On the impact she wishes to have on the world and her passion for teaching.
Gwenlyn Angel Cabiltes is pursuing a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering. Prior to enrolling in the MEng program, Gwenlyn earned a B.S. in Materials Engineering at San Jose State University. She is also currently working in research and development lithography at a Bay Area semiconductor company. Here, she shares about what she’s currently studying, the impact she wishes to have on the world, and her passion for teaching.
What do you study and why did you choose it?
I am currently studying Materials Science and Engineering. I took courses at community college before transferring to a four year university, knowing that I wanted to study engineering. My interest in MSE was sparked by my Intro to Materials Science course, which showed me that many engineering problems can be analyzed with respect to four interdependent aspects: processing, structure, properties and performance — otherwise known as the “materials science tetrahedron.” I found it surprising that many people are not aware of MSE as an engineering concentration, since it is relevant to a broad range of engineering applications.
What kind of impact do you want to have on the world?
It is no secret that engineering and many STEM related industries are male-dominated. However, I have been fortunate enough to have various female role models throughout my college career, including my undergraduate materials characterization professor, who believed in my skills and hired me as a SEM analyst. This helped foster my interest in characterization and metrology as well as open many doors for me down the line for future employment. My undergraduate research advisor was also an inspiration to me, as she helped me map out future career paths, which led me to pursue my graduate degree. I hope that my hard work throughout my (college) career will prepare me to be a good role model for other young women who would like to pursue engineering.What is a passion of yours?
Outside of school and work, I love to tutor. I am a firm believer in the old saying, “the best way to learn is to teach.” Tutoring has not only helped strengthen my knowledge base, but it has also helped me become a better problem solver; I often have to find different methods to approach problems to fit different student learning styles. More importantly, tutoring has taught me to incorporate essential values like communication, compassion, and kindness into the learning space. Within the tech industry, it is easy to get caught up in the competition and the cutthroat nature. However, collaboration, compassion, and patience are vital to creating an efficient and healthy working and learning environment. An important aspect to keep in mind when entering industry is that the relationships and rapport we build with others plays an important role in performance. Connect with Gwenlyn Angel Cabiltes.Fung Feature: Gwenlyn Angel Cabiltes, MEng ’21 (MSE) was originally published in Berkeley Master of Engineering on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.