Outstanding Senior Spotlight: Nicolas Almeida

For Nicolas Almeida, who will graduate from the University of California, Davis, with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological systems engineering, the path to engineering started early at his home in Corona, California.  

"My dad worked in construction and my mom was a math teacher," he said. "The exposure to the design and development of buildings alongside the mathematical theory sparked an interest in pursuing what felt like the perfect combination of the two — engineering."  

Almeida was further fueled in high school when he encountered UC Davis Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Bryan Jenkins.  

Jenkins provided feedback on a research project Almeida was working on and offered him a position as an undergraduate research assistant starting the fall quarter of Almeida's first year.  

"Prof. Jenkins's consistent mentorship and encouragement during the earlier stages of my time at UC Davis set the trajectory for the interests and goals I have now," Almeida said.  

Almeida's goals have been further refined by experiences outside of UC Davis, like working with the university's chapter of Engineers Without Borders. His experience on that team inspired him to apply his engineering skills to improve the lives of others.  

Another impactful experience was working with the Biodiversity Research Institute, or IPBio, a nonprofit organization that creates and offers projects in environmental education and scientific research in Brazilian nature reserves. Almeida's job was to collect data for various projects from an area in the Brazilian rainforest known for its high concentration of bioluminescent mushrooms.  

"I learned data capture, logging and analysis techniques that I still use today," Almeida said. "The experience encouraged growth in working effectively in team environments. I found it particularly rewarding."  

After graduation, Almeida will join Procter & Gamble as a manufacturing engineer. Refining his career goal, he said, took time and exposure to different things.

He encourages future engineers to stay curious and flexible when it comes to their own future.  

"On many occasions I incorrectly assumed what things I would or would not find appealing to pursue as a future career goal," he said. "I would have told my first-year self to approach future goals with an open mind."