Flexible Thinking: The Key to a Successful Flex Circuit Design Transfer
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Hannah Nelson: The Inspiring Journey of an Emerging Engineer
March 11, 2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Editor’s note: This interview was originally recorded at IPC APEX EXPO 2024 as part of a series of interviews with IPC Emerging Engineers.
At last year’s IPC APEX EXPO, former IPC Emerging Engineer Hannah Nelson had the opportunity to reflect on her inspiring journey into the world of engineering, from her education at Valparaiso University to her internship and her first job at Texas Instruments. From pivotal moments and the unexpected turns that helped shape her early career and passion for electrical engineering, her story highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, taking opportunities that arise early on, finding confidence in one's voice, and the rewards of pursuing one's passions within the engineering field.
Hannah, please share an overview of your career path so far and highlight any key factors that motivated you to pursue a role in engineering.
Hannah Nelson: It started in high school when I joined FIRST Robotics. I was on the mechanical build side, building the frames for the robots, and I got involved in the safety training stuff on our team. When I was younger, I was told that I was good at math and science, and I should pursue that career path. That stuck with me.
I played French horn, so I wanted to pursue a degree in music performance. I also wanted to pursue math, so I started with a double major in music performance and math.
When I took an Intro to Engineering course, things changed. I got to play around with Arduinos and build cool things, and I just loved seeing the artistic side of engineering. I loved the problem solving and being involved in interdisciplinary teams was incredibly rewarding for me.
Soon after, I dropped both my double majors and switched to electrical engineering. I haven’t looked back. I got involved with IPC during my junior year, and that’s when I really started enjoying my electrical engineering courses. I got more involved in the RF side of PCB design, which is what I do in my career now.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the February 2025 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: IPC Mexico Building Community and Partnerships
04/17/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOLorena Villanueva highlights IPC Mexico's three-year journey focused on community building and partnerships with governments and educational institutions. Key milestones include collaboration agreements with state governments and universities to enhance the electronics industry. IPC Days promotes networking and education, while a partnership with UNAM aims to integrate IPC training into engineering programs. The discussion wraps up with congratulations on IPC Mexico's achievements and the launch of the Mexico pavilion at this year's show.
Marcy’s Musings: Can You Hear the Voices?
04/16/2025 | Marcy LaRont -- Column: Marcy's MusingsTariffs, CapEx spending, the war in Ukraine, and domestic and global economies: I wanted to know what’s on your minds as we launch headlong into Q2 2025. So, this month, I’m highlighting industry voices and how they feel about their businesses, the effects of a new U.S. administration, and where technology is heading.
Bridging the Gap Between PCB Designers and Fabricators
04/03/2025 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAWith today’s advanced EDA tools, designing complex PCBs in the virtual world does not necessarily mean they can be built in the real world. This makes the relationship between a PCB designer and a fabricator pivotal to the success of a project. In keeping with solid design for manufacturing (DFM) practices, clear and frequent communication is needed to dial and lock in design constraints that meet expectations while addressing manufacturing concerns.
Incap Launches ‘Incap Legends’ esports Tournament and Invites Students from Around the World to Participate
03/31/2025 | IncapIncap Corporation is proud to announce the launch of ‘Incap Legends’, a new esports tournament in partnership with Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG).
New Accenture Siemens Business Group to Reinvent Engineering and Manufacturing for Clients
03/31/2025 | BUSINESS WIRESiemens and Accenture are significantly advancing their long-standing alliance partnership to help clients reinvent and transform engineering and manufacturing.