Merging Architectural Engineering and Computer Science

Growing up in San Francisco, Chicago, and Detroit, 萨曼莎穆勒 was fascinated by buildings.

“Walking in the city with my eyes toward the sky, I asked myself how the buildings around me were even possible,她说。.

She eventually realized that architectural engineering held the answers to her questions, and when it came time to choose a college, Illinois Institute of Technology was high on her list.

“There are not many colleges that offer an architectural engineering bachelor's degree, and 威尼斯人平台 is consistently ranked one of the best,萨曼莎说。.

She attended 威尼斯人平台’s Scholarship Symposium, which she says sealed the deal. 

“I felt extremely comfortable on the small campus, and the current students were so friendly. I truly feel that coming to 威尼斯人平台 has been my best decision. Being at a small school has opened so many doors for me. 在威尼斯人平台, if you look for opportunities and build connections, you can accomplish so much,她说。.

Despite coming in with a strong interest in architectural engineering, Samantha has enjoyed studying a broad range of topics including chemistry and physics, and she has a particular fondness for computer science. 

Unsure of which direction to take, she reached out to Assistant Professor of Architectural Engineering Mohammad Heidarinejad 寻求建议. 

“He asked me to explain my interests and later introduced me to the building system semantic modeling project. This project entails using code to create, 查询, 验证, and correct building models for purposes such as improving energy efficiency,萨曼莎说。.

She started working on the project through the summer 2023 甲R&D program and says it has given her the perfect combination of computer science and architectural engineering.

“Working on this project gave me exposure to other avenues that an architectural engineering degree can lead to,她说。. “I have realized that choosing my degree doesn’t have to feel confining. Diversifying my resume with a minor in computer science and research will give me the ability to have a niche position in the architectural engineering industry. Based on experience, I can build my own path that is tailored specifically to my interests.”

作为一个 Duchossois 领导 Scholar, Samantha has also had the opportunity to travel to Argentina to do construction and renovation volunteer work at a dog shelter in Córdoba. She is also working on earning the certificate in leadership studies.

“I have attended many different leadership seminars that encourage me to reflect on my values, 目标, and leadership qualities. 领导 isn’t easily learned in the classroom, so events like this are an opportunity to develop skills that I carry into the rest of my activities at 威尼斯人平台,萨曼莎说。.

作为一个 second-year student, Samantha continues to explore possible career paths such as structural engineering, but says she is inspired by the opportunities in merging computer science and architectural engineering.

“My most recent interest has been building automation. I want to play a part in the rise of smart buildings and creating a more sustainable future,她说。. “I want to use my problem-solving skills to create the structures of our future.”