Undergraduate Profiles

Jhon Faghih-Nassiri, Junior Computer Engineering Major

About Jhon:

• Hometown: San Diego, CA
• Favorite Class: Computer Architecture (ECE 154)
• Organizations: Technology Management Program (TMP), Entrepreneur Association
• Hobbies: distance cycling, rock climbing, hiking, kayaking, web design, entrepreneurship
  
  
• Something Unique About Jhon: this past Thanksgiving break I made a treck with two friends through Death Valley and Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon and back

Jhon's Favorites:

• Band / Performer: The Kooks
• TV Show: How I Met Your Mother
• Movie: Mr. Nobody
• Book / Author: The Catcher In The Rye by J. D. Salinger
• Sport: basketball
• Activity: hiking and rock climbing Santa Barbara trails
• Geeky Possession: custom built computer

High School Experience:

• Favorite classes and high school mentors?: In my last two years of high school I grew very passionate about chemistry, architecture and calculus. My teachers in these subjects quickly became my mentors - not only because they were affiliated with the subjects I enjoyed but also because of how they chose to live their lives. My calculus teacher had a positive attitude that could never be tarnished, and he taught me how essential attitude and outlook are to living a good life. My architecture teacher dedicated his professional life and his spare time to helping build a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. He taught me how important philanthropy and passion were to staying motivated.
• Share what your college search was like: I started my college search after I had already received my responses from the schools I applied to. I chose this method because I knew that I wanted to go to a UC or State school, and I knew that many of them offered great engineering programs. In the end, I based my decision mostly on academics and partially on student life.

Preparation for College:

• What prepared you the most to study engineering in college?: I attended La Jolla Country Day School in San Diego, a private college preparatory high school. The school modeled college life in that it allowed students to be responsible for their own education. I believe it was this sense of personal responsibility that best prepared me for engineering.
• Are there any classes that you suggest EE students take before entering UCSB?: At UCSB, students can enter with very little or no programming or hardware experience and still excel at the program. The classes that are offered to this group of students do a great job of introducing the subjects of programming and hardware.
• Any additional experiences that you would like to share with students to help them prepare for college?: Many schools do not offer computer programming or analog circuitry classes. Take advantage of the void and take the initiative to create a way to get exposure to these subjects during your high school experience. During my senior year of high school I started Computer Club at my high school and began educating myself by building a computer from various parts ordered on the internet.

Favorite Things About:

• UCSB: UC Santa Barbara is unique in that it can offer students the well rounded education of a UC school as well as quality curricula in specialized subjects. What I find most valuable is the opportunity students have to immerse themselves in various organizations, programs, and other subject areas that are of interest to them. Between general education courses, minors offered through the university, clubs, and a multitude of other options, students are truly given the power to learn about the subjects they are passionate about.
• CE Program: I thoroughly enjoy the fact that most, if not all, of the professors teaching courses in CE are deeply invested in research and often times on the forefronts of their industries. As these professors teach the course material they are often able to draw on their own experience and their outside knowledge of the subject to give the students more accurate and up to date information. In addition it gives students endless opportunities to get involved in undergraduate research early on in their UCSB experience. I find this particularly useful in my ambitions to apply to graduate school - a process that pays high regard to undergraduate research.
• Santa Barbara: Over the past three years I've taken full advantage of my location in Santa Barbara. The community offers a huge number of networking, research, and internship opportunities as a result of the many start-ups and technology companies that have offices in the area. In addition Isla Vista is a short drive or bike ride away from a number of outdoors activities ranging from hiking and climbing near waterfalls in the mountains to kayaking in the pacific.

Why CE / UCSB?:

• Why Computer Engineering?: When I decided on a major I knew I wanted to be an engineer and I knew I wanted to work with electronics. After some research it became clear to me that my interests were divided into three categories - Electrical Engineering for hardware, Computer Science for software, and Computer Engineering for the in-between area that seemed to be emerging. Because I was very interested in both hardware and software, and frankly, unsure what exactly each entailed, CE seemed like the perfect fit.
• Why UCSB?: Initially I chose UCSB based solely on the ranking of the College of Engineering, the ideal beachfront location, the affordability of UC tuition, and the thriving student life I witnessed on my first tour of the campus. Since matriculation, I've discovered so much more that UCSB has to offer.
• How did you hear about UCSB's CE program: I became aware of the program through my online searches of highly ranked Engineering programs nationwide. The department's involvement in cutting edge research also caught my eye. It became clear to me that there is a thriving community oriented around academic achievement and UCSB. This point was driven home in my second year at UCSB when I came to learn that my analog circuits teacher led a team that was designing the world’s fastest transistors.

