Student Profile – Juliette Noyer

Juliette Noyer has always been inspired to go the extra mile—literally and figuratively. Originally from Chambéry, France, she moved stateside in 2019, chasing her dreams of studying biomedical engineering. Now in her first graduate year at San José State University, she is on a mission to make a meaningful impact in healthcare while honoring the values and legacy of her grandfather.

Juliette’s passion came from her grandfather, who was a lifelong sports enthusiast and her greatest supporter. In 2017, she lost her grandfather to cancer which solidified her desire to contribute to life-saving advancements. Her mom taught her to always dream big and embrace the world’s possibilities, and her father taught her that hard work and humility matter most. “Their values are with me every day, reminding me to approach healthcare and athletics with purpose,” she says.

She started triathlon and track at just 13 years old, and competed at a high level in France. Her athletic experience taught her that setbacks aren’t roadblocks, but growth opportunities. “Being an athlete has helped me embrace challenges as part of the journey,” she explains. “It’s shown me how to view obstacles as chances to learn, both in sports and in life.”

During her five years at the National Collegiate Athletics Association, she learned to balance the demanding training schedules and rigorous engineering coursework. “I’d set clear goals and communicate openly with my professors about my commitments,” she says. “While I had to make sacrifices, it instilled a discipline and a sense of purpose that have carried into my career and research.”

The most challenging time was during peak season when competition and exams often overlapped. It can be overwhelming, but Juliette’s support system of coaches, family, and teammates helped her through the most challenging times, especially her trainer Rachel who supported her mentally and physically. These challenges made her respect the importance of balance, recharging, and knowing her limits. Even with all these challenges, Juliette gains something more rewarding, a sense of community, being part of something bigger, and achieving goals on behalf of SJSU.

After officially retiring from collegiate athletics, her advancement in her field has only grown. With support from the Biomedical Engineering department and the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering, she has received the Future of Silicon Valley Scholarship, the Outstanding Senior Award, and the Undergraduate Research Award—achievements that propelled her work in cardiovascular and mitochondrial research. “The support from both my athletic and academic departments has been incredible, providing me with connections to mentors and leaders in my field.” she shares.

Juliette’s advice for young athletes is “Embrace every moment and don’t shy away from tough days—they’re what builds resilience. Sports teach you so much about who you are and what you can achieve.”

After graduation, she plans to start her Ph.D. journey to further her impact in biomedical engineering, with a specific focus on cardiovascular research, a field close to her heart.

Halloween History

The holiday’s origin is traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain over 2,000 years ago. The full holiday name was “All Hallows Even (or Eve)” which got shortened to “Hallowe’en” and now to what we know as “Halloween”.

The term “trick or treat” originated from a German-American Christmas tradition where children would dress up and let adults guess the identity of their costume.

Orange and black color tie to the holiday tie back to the Celtic festival of Samhain according to the Library of Congress. It marks the end of the harvest season represented in the color black and the beginning of the winter with the orange color.

A full moon on Halloween night only occurs every 18-19 years according to NASA, the last one was in 2020 and the next one will occur in 2039.

According to a 2023 WBIW radio station report 25% of adults pretend not to be at home during Halloween

The World’s Smallest Quantum Computer: A New Era in Quantum Computing with a Single High-Dimensional Photon – Prof Ahmed Banafa

Data processing has achieved a major leap with the development of the world’s smallest quantum computer using a single high-dimensional photon and time-bin encoding, which runs complex algorithms like Shor’s without needing extreme cooling. This breakthrough creates a compact, noise-resistant, and scalable system with the potential to revolutionize fields from cybersecurity—where quantum capabilities could upend current encryption—to artificial intelligence, drug discovery, and logistics optimization. As photon-based quantum systems become more feasible for real-world applications demands for new approaches in policy, security, and innovation rise. Read the full article now!

NASA Internship – Tyler Yuen

Meet Tyler Yuen, a junior at San José State University (SJSU) studying aerospace engineering who has a passion for pushing the boundaries of flight. Growing up, he had always been fascinated by the mechanics of aviation, sparked by watching airshows with his dad when he was a kid. Now, as president of the SJSU chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Tyler is eager to share his enthusiasm for aerospace with his peers.

His journey into aerospace launched further during his internship at NASA, where he studied Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Throughout his 10-week internship, alongside Dr. Benjamin Idini, he conducted research on Europa’s tidal heating—a process that may explain the moon’s ice shell movement and chaotic terrain. By creating simulations and developing mathematical models, they explored how oceanic and orbital parameters influence heat production, a key factor in Europa’s potential tectonic activity.

Tyler adapted existing code to Europa’s specific conditions, analyzed energy distribution across the moon, and ran simulations using the University of California, Santa Cruz’s (UCSC) supercomputing cluster. One challenge was adjusting Europa’s semimajor axis to reflect accurate orbital migration. Ultimately, Tyler presented his findings to NASA scientists and peers, gaining valuable insights into astrophysics and complex problem-solving.

When reflecting on his NASA experience, he highlights the importance of persistence and curiosity. “I didn’t know much about Europa or tidal heating when I started, but asking lots of questions and staying determined helped me understand the bigger picture,” he says. His internship also reinforced the value of teamwork, and he credits his mentor, co-workers, and the UCSC Lamat group for providing a supportive and enriching environment.

For students seeking similar opportunities, Tyler’s advice is to be proactive and get involved in professional school organizations. He discovered his NASA internship through an alumni post in the AIAA group and believes that networking, teamwork, and taking initiative are key to success. He also notes that students should start or join projects to help them stand out as applicants.

