I have had professors take large amounts of their time to help me work out my career goals and gain new experiences on campus.
Thomas Dymowski is an undergraduate student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, graduating in May of 2025. We asked him some questions about his experience at UMD. These were his responses.
Where are you from, and what are some aspects of your background that you would like to share?
“I am from Elkton, MD. My hobbies include playing guitar, playing baseball and soccer, and woodworking.”
As an undergraduate student of the department, how would you describe your academic experience studying Materials Science and Engineering?
“I would describe my experience in the Materials Science and Engineering Department as very personal. With the small size of the department, I am able to easily obtain 1 on 1 help from my professors. My professors know who I am as a student and as a person and this allows me to feel more comfortable in my learning environment. Not only am I able to talk with my professors about my courses, but I am able to discuss my professional development. I have had professors take large amounts of their time to help me work out my career goals and gain new experiences on campus.”
Are you involved with any student-led organizations pertaining to engineering or MSE? If so, what is your role? How has this organization benefited your professional development?
“I have been a member of Engineers Without Borders for 3 years and currently serve as the president of the UMD chapter of EWB. This organization has allowed me to work with very different engineering disciplines and learn how MSE fits into the larger picture of engineering.”
Tell us about your experience with Engineers Without Borders.
“I joined Engineers Without Borders (EWB) as a Sophomore to gain knowledge about sustainable materials and use my skills to help communities around the world. What I found after joining EWB was a massively welcoming community of engineering students. EWB was set up to further my engineering knowledge about solar paneling, water filtration, sanitation, concrete work, structures, and so much more.
I enjoyed the engineering aspect, but I enjoyed the organization itself more. I decided to get more involved at a higher level and served as the events chair of the organization. My goal in this position was to further the community amongst the members of EWB. I planned a wide range of events including professional development events with employers, social events for our members to engage on a personal level with each other, and our end of year banquet to recognize the great work that we do.
Currently, I serve as the president of EWB UMD. My job now is to further the reach of our organization on campus and around the world. I have helped us to open a new project in Guatemala, through which I had the opportunity to travel to the community and complete an assessment trip. This was a very rewarding experience for me. I had been a member of the organization for 3 years before I was able to travel. I spent large amounts of my time working with these communities and always helping without leaving campus. This opportunity allowed me to see the actual people who EWB is actually helping and it reminded me that the work that we do is meaningful.
All I can say is that EWB is such an amazing organization that is truly selfless. They are set up to train and educate students while also providing essential engineering work for people who need it. I am really proud to represent this organization and it has helped me to become a better engineer.”
As an undergraduate student, have you completed any internships, or any student competitions on-campus that you would like to talk about?
“I currently work in the Rubloff Nanocenter as an Undergraduate research assistant. I help with characterization and modeling of experimental small scale nanoscale devices. We use the principles of micro processing to study many things. The specific research that I assist with works on the fabrication of neurocomputing hardware.”
How did you narrow your interest to Materials Science and Engineering?
“I narrowed my interest to MSE when I was in high school. I knew I wanted to do some form of engineering, but I narrowed it to MSE when I completed my STEM Capstone project. I studied the layup process of composite plywood and tried to increase the flexure strength. I had so much fun making and experimenting with composites that I wanted to learn more about MSE. When I attended an engineering open house at UMD I knew that MSE was exactly what I wanted to do. One of the professors showed me a fun trick with Lenz law and I knew that I wanted to learn more.”
What courses have helped shape your interests within Materials Science and Engineering? Specifically, which class would you recommend freshman students to take?
“Professor Rubloff's class on Micro Processing of Materials (ENMA465) really struck my interest. I wanted more so I am taking his advanced Manufacturing class (ENMA466). I would recommend this class to Freshman students. This is a course where it is kind of self run and you can control what kind of learning experience you have.”
Following your undergraduate studies at UMD, what will be your next step?
“I plan on going into the field of process engineering. I want to take what I know about microprocessing, metals, polymer, and composites and move into the manufacturing field where I can make these materials.”
Lastly, what advice would you give to incoming undergraduate students in Materials Science and Engineering?
“My advice would be to get involved. It took me about a year to really get involved in Engineering and my time at UMD has been so beneficial. When you get involved in classes and organizations, you meet people. Sorry, other engineers. They help you to become a better engineer, especially the upperclassmen who have gone through a lot of the same experiences that you may find yourself struggling with.”
Follow Thomas and EWB on Social Media!
Instagram: @thomasdymowski_
EWB Instagram: @ewb.umd
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