Advice to students/parents about UCSB and CE:

• Students: UCSB is an asset that you can use you achieve anything you aspire to accomplish in life. Between the distinguished professors, the groundbreaking research, expansive alumni network, business opportunities, passionate faculty, thriving social life, and exceptional recreational activities, you are truly given the tools to reach your goals. I have come to learn that UCSB isn't just about an impressive GPA and a degree from a prestigious school, but rather students looking to improve, achieve, learn, and give back. When applying to UCSB remember to express yourself in not only in terms of what you have done, but also in terms of who you are.
• Parents: I can't really give advice to parents since my parents were not involved in my college decision, they fully trusted my choices.
• Looking back, what do you think you would have wanted your parents to know about UCSB Computer Engineering?: With a CE degree the options are endless. Internships and job opportunities catered specifically to UCSB CE students are constantly filling my inbox. These opportunities come from all sorts of industries and from companies of various sizes. The beauty of this phenomenon is that the larger companies often have campuses and dorms dedicates to summer internships while the smaller ones that do not enjoy such campuses are often in town and within biking distance of UCSB. For students with ambitions of entrepreneurship and business, the Technology Management Program (a certificate program offered alongside various majors at UCSB) pairs engineers with the business know-how they'll need later in life.

The Curriculum:

• What are the benefits of a program that is a cross between Computer Science and Electrical Engineering: Computer Engineering gives students who are unsure about which side of the hardware/software spectrum they'd like to work with the option to learn about both, and then chose to focus more on either side. In addition it allows students to see the big picture that is hardware, software, and how they interact.
• What have you learned that has surprised you so far?: the multiple levels of arbitration in programming languages and the tradeoffs along the way baffle me.
• Are there any specific classes that you are looking forward to and why?: I am very excited for my operating systems class next quarter because I feel it is the final piece of the puzzle to fully understanding computers.
• What was your most challenging but rewarding course?: Object oriented design in C++. The class is essentially oriented towards some of the most difficult concepts of programming, such as inheritance. It opened me up to a whole new way of looking at computer programming and how it related to memory and hardware. As with most subjects, I familiarized myself with the concepts by studying the material outside of class and asking question during lecture.
• What area do you want to specialize?: I have chosen to lean towards the software side of the spectrum and specialize in imaging, programming languages, and hardware/software interface. I feel that software opens up the doors to many more entrepreneurial opportunities than hardware does. Fortunately, much of the imaging industry has offices located in Goleta and Santa Barbara, so I've also been able to find internships and job opportunities with ease.

The Future:

What are your plans after graduation?: I am planning on perusing a Masters Degree in Computer Science through the UCSB Five Year BS/MS Program. The accelerated program allows students to take graduate courses in their last year as an undergraduate and one additional year after that. I've chosen Computer Science because it better fits my specialization and entrepreneurial ambitions. After graduation I plan on working in industry to support myself while I work on one of my business ideas. My end goal is to start my own company and put myself in a financial position to pursue my philanthropy.

Jhon's Off-campus Life:

• What is the social scene like for CE students?: The social scene on campus is very academically oriented and professional. It is a great place to network, share ideas, and get feedback. Often times study sessions form in the dorms because many freshmen are in the same classes. In Isla Vista and off-campus, the social life is whatever you make of it. Isla Vista is home to a variety of opportunities and a rich student life. Between the beach, parks, and cafes, there's something for everyone.
• Describe your housing situation: As a freshman, I greatly enjoyed my stay at the ocean front Manzanita dorms on campus. Manzanita is unique in that the dorms are broken to 50-person houses, each with its own lobby and facilities. The surrounding landscape is beautiful and can make for a great weekend adventure. My second year I chose to live on Pardall, the downtown of Isla Vista. This year I have chose to live further from campus and deeper in Isla Vista. I enjoy the variety that life has to offer, and I would highly suggest taking advantage of the different living environments throughout Isla Vista and campus.
• Have you done an internship?: I am currently interning for FLIR (forward-looking infrared) as a logic validation intern. I use the company's standard programming language to validate the functionality of camera modules through tests. I heard about the opportunity through an email from one of my professors.

Bronwyn Perry-Huston, Freshman Computer Engineering Major

About Bronwyn:

• Hometown: La Crescenta, CA
• Hobbies: soccer, listening to music, hanging out with friends
• Extra curricular activities you plan on participating in at UCSB: intramural soccer, volunteering
• Something Unique about Bronwyn: I have a huge collection of all of my old concert tickets!

Bronwyn's Favorites:

• Book: Slaughterhouse Five
• TV Show: Lost
• Sport: Soccer
• Geeky Possession: Collection of Lord of the Rings (LOTR) Extended Edition DVDs and the old versions of the LOTR books

Bronwyn was asked to profile her high school preparation and summer internship prior to her entry of her freshman year at UCSB

Favorite Things About:

• UCSB: the AMAZING location and the attitudes of the students
• Santa Barbara: the atmosphere

Why Computer Engineering / UCSB?:

• Why Computer Engineering? It’s a great mix between two disciplines and to learn about both hardware and programming
• Why did you select UCSB for college? Lots of opportunities to get involved in research and a great program

High School Experience in Relation to Engineering Studies:

• What prepared you the most for studying engineering in college? I took an AP Computer Science class that really helped to teach me the basics but I was prepared the most by using what I learned in my other classes (projects, etc)
• Bronwyn's high school mentor: my Advanced Placement Computer Science teacher, Dr. Neat — he was always really supportive and willing to help with any hard decisions or problems
• Favorite class in high school: a tie between Computer Science, Econ and Chemistry
• High school organizations: French Club, CSF, Make a Wish Club

