10 Questions with Dean Burkey

Welcome to the October episode of 10 Questions! My guest this month is Gia Patel.

Gia is a senior Chemical Engineering major at UConn, minoring in Materials Science & Engineering as well as Manufacturing. Throughout her time at UConn, she has explored a wide range of engineering disciplines through undergraduate research, industry internships, and leadership opportunities.

Her professional experiences include working at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Pratt & Whitney, where she got to experience quality engineering, process improvements, and automation.

Outside of industry, Gia conducts undergraduate research in Professor Willis's lab, focusing on atomic layer deposition and the development of nanoscale structures. Her research interests have allowed her to explore the intersection of chemical engineering, materials science, and semiconductor technology.

Apart from all her engineering skills, Gia also has a passion for providing opportunities for students and interacting with other engineers. Through her role with the College of Engineering's Experiential Education office, she helped establish UConn's inaugural Order of the Engineer ceremony, recognizing the ethical responsibilities and professional commitments of graduating engineers.

Welcome back to Season 2 of 10 Questions! We're kicking off Season 2 with a quick episode featuring one of our brand new incoming students!

Austin Balch is a freshman in Computer Science major at UConn with a concentration in Cybersecurity, hoping to build all his skills needed to be able to join the field. He is a cancer survivor who survived Ependymoma, a rare type of cancer that develops in the brain or spinal cord from the ependymal cells. He hopes to join many clubs and do many internships during his time at UConn. He’s really into community service working on many projects like Wreaths Across America, Food Drives, Blood Drive, plus many more projects during his high school years and hopes to continue at UConn. He’s currently involved with STEM PLUS and can’t wait to see what that has to offer.

Welcome to another alumni episode of 10 Questions! for July 2026!

Adrian Weidmann is a property risk engineer and insurance executive whose career bridges high-hazard industry, catastrophe risk, and engineering education. Trained in chemical engineering at UConn ('02), she has spent more than two decades evaluating some of the most complex facilities in the country: from semiconductor fabs and steel foundries to pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical plants, high-rise towers, and nearly every ski resort in the Northeast! She excels at translating engineering realities into the decisions that protect billions of dollars in property. Adrian's career includes more than a decade teaching first-year engineering courses at UConn Hartford and membership in UConn's Academy of Distinguished Engineers. She has developed and delivered nearly 30 technical training seminars to various national organizations, on everything from construction evaluation and natural catastrophe hazards to occupancy-specific risks and emerging technology like 3D printed construction. She maintains memberships in APIW - Association of Professional Insurance Women, NFPA, and AIChE (an AIChE member since 1998), while devoting her volunteer energy to mentoring the next generation of engineers. Today, as AVP of Property Risk Engineering at Crum & Forster, she is building a Property Risk Engineering function from the ground up with her colleague, Steve Fomchenko, driven by the belief that every engineering assessment is a prediction about a loss that hasn't happened yet, and that the best engineers make even heavily technical information digestible.

Thanks for joining us this past year as we've explored so many Husky stories, past and present - we're taking a brief break for August, but will be back in September with a new academic year and a whole new group of Huskies to welcome to the pack!

Welcome to our special alumni episode of 10 Questions! for June 2026!

Salay Quaranta is a materials scientist and global manufacturing executive whose career bridges advanced lasers, capital equipment, and high‑performance industrial systems. Trained in materials behavior, microstructure, and process innovation, she has guided engineering, product, and commercial teams across aerospace, medical and dental, additive manufacturing, and precision machining industries. Salay’s career includes mentoring emerging engineers, contributing to peer‑reviewed research, and shaping industry dialogue through technical leadership and speaking engagements. Her work has taken her from UConn’s research labs to international institutes—including collaborations in Germany and across the U.S.—where she has focused on translating processes into scalable, manufacturable solutions. Today, as founder of Q Business Solutions, she advises companies on technology adoption, market strategy, and organizational transformation, driven by the belief that materials, manufacturing, and people are the backbone of progress. 

Welcome to the May episode of 10 Questions! My guest this month is Wyeth Haddock, a senior Materials Science and Engineering student with an interest in material structure and behavior. Wyeth has filled many roles throughout his undergraduate journey. In the classroom, he has mentored students as a teaching assistant in the classroom and lab for the past four semesters. Outside of the classroom, he serves as a Student Representative on the ASM International Board of Trustees, is the president of the Club Running team, and serves as a campus tour guide at the Lodewick Visitors Center.

His research focuses on the connection between structure and properties in advanced alloy systems. Through his University Scholar project at UConn and NSF REU at UC Berkeley and the National Center for Electron Microscopy, Wyeth has studied how atomic arrangement influences the way materials behave. These experiences shaped his interest in making materials science easier to understand, leading him to co-author "Materials Matter", an introductory book designed to bring materials science to a broader audience. Through research, teaching, outreach, and conference presentations (including a win at the Big East Research Symposium), Wyeth has built his undergraduate career around the core idea: materials do in fact matter.

