Undergraduate student expands engineering education at SIMCenter

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A childhood love of LEGO toys and a passion for math and physics classes in grade school led James Dobrozki to the field of engineering. Now, he is a mechanical engineering student at Ohio State and an undergraduate research assistant at the SIMCenter. 

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When he’s not watching NFL football or working out at the RPAC, the campus recreation facility he frequents up to six days per week, James can be found at the SIMCenter gaining hands-on experience studying materials used in crash test dummies. His current project involves building a frame used to drop metal balls of various weights onto synthetic dummy material, then using force sensors to collect data on the force created by the balls.

In his few months as an undergraduate research assistant, Dobrozki has learned about finite element modeling, LS-DYNA software, and various sensors and equipment used to simulate impulses in a controlled environment. “I have also developed some essential skills that all engineers need, such as critical thinking and innovative thinking, which I developed while working on a design and doing research on problems that we have run into so far,” Dobrozki said.

Dobrozki’s advice for young students just beginning their educational path in engineering is to stay organized and create a clear academic plan. He recommends keeping a planner, taking detailed notes, creating a calendar updated with class times and office hours, and taking advantage of all the resources Ohio State offers.

“As I started getting a grip on my responsibilities as a young adult and getting the most out of Ohio State’s resources, it was much easier to envision what I wanted to do with my life. I could then see what I needed to pursue to be successful,” Dobrozki said.