College Decision:

• What was your college search like? I always had a certain set of schools that I was interested in, and when it came time to start my search I already knew where I wanted to go. My top choices were confirmed when I visited them, and I ended up applying to the schools that I thought I would really enjoy. My search was really simple because where I wanted to go fit perfectly with where I could get in, so everything went well.
• Did your parents have any influence in your college decision? My parents did not have a huge influence on my decision because they liked all of the schools I was deciding between and decided it should be my choice where I went.
• Other places you were accepted: NYU, Boston University, Cal Poly SLO, UCI, UCSC

Summer Internship at UCSB:

• Tell us about your internship with Professor Ben Zhao's CURRENT: Secure and Reliable Networking Lab: I got the internship by talking to Professor Zhao about his research and told him how I really wanted to get involved in undergraduate research. Over the summer I learned the basics about his research group, what they were working on, read papers and learned the tools and techniques used in the lab. I focused on the lab's research pertaining to network security and privacy in online social networks.
• What's it like doing research? It was really interesting getting exposed to what the work that they were doing. I also love the fact that research is all about doing new and interesting work and coming up with fresh ideas. Getting to be in the lab definitely helped me to confirm that this was what I wanted to study/ work on for the next for years.
• Experience working with graduate students in Ben's group?: It was a fantastic experience to see how the group worked together and shared their ideas. It was great to be involved in an environment where everyone was working on and coming up with new ideas all the time
• How do you think your being on-campus this summer was beneficial?: This summer was really beneficial in confirming my choice of major and school, it really showed me that UCSB is the best place for me..

The Future:

What are your plans after graduation?: I am extremely interested in medicine, so I am planning to go to medical school after I graduate.

Advice to Students / Parents about UCSB and CE:

• What to look for when applying and visiting colleges: You should look for a school where you would feel comfortable and be in a great program for your major. When visiting, you should make sure that the atmosphere and the people fit with your personality
• About UCSB and CE: Ignore the party school reputation and focus on the great atmosphere, location, opportunities, and College of Engineering programs.

Bronywn's Off-campus Life:

• Housing situation: I subleted an apartment in IV over the summer but will be in Santa Catalina South Tower during the year.
• How do you get around campus / Santa Barbara: I plan on getting around the campus on my bike and around Santa Barbara with the bus.
• Do you plan on working while in college? I am hoping that I can keep working on research for as long as I can.
• What's life like being on your own? It is really exciting and awesome to finally be independent!

Luis Rocha, Junior Computer Engineering Major

About Luis:

• Hometown: Coachella, CA
• Favorite Class: Intro to Robotics: Robot Control (ECE 181C)
• Organizations: Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and Los Ingenieros
• Hobbies: YouTube, Wikipedia, music, video games, soccer
• Something Unique About Luis: I have two older brothers who are also Computer Engineers

Luis' Favorites:

• Band / Performer: Tiesto
• TV Show: The Simpsons
• Sport: Tennis
• Activity: Surfing the web
• Geeky Possession: Laptop with more than two operating systems

Favorite Things About:

• UCSB: awesome people, everyone is friendly
• CE Program: ability to take classes in the subjects I'm interested in
• Santa Barbara: weather and location, not too far and not too close to home

Why CE / UCSB?:

• Why Computer Engineering?: My life has always revolved around computers. I have always wondered how they work and how they are able to do so many things. Every computer has a hardware and software component and Computer Engineering is the mixture of these two.
• Why UCSB?: I wanted to come to a research institution and I really liked the UCSB campus when I first came to visit. After looking into the CE program, I was determined to come here. The program offered classes that I wanted to take and was a very friendly environment.

The Curriculum:

• List the benefits of a program that is a cross between Computer Science and Electrical Engineering: We get to learn the basics of both CS and EE, and can bridge these two fields together. And if we like one field more than the other, we can choose to focus in that field.
• What have you learned that has surprised you so far?: How the transistor is has shaped our modern lives since it is used in nearly every electronic device.
• What was your most challenging but rewarding course?: ECE 181C, Robotics Control. I took this class during the summer and spent most of my time playing with LEGOs and building autonomous robots out of them. It was challenging because this class was interdisciplinary, we had to design the mechanical, electrical, and software components and make them all work together.
• What area do you want to specialize?: I want to specialize in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. I like building something then watching it move around and do things.

The Future:

What are your plans after graduation?: I hope to go into industry to gain some experience and work in the robotics field designing algorithms. After a few years, I'd like to go to graduate school to get an advanced degree in Computer Science with my final goal being to return to industry.

Advice to students/parents about UCSB and CE:

• Students: Learn how to manage your time well, there are lots of things going on and good time management is essential.
• Parents: Engineering is challenging, but if you are supportive your son/daughter can excel in this field.

Luis' Off-campus Life:

• What is the social scene like for CE students? It's good, I like to go out with friends and have fun, play games, or just relax.
• Describe your housing situation: I live in the dorms. They're really nice and are on-campus.