Kai Nambu received the Outstanding Senior Award in Mechanical Engineering, a distinction that he described as, “an honor and a cool personal accomplishment.” UC Santa Barbara’s College of Engineering gives the accolade each year to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average in the degree program.
He has spent the past two years conducting undergraduate research for materials and mechanical engineering professor Matt Begley, developing composite materials and creating microscale patterning by using sound waves to move particles.
“I am grateful for the support of Professor Matt Begley, who has provided me with great opportunities for undergraduate research in a nurturing lab environment,” said Nambu, who was introduced to research through the Materials Research Laboratory’s Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) Program. “These opportunities made a big impact on my academic career and my decision to pursue a path to become a materials scientist.”
As part of the Mechanical Engineering Department’s BS/MS program, Nambu will return to UCSB in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in materials science with an emphasis in structural materials. He will continue working with Professor Begley, using acoustics to develop battery materials.