#GINNing Podcast

When you heard Auburn University had a 7T MRI scanner, did that pique your interest in being here on campus? Well, it sure did for Gopikrishna Deshpande, the Godbold Professor of electrical and computer engineering. During his time here in the United States doing graduate studies, he quickly developed an interest in sleep studies and the human brain. Auburn’s Neuroimaging Center is doing life-changing work with collaborations all over campus, and while most of us are counting sheep, he is collecting data that could help advance our understanding of sleep, health and human performance. Oh, and did we mention they even have an incredible nickname for the test subjects?

Col. Jim Voss graduated from Auburn in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, but he knew his less than 20/20 eyesight was for sure going to keep him from flying. Boy, was he wrong. Fifty-two years, three NASA shuttles, 550 orbits, half a year on the International Space Station and a nearly nine-hour spacewalk later, and this retired Army colonel and former astronaut is still inspiring generations of Auburn engineers. So, pull your straps tight and buckle up as we prepare to liftoff with The Astronaut.

Ellie Waibel, a junior in industrial and systems engineering, traded Ohio winters for Auburn sunshine and hasn’t looked back. She chose Auburn for its beautiful campus, warmer weather and the kind of happy people that make it hard to leave. When she’s not helping solve complex problems in the classroom or working as a student employee at Auburn’s Energy Management Department, she’s making a difference through Engineering Without Borders. Her team recently returned from Bolivia, where they helped bring cleaner water to communities through water purification projects. From optimizing systems to making an impact around the world, she is proof that engineering is about people just as much as it is about problem-solving.

Some students come to Auburn for athletic experiences and some come for engineering. But for mechanical engineering senior David Phillips, it turned out to be both. Hailing from Destin, Florida, David’s Auburn journey took flight after watching the eagle fly inside Jordan-Hare Stadium during Camp War Eagle. Today, he helps educate others about raptor conservation through his work with the Auburn Raptor Center while exploring the many possibilities within mechanical engineering, including underwater unmanned vehicles. If that’s not enough, he’s also interested in pursuing falconry after graduation. Apparently, David likes things that fly... and things that dive. So, let’s dive into this next episode!

Whether she’s borrowing her mom’s vintage Auburn swag or studying abroad, Salena Marino, a senior in civil and environmental engineering, knows a thing or two about building strong foundations, both in engineering and in leadership. She serves as a Cupola Student Ambassador, co-founded the Association of Women in Civil Engineering and even took her Auburn experience overseas while studying abroad in Italy. Now, she’s paving the way toward a career in project management, where we’re pretty sure no detail will fall through the cracks. From Auburn to Italy, and wherever her career takes her next, Salena is engineering a pretty exciting future. Let’s dig in!

Megan Green, a senior in Industrial and Systems Engineering, knows a thing or two about keeping systems running smoothly and staying plenty busy herself. As a Cupola Student Ambassador, she helps represent Auburn Engineering, and you may also recognize her as one of our hosts of our social media series Brown-Kopel Locals. Before coming to Auburn, she spent her summers reaching for the stars as a Space Camp counselor. From optimizing systems to navigating social media and outer space, her Auburn experience has covered a lot of ground, and maybe even a few light-years. Buckle up and prepare for launch as all systems are Green!

Morgan Wootton is the president… of the Engineering Student Council. She’s also a senior in chemical engineering — minoring in business — is the recipient of the John and Rosemary Brown Annual Scholarship, serves as a Cupola Engineering Ambassador, has interned at two different companies, is an undergraduate researcher in the Auburn University Biomechanical Engineering (AUBE) Laboratory and has been active in the Society of Women Engineers, 100+ Women Strong, Greek life and served as a Diamond Doll for the Auburn baseball team. We still don’t know how she found time to sit in as a guest on this podcast, but you’ll be glad she did. 

Hudson Hager’s Auburn roots run deep. His great-grandfather graduated from the university in the 1950s and his parents met on campus and are both proud alumni. Throw in a grandparent, aunts and uncles who attended the university, and it’s obvious he was born for this. When he’s not in civil engineering classes or at the Sigma Nu fraternity, of which he is the vice president, he’s working for the family surveying business in hopes of graduating and helping to grow the company for the next generation. But until then, he’s our next guest on the #GINNing Podcast.

Kam Yousuf is proof that engineering and speed make a pretty good team. The sophomore in electrical and computer engineering is the president of Auburn's iRacing Team and an app development intern with Tennibot. From virtual circuits to racing circuits, Kam's finding innovative ways to combine technology with his passions. So, get ready to hang the new banners as we celebrate in Victory Lane with this episode!

PJ Green, a senior in industrial and systems engineering, is an employer’s dream. The Grayson, Georgia, native already has as much experience as a graduate one year out of school, interning with International Paper, Honda and most recently Amazon. Now, he’s the next guest on the #GINNing Podcast. Oh, the places he will go!