower She. This organization鈥檚 mission would be to bring together individuals from diverse interests of study and disciplines鈥攅ngineering, business, and etc鈥 to cross pollinate ideas, connect with one another, and apply their expertise to real-world challenges. As a global engineer, the most important strength spurs from strong connections and ethical knowledge in the world. By combining the student body at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, from even beyond the engineering community, students will be able to learn from each other鈥檚 strengths and create new relationships that they may utilize after earning their degree. Humans ultimately never stay in their one area of study, thus outlining that it is important to know different people in certain professions and have connections with them. For example a marketing major could be in a sales club and join my organization to get an expanded view of science and understand how to apply their skills to this specific area of expertise, while someone like myself who鈥檚 strictly in science could learn marketing strategies鈥攆urthermore helping me achieve my goal of selling my own prosthetic designs.
Apart from the research I hope to conduct at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, I additionally aim to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Just as my mother was a role model for me, I long to engage with local schools, develop hands-on STEM labs, and mentor students鈥攅ncouraging them to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible. By expanding on my love for science, inspiring young minds to pursue STEM, and apply my newfound community to the realm of inflated healthcare, I believe that the GERAP at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder is the perfect place for me鈥攁 home not so far away.
As a biomedical engineer, I am committed to addressing this divide in healthcare through innovation. Specifically, I aim to develop human-like prosthetic limbs, integrated with AI, to help amputees regain their sensory function. Although this is an ambitious goal, I鈥檓 eager to research biosignal modeling, medical imaging and experiment with alternative materials to replace costly ones used in medical devices鈥攅nsuring affordability without compromising performance. Inflation in our healthcare system is a real issue, one that will soon affect us all in years to come, no matter your socioeconomic status. As a member of the Global Engineering RAP at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, I seek to engage with like-minded individuals who are equally passionate about solving global healthcare challenges and address this issue.
Beyond research, I am committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration through my non-profit, STEMPower She. This organization鈥檚 mission would be to bring together individuals from diverse interests of study and disciplines鈥攅ngineering, business, and etc鈥 to cross pollinate ideas, connect with one another, and apply their expertise to real-world challenges. As a global engineer, the most important strength spurs from strong connections and ethical knowledge in the world. By combining the student body at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, from even beyond the engineering community, students will be able to learn from each other鈥檚 strengths and create new relationships that they may utilize after earning their degree. Humans ultimately never stay in their one area of study, thus outlining that it is important to know different people in certain professions and have connections with them. For example a marketing major could be in a sales club and join my organization to get an expanded view of science and understand how to apply their skills to this specific area of expertise, while someone like myself who鈥檚 strictly in science could learn marketing strategies鈥攆urthermore helping me achieve my goal of selling my own prosthetic designs.
Apart from the research I hope to conduct at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, I additionally aim to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Just as my mother was a role model for me, I long to engage with local schools, develop hands-on STEM labs, and mentor students鈥攅ncouraging them to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible. By expanding on my love for science, inspiring young minds to pursue STEM, and apply my newfound community to the realm of inflated healthcare, I believe that the GERAP at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder is the perfect place for me鈥攁 home not so far away.
Julia Dajnowiec's Resume.pdf(137.12 KB)