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

Today’s guest is Lucia Scotti. Lucia is a senior getting her dual degree in civil engineering and Italian and has spent her time at UConn trying it all. She’s the Vice President of the Society of Women Engineers, a researcher in the Crumbling Concrete Lab, and a longtime leader at the UConn Lodewick Visitor Center. She’s had internships in construction management and structural engineering and recently studied abroad in Italy for a semester. Today, we’ll dive into how her positive attitude has shaped her UConn experiences and how they will continue to inform her career.

Today’s guest is someone who thrives on turning the impossible into possible. Meet Krish Bhuva, a junior at UConn whose journey has been defined by reimagining limits—whether in the lab or in the workshop.

On one side, Krish is pushing the boundaries of materials science, working in Dr. Dupuy’s lab to engineer ceramics that behave more like metals. Imagine ceramics—normally brittle and breakable—suddenly becoming ductile, opening doors to safer airplanes, tougher electronics, and technologies we haven’t even dreamed of yet.

On the other side, he’s leading the Underwater Robotics Club, where he’s transformed a group of students into a startup-style engineering team. From building a modular, 3D-printed ROV to instilling a culture of accountability and mentorship, Krish is proving that leadership is just as critical as innovation.

He’s not content to just solve equations in the corner—Krish wants to lead teams, build organizations, and take on challenges bigger than any one person. Today, we’ll dive into his journey of curiosity, persistence, and what it means to chase the impossible.

Welcome to the first full episode of 10 Questions!

Today’s guest is the definition of a powerhouse student. Adeline Smith is a Senior biomedical engineering major at UConn who has turned her college years into a masterclass in passion and impact. She’s the president of the Society of Women Engineers, a researcher in two labs, a teaching assistant, and even a student ambassador for MATLAB. On top of that, she’s completed multiple internships with medical device giants like Medtronic and Boston Scientific—working on everything from robotic surgery instruments to groundbreaking urology devices. Whether she’s leading outreach for the Navy STEM Crew, volunteering through Honors Across State Borders, or competing on the Club Tennis team, Adeline has made the most of every opportunity at UConn. Today, we’ll dive into what fuels her drive, how she manages to balance it all, and the lessons she’s carrying forward into her career and life.

Hey everyone - get ready to hear what is going on in UConn Engineering from the mouths of our students!

If you're curious about what our students are working on inside and outside of the classroom, then give a listen and get inspired.

Our first full-length episode will drop once the semester gets rolling, so subscribe now so you won't miss a beat.