Being hands-on at The Diamond

Experimenting with exciting software, learning about how an engineering firm functions was enriching

My fascination for electronics began when I was in class XI. A brief module unfolding the fabrication of a basic semiconductor excited me to gather more knowledge on this subject. For a student so deeply invested in the world of thriller fiction, something other than Dan Brown piquing my interest led me to believe that electronic engineering was my calling.

Acknowledging the fact that the university solely invested £81 million pounds on the development of The Diamond, the infrastructure housing 19 laboratories equipped with the latest technology to cater to aspiring engineers, cemented my decision to pursue B.Eng in Electronic and Communications (ECE) at The University of Sheffield.

Practice

The curriculum comprises generic modules such as the study of electronic devices and circuits, signal processing, engineering mathematics with a taste of project management, finance and law. But what sets us apart as students of the university is the extensive practical experience that we gather. From programming a variety of microcontrollers, working on software such as MATLAB and NI Labview, to building my own simple microprocessor, I have had the most diverse hands-on experience with up-to-date technology. As a part of my degree, I was involved in a week-long challenge known as ‘Engineering You’re Hired!’ where I worked in a four-member team to create a ‘Juvenile Diabetes monitoring system’. From being involved in the research and development to planning capital acquisition to fund the idea, we I did everything what a real engineer would be subjected to. One of the key features of studying ECE at Sheffield is the Sheffield Industrial Project Scheme(SHIPS) where we are taken on company visits and introduced to industrially inspired engineering problems. We then work in a group for eight weeks to find a realistic solution to the problem and present it to the company officials like one would do in a real board meeting.

These experiences gave me a taste of how an engineering firm functions and further strengthened my scope of beginning a startup in the future. The university also provides entrepreneurial support through the University of Sheffield Enterprise(USE) to students who are genuinely interested in launching a startup. USE provides workshops, skill development sessions, business planning and a safe environment for idea trial and failure.

To give my research aspirations a shot, I was funded by the Sheffield Undergraduate Research Scheme(SURE) over this summer. I experimented with batteries to create an energy cycling equipment. The opportunity evoked a new sense of confidence and belief in my engineering skills as this was the first project I had worked on independently. I now know how Tony Stark must have felt every time he made something new.

I also play the role of a student ambassador for an organisation known as Code First: Girls at the University of Sheffield. The organisation functions all over the U.K. and teaches female university students computer programming for free. I am also an active volunteer with Engineers Without Borders(EWB)and Women in Engineering(WiE) society where we play the role of motivating aspiring women to be a part of the STEM evolution.

a turning point in my life. I have developed academically and matured with a vision to bring about change in the world.

Lakshika Juneja is pursuing her B.Eng in Electronic and Communications (ECE) at University of Sheffield, the U.K.