Tyler is eager to explore all areas of aerospace engineering after graduation, with no fixed path but a desire to learn as much as he can. His advice to future students is to find a healthy balance between work and personal life. “It’s easy to get caught up in school and work, leading to burnout that can hinder success. Maintaining strong relationships and prioritizing mental health are essential during this time,” he says.

Though he faced doubts in his first year at SJSU, Tyler has embraced every opportunity to step out of his comfort zone and find his place in the aerospace community. Tyler Yuen is a shining example of how passion, persistence, and teamwork can lead to incredible achievements.

We can’t wait to see where his journey takes him next!

Berkeley non-profit works to counter AI election disinformation featuring Prof. Ahmed Banafa

As AI-generated deepfakes infiltrate the 2024 election cycle, a Berkeley-based nonprofit, CivAI, is fighting back by educating the public on how easily these deceptive images can be mistaken for reality. With instances like a fake video of Vice President Kamala Harris and AI-created Swifties supporting Donald Trump going viral, CivAI co-founder Lucas Hansen warns of the emotional manipulation such content can cause. While regulations are in the works, they may not take effect in time to safeguard this election, leaving CivAI’s awareness campaign crucial in the battle against AI-driven misinformation.

Watch Professor Banafa’s full interview now!

September 12 facts

• 1992: NASA’s STS-47 launches carrying the first Black woman to fly in space, the first married couple to fly on the same space mission, and the first Japanese astronaut to fly aboard the shuttle
• 1958: Jack Kilby invented the first working integrated circuit at Texas Instruments
• 1959: Luna 2 was launched and later became the first spacecraft to contact another solar system body

Student Profile – Aburva Govindarajan

Aburva Govindarajan Sangeetha, a graduating senior majoring in Engineering Technology with a minor in Business Administration at San Jose State University (SJSU), embodies the spirit of perseverance and adaptability. She is originally from Suhar (would suggest getting more info about this region.  I don’t know where it is), a beautiful coastal city located in the Sultanate of Oman.

During her high school years, mathematics proved to be a challenging subject for her, leading her to major in Business. However, after her first year, she soon realized her technical inclination and transitioned to Engineering Technology with a concentration in Computer Network Systems Management, a decision that proved to be both challenging and rewarding.

When starting to take core engineering courses, she felt like an imposter due to her mathematics struggles, and being the only woman in most of her technical classes added to this feeling even more. Regardless, with the help of her friends, family, and professors she quickly overcame her struggles and improved her class performance.

Throughout her college career, she learned to embrace opportunities for growth and involvement within her school and community. As a Resident Advisor, she fosters a positive and inclusive living environment for her peers, while also serving as a Peer Academic Success Coach to support fellow students in their academic endeavors. These roles reflect her values from her upbringing, commitment to giving back, and making a meaningful impact on the lives of those around her.

Being one of the recipients of the SJSU Alumni Association Scholarship, funded by our very own alumni, has alleviated her financial stress. She’s gratefully acknowledged the opportunity and the contributions from past generations, which have inspired her to work harder and one day make a donation herself to the scholarship.

Her dream job is to become a Technical Product Manager at a top tech company, contributing her knowledge to bridge the gap between technology and users’ needs, ultimately aiming to improve people’s life quality and productivity using technologies in a fun and creative way.

Reflecting on her college experience, Aburva shares the advice she would give her freshman self: to explore widely, prioritize self-care, and seek help when needed. As higher academic knowledge is learned in college, we should also learn how to take care of ourselves to avoid burnout. Don’t be afraid to try new things and fail because college is a time to explore and learn, so don’t limit yourself just because it is called “Engineering School”.

Club Video Contest Announcement

Congratulations to our e-week contest winners:

• 1st place: What Makes TT Special to You?
• 2nd place: Formula SAE
• 3rd place: Project Albatross
• Runner up #1: NETs – About Us!!
• Runner up #2: We are SJSU’s ASME

Thank you, everyone, for participating in our contest. We hope to see all again and more submissions in the future.

Women’s History Month

Image courtesy of National Inventor Hall of Fame

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s only fitting that we take a moment to recognize the remarkable contributions of Edith Clarke, who is considered to be the first female electrical engineer in America. Born in Maryland in 1883, Edith overcame numerous obstacles to forge a path that not only broke barriers but also laid the foundation for future generations of women in STEM.

From a young age, Edith expressed interest in mathematics and astronomy, ultimately pursuing her passion at Vassar College, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Following her graduation in 1908, she entered the male-dominated world of engineering.

Despite facing adversity and discrimination, Edith persevered, teaching mathematics and physics before delving into civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her journey led her to AT&T, where she played a pivotal role as a “computer,” supporting engineers in the construction of the first transcontinental phone line.

However, it was during her time at General Electric (GE) that Edith truly made her mark on the industry. As a supervisor of computers in GE’s Turbine Engineering Department, she revolutionized the field with her invention of the Edith Calculator – a graphical tool that simplified complex calculations for electrical engineers working on transmission lines. Her groundbreaking work not only streamlined processes but also laid the groundwork for advancements in power grid technology, including the development of “smart grid” systems.

Shattering multiple norms, she became the first woman in the United States to be employed as an electrical engineer, the first woman to present a paper at the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE), and the first woman to be appointed as a full-time professor of electrical engineering.

As we reflect on Edith’s contribution this Women’s History Month, let us remember to foster an inclusive space for all aspiring engineers to feel valued, supported, and empowered to pursue their passions.

Approving Robotaxis – Prof Ahmed Banafa

Learn more about Professor Banafa’s stand on the California Public Utilities Commission approving Waymo’s expansion, despite initial concerns, allowing the company’s self-driving cars to operate in more cities in the Bay Area and parts of Los Angeles.