Micah Bob Finds His Foundation in Materials Science
Micah Bob is a fourth-year materials science and engineering major at the University of California, Davis. In this conversation, as he is about to embark on his final quarter at UC Davis, Bob speaks about his research into green building materials, bringing alto sax stylings to Video Game Orchestra and the classes that cemented his interest in materials science and engineering.
How did you get into engineering?
Engineering has been something my family has a history of doing, and as a student in high school it seemed like the best way to express my skills in problem solving and applying mathematics and physics. Materials science, in particular, was my uncle's major and he highly recommended it to me once he heard that I intended to apply for engineering.
What engineering course or instructor has made the biggest impact on your education?
“Mechanical Properties of Materials,” taught by Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Jeremy Mason. Professor Mason in general has a style that suits my learning, wherein he thoroughly explains the mathematical foundations behind all of the materials science that we use to explain physical processes. Relating math to application is very useful to me because it becomes simple to understand what factors contribute to certain processes. Evaluating engineering problems becomes much simpler if you understand what factors you need to be careful of or consider.
You are an undergraduate student researcher. What type of research do you do?
For about two years now I have been in the research group of Erika La Plante, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, studying sustainable cementitious alternatives. In a nutshell, annual anthropogenic carbon emissions for cement production are 8 to 10%, so finding alternative materials that require less CO2 is advantageous. My work evaluates the properties of said materials in comparison to one that is currently used. A lot of my focus right now is going towards finishing the paper on this research project. Ideally it will be published sometime later this year or early next.
What are some ways you have been involved in campus life?
I have been involved in the UC Davis Materials Advantage Student Chapter, or MASC, for about a year now. MASC is a fantastic club designed to support students by offering guest lectures from professors, club trips to research labs, study halls where upper- and lower division undergraduates can interact and tutor, as well as provide a space for studying and asking questions. It’s a really fun community and I’ve made a lot of fantastic friends.
This year, I also have also been a part of the Video Game Orchestra playing the alto saxophone. I have played saxophone for over a decade in total and it’s one of my main hobbies.
What are your plans for after graduation?
My future job, at least for some time after I graduate, will be in construction project management for a company that does lots of work on schools in the Greater LA area and San Diego. I will work as a project engineer, where I will be helping manage the project site contracts, schedules and paperwork, and solving problems that come up during construction.
How have you experienced impact, inclusivity or inspiration in your time at the College of Engineering?
I have experienced many impactful moments throughout my undergraduate years, but the biggest one was definitely taking “Properties of Materials.” That was when I realized that I really enjoyed doing materials science. Up until that class, I never really understood materials science and was fulfilling my GE requirements, but after that class, I was so happy that I chose this major. It asks so many interesting questions about the world around us and leads to so many interesting solutions.