Nichole is a senior Computer Science major at UConn with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence, where she has built a strong foundation in both technical and analytical problem-solving. She’s a co-founder of ColorStack at UConn, where she works to create a supportive community for underrepresented students in tech and create opportunities for growth, mentorship, and career advancement. She’s completed two internships at Bank of America during her sophomore and junior years, and has now secured a full-time role with the company after graduation. Through these experiences, She has strengthened her skills in software engineering, collaboration, and real-world problem solving skills. Outside of academics, she is also involved in campus leadership and community organizations. As a proud member of STEM Plus, VII, BAILE, SHPE, and BOSS LADI, she actively contributes to empowering students in STEM and diversity.

March's 10 Questions is now live! This month, I sit down with Brendan Barnett.

Brendan is a 3+1 BSE/MS student in Computer Science and Engineering with a minor in math and a concentration in algorithms. Starting in fast food, he's built his way to internships at Microsoft, Palantir, Pratt & Whitney, Bentley Systems, and ReferWell. After graduation, he'll be joining SpaceX to work on Starship design software. He loves to snowboard, rock climb, and read.

Brendan founded Husky Quantitative Group after noticing that UConn sits by Fairfield, the unofficial hedge fund capital of the world, yet lacks pathways into quant finance. Since January 2025, HQG has helped students gain the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to land amazing jobs in finance and tech, growing into a community of some of the most technical and ambitious students on campus.

Sponsored by Carbon Arc and Databento, HQG aims to grow into the largest student-run systematic fund in the US by AUM. Members have earned roles at JPMorganChase, Capital One, IBM Quantum, Epic Systems, and more.

Today, we talk about overcoming the fear of failing publicly, building team culture, rules for avoiding burnout, why he disagrees with "follow your passion," and what he'd tell his freshman self.

Connect with Brendan here: linkedin.com/in/brendanabarnett

HQG Info

Website: uconnquant.com

Email: [email protected]

Codebase: github.com/husky-Quantitative-Group

Today's guest seeks to improve our medicine, both on Earth and in space. Max Landolina is a 4th year PhD Candidate in the Biomedical Engineering Department and a T32 Doctoral Fellow in the Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering. His research searches for the answer to stiff, damaged, and achy joints: a reliable way to regrow them. 

Using a novel nanomaterial scaffold, he has stimulated stem cells to rebuild damaged cartilage tissue. However, assembling these materials on Earth prevents them from reaching their fullest therapeutic potential. As a result, through an interdisciplinary collaboration with NASA, he has led his lab's efforts to manufacture this nanomaterial three times on the ISS (International Space Station). While glamorous, this research experience has been far from smooth sailing. Through scrubbed launch dates, sample leaks, and rigorous safety testing, he's steered the team to success (and a recent publication!).

Today, we'll launch ourselves into the world of space research, discover its unique challenges, and learn about Max's experience working with several big players in the space industry. Connect with Max on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey or reach out with questions about his experience!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwell-landolina/

Welcome to the New Year and a New Episode of 10 Questions! This month, we welcome MDE Junior Molly Deptula.

Molly is a third-year student in Multidisciplinary Engineering, concentrated in Entertainment Engineering and minoring in Electronics and Systems. Entertainment engineering, a collaboration with the College of Engineering and the School of Fine Arts, combines her love of technical tinkering with her passion for performing arts. A lifelong storyteller with a love of learning, Molly has spent her college career exploring how to create mechanical magic.

In the summer of 2025, Molly interned with Cirque du Soleil at their Las Vegas resident show ‘O’, where she worked with industry professionals to expand her understanding of mechanics, hydraulics, controls/software, and electronics. In this episode, we discussed the time leading up to her internship, her move to Vegas, and her work with Cirque automation (a childhood dream come true).

In addition to her coursework, Molly works at the Krenicki Institute assisting arts and engineering students with project development. She’s also excited to return to her role as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for the first-year engineering course “ENGR 1166: Foundations of Engineering,” where she gets to work with engineering students of all majors (and get new students excited about entertainment engineering).

Welcome to the December episode of 10 Questions! My guest this month is Lakshita Ganesh Kumar.

Lakshita is a third-year dual-degree Computer Science Engineering and Statistics student at UConn and the founder of Stylistic, a fashion and self-confidence platform she designed, engineered, and launched entirely on her own. She’s grown Stylistic through hands-on user research, machine learning development, and a vibrant online community that reaches more than 50,000 people.

Outside of her startup, Lakshita has a wide range of experiences across tech and leadership. She interned at The Cigna Group, leading her intern team to 1st place, working on generative AI, full-stack development, and product strategy. She also conducts machine learning research at UConn, focusing on recommender systems and content discovery, and leads a senior design team working with Cigna on AI-powered insurance tools using model context protocol.

Lakshita is also deeply involved on campus. As a former Engineering Peer Advisor, a teaching assistant for programming courses, and an active member of organizations like Hillside Ventures, The Werth Institute, and the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, she has maxed out her opportunities on campus. Through all her work, she’s shown passion in technology, entrepreneurship, and empowering young women to build confidence in both their personal styles and voice.

Follow her journey on LinkedIn, Instagram, and the App Store, where you can download her app, Stylistic!

Download Stylistic: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stylistic/id6740540906

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakshita-ganesh-kumar

Stylistic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylistic_app

Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakshitaganeshkumar