Name: Zemichael Gebeyehu ’24
Major/minor: Mechanical engineering, minors in economics, aerospace engineering and electrical engineering
College: P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
Clubs/activities at Lehigh: Founder and president of Lehigh University Space Initiative (LUSI); Formula SAE Aerodynamics team lead; Lehigh Underwater Robotics team lead; undergraduate research assistant at the Unsteady Flow Laboratory; member of Tau Beta Pi, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), African Students Association (ASA) and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Current Employer: Apple
Current job title: Robotics engineer
To get offered this job, after Lehigh I: was able to find a position at Apple with my background in robotics as well as the exposure I got during my internship at Apple.
In my position I: work on mechatronics and robotics problems that enable Apple products and technologies.
My experience at Lehigh helped prepare me for my role because: Lehigh's strong approach to experiential learning both in and out of the classroom has prepared me well for my engineering career. From establishing and leading the Lehigh University Space Initiative to participating in undergraduate research, my experiential learning at Lehigh has exposed me to various design problems, ranging from Mars rovers and nanosatellites to underwater robots and UAVs. These experiences broadened my engineering skills and fostered my professional growth.
The best thing about my job is: working on impactful technologies and products that enrich people’s lives.
One piece of advice I’d give current Lehigh students is: definitely take advantage of the experiential learning opportunities that Lehigh provides in and outside of the classroom. Especially student teams and undergraduate research experience. They are really vital to get hands-on experience in implementing the things you learn to real-world problems.
Favorite Lehigh memory: was when our team at Lehigh University Space Initiative (LUSI) was able to drive our Mars rover for the very first time. Before that day, our team spent several days and nights integrating hardware and software, debugging issues at every step. It was very exciting to see what teamwork and collaboration can do for engineering projects at this scale.
Did your academic path shift during your time at Lehigh? If so, what experience caused that shift?: During my first year, I planned to major in mechanical engineering and add a minor in aerospace engineering. Exposure to various engineering projects helped me to gain interest in electrical engineering as well as economics, which I also ended up getting a minor in.
