Alumni Profiles – Engineering

Josh Keys, BSc in Electrical Engineering, 2006

In my last few years of high school I began to wonder what direction I would head after graduating. I knew I wanted to obtain a degree, but was unsure of what field to pursue. I had always had a hunger for knowledge and the understanding of how things work, which seemed to point me in so many different directions – from medicine to physics. Picking just one area proved to be a difficult task. Then one day I told the wife of an engineer I knew that I would love to just continue on in school and learn everything there was to know about how the world works. She said to me: “You are an engineer”.

I took her observation to heart. During my last semester of high school, I chose to do a civil engineering co-op placement at NBTEL. I learned from this experience that civil engineering was not for me. However, during that work term I got to spend a little time exploring the electrical side of the company, which I liked very much. This experience, coupled with a general interest in how electrical and electronic devices worked, pointed me towards the electrical specialty in engineering.

The decision of UNB for me was simple as it was only 10 minutes from my home. I intended to live at home until I graduated, to avoid any student debt. I was able to stay at home during the year and use the summers to work full time to pay for my schooling.

My job as a Rehabilitation Engineer at the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation allows me to do what I love most – solve problems and create novel designs and see them through to the end. I can take a real world problem for a person with a disability, and integrate an electrical design of my own that will help them accomplish their goals. It is rewarding not only for the patient, but also for myself. Every patient and every project brings a new problem and as the years go on and my expertise grows, so does the complexity and usefulness of the solution.

I would like to think that most engineers agree that one of the primary goals of a degree in engineering is to teach problem solving and lateral thinking. A lot of what you learn you may never use, but it is how you learned it, how your way of thinking and approaching problems evolved over the years of your study, that you will take with you wherever you go. Every day I apply this type of thinking to the designs I create.

Take your time and make sure that what you think you want to do reflects your interests and hobbies. Talk to others about what you like. Take any opportunity (co-op programs, volunteering, etc.) to try out areas that interest you. The best career is one you love – not just for the money, but because you love it.

Justine Clark, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, 2009

When I was in high school I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. I explored a lot of different areas, and realized that the challenge of engineering was where I wanted to focus. Growing up, I always like helping my dad with construction projects around the house, and was always interested in how things were designed. I also really enjoyed math and physics and decided that engineering was a good fit for me.

Choosing UNB was an easy decision. The engineering department had a really good reputation, both locally and nationally. I also really liked the fact that UNB was a smaller university and class sizes wouldn’t be huge. Fredericton as a city appealed to me, it had that small town feel similar to my own hometown.

I started my engineering degree in geodesy and geomatics engineering. After my first semester I quickly realized that civil engineering was where I wanted to specialize. The classes appealed to me, and I was more interested in the types of jobs that were available with civil engineering.

I enjoy my job because it challenges me and I get to be a part of something that benefits the community. I can look at a finished project and feel proud that I was able to be a part of it. I still get to learn every day.

My education has helped me immensely in my job. My degree taught me all the book skills needed to do my job, and has provided me with the social and communication skills necessary in the workforce and for working in teams.

I didn’t take advantage of the engineering co-op program because I wanted to finish my degree in four years. I thought that the work terms would get in the way of this. If I were to do it all over again, I think I would enter into the co-op program. It would be very beneficial because you gain real work experience, and you can explore the different types of jobs within your field of study before you graduate.

Jennifer McPhail – Bachelor of Science, 2004; Master of Engineering, 2006

When I was in high school, I knew I had an interest in science and math, but thought that medicine would be the career for me. I entered UNB and enrolled in the B.Sc. program with plans to eventually apply for medical school. Part way through my B.Sc., I became interested in engineering. Among other reasons, this was a result of my involvement with Worlds UNBound, a science and engineering program at UNB. I became more aware of the various disciplines of engineering, and the opportunities available. I was finishing my undergrad in biology-chemistry, and was most interested in chemical engineering and environmental engineering. There was a fairly new Master of Engineering in Environmental Studies program that was offered through the chemical engineering department. I decided this was just what I was looking for.

I had always envisioned myself attending university at UNB. I grew up in Oromocto, which is just outside of Fredericton. Once I was close to graduating from high school, a more practical consideration became apparent – if I went to UNB, I could live at home for a few years, and save thousands of dollars. Having such a nationally recognized university so close to home was a great opportunity.

I now work for a consulting company, and I specialize in environmental management, primarily environmental assessments. Alongside a large team of other professionals, I work mostly with industrial clients to ensure they are compliant with a variety of environmental legislation and regulations, including the federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and the New Brunswick Clean Environment Act – Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. Environmental assessments can be large, multifaceted undertakings, and often involve professionals with a wide variety of specializations. I routinely have the opportunity to work side by side with air quality experts, toxicologists, biologists, marine scientists, socio-economists, archaeologists, and design and process engineers.

Day to day, I work on a huge variety of things – some days I meet with clients to discuss projects, some days I participate in public events to consult with community members regarding a particular project, some days I work with colleagues to write reports, some days I meet with design engineers to discuss the plans for a new project, and some days I work in the field collecting samples or performing surveys. I really like the variety in my job, and the opportunity to work with a wide assortment of technical experts.

My education has given me the basis to understand both a wide range of industrial processes and the environments with which they interact. With my job, I am constantly learning, but the educational basis I received at UNB has given me a huge advantage.

My advice to students is to stay busy and get involved. Participate in as many networking events and volunteering opportunities as possible. Meet as many people as possible. Be curious and ask questions. You never know who will be that important contact that may expose you to a fantastic opportunity.

Sara Mudge, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, 2004

Cutline for photo:
Residential Energy Advisor, Efficiency NB, Saint John, NB

I enjoyed science and math and was encouraged by my teachers in high school to consider engineering for my post-secondary education. I did some research as to the type of career options available with a BScE and realized there was a whole world of opportunity: research, education, management, design, technical policy development, and consulting were but a few options. I then took a co-operative education placement in the engineering department at a local business. I enjoyed the intellectual challenge that engineering offered and decided to enroll in the program.

I am just geeky enough to believe that “Physics is Fun”. Mechanical and Electrical engineering were the two options that seemed the most physics and math oriented. At the time, there were many career options available for either of these disciplines. This was a major influence on my choice of faculty.

I had looked at the courses and programs offered at several universities and applied to a few different institutions. Trying to narrow down my options, I attended a post-secondary education fair at my high school and was very impressed by what UNB had to offer. The staff attending was very friendly and willing to answer all of my questions. The warm invitation, combined with scholarship offers, were what finally enticed me to choose UNB.



My experience and education as an engineer is used on a daily basis, in many different capacities, such as:

• Providing advice to homeowners on energy efficient products
• Working with contractors to understand the energy efficiency industry, its technologies and best practices
• Researching new and emerging technologies
• Reviewing government policies and suggesting improvements as technologies and the building science industry advance

UNB engineering gave me a sound foundation in a variety of applied and theoretical areas used in the Energy Efficiency industry.

At the end of each day, I have the satisfaction of knowing that my contributions have helped New Brunswickers use energy more efficiently, make better energy choices, manage energy expenses and lessen the impact of energy use on the environment

My advice to engineering students is to gain as much experience as possible. Whether it’s sitting on a committee, working as a peer tutor, or finding out more about your personality and preferred job styles, take advantage of every opportunity to learn more about yourself and grow your skills. View mistakes as an opportunity to learn. Science is about trial and error; engineering is an applied science and therefore the more you learn about what went wrong the better you will be at ensuring things go right the next time! And contrary to popular belief, the engineering profession DOES require people skills. So invest time in communicating and dealing with others.