Mike Aquino

Quick Facts

Program: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering
Graduation Year: 2016
Current Job Title: Assistant Manager at CryoShield and Graduate Student at UCSD
Hometown: Temecula, CA
Current City: San Diego, CA

Life at CBU

Why did you choose your major? What interested you in this particular field of study?
I knew I wanted to be involved in engineering since I was a kid. I could not decide which type to get involved with, but I knew I was interested in electrical and mechanical once I arrived at CBU. I eventually took Visualization Languages with Dr. Kim who was the head of biomedical engineering. Once I found out that the discipline was inherently mechanical and electrical, I was sold then and there. My love for the subject matter only grew as I took more classes. 

What did you like about being in this program at CBU?
It is a very personable program. You can always tell that the professors really care about the success of the students, but do not compromise the subject matter in the process. It was a very engaging program with plenty of opportunities to get involved with engineering (internship suggestions/tips, clubs, research projects in classes, etc.). 

What did you think about your professors?
The bioengineering professors were some of my favorite teachers I have ever had. They were always gracious and willing to help out students when help or suggestion was needed. But they also knew how to let us learn on our own. Whether it was flipping the classroom, discussing current articles or engaging in an engineering project, I always felt engaged, supported and encouraged. Especially when I thought I was not up to par. 

Did you complete an internship?
Yes, I did my internship at the University of Washington with Dr. Pollack in the bioengineering department. I was a volunteer researcher studying water and its ability to produce and contain an electrical charge. I felt overwhelmed by the scope of the project from time to time, but the writing techniques and the analysis methods I learned at CBU were instrumental in my successes. It was also daunting to be at one of the universities at the forefront of the field. But I was truly blessed to have that opportunity to not only develop an interesting device, but also to showcase my work to potential investors as well. 

Did you participate in anything else at CBU?  
I was the founder of the CBU chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society. It was fun getting to know my peers outside of class and to learn about the field from varying experts. I was also involved with intramural volleyball. I played with a team all four years, won the championship my sophomore year and was a referee for my last year. Playing volleyball was a great way to get exercise as well as burn off some of the residual stress that classes produced. I was also an office tech for Conferences and Events on my off days and weekends. I worked there so that I could afford some other fun things throughout my years at CBU, not to mention I enjoyed the people I worked with. I made sure to make the most of my community at CBU and some of my fondest memories stem from these experiences.

How did you grow (spiritually, socially, educationally) while in this program at CBU?
I grew a lot through CBU. I developed my communication skills, both professionally and socially. I learned more about who God is and how to trust His plan even when it feels out of control. Honestly, one of the most important things I learned was understanding the correlations between my logical and emotional components. Learning to accept that they were not at odds with one another but weave together to make me who I am was probably the greatest growth that occurred at CBU.

Did your major help you figure out your purpose?
Yes, I believe it did. It helped me foster my love for people and life but also helped me apply engineering principles to life. It was through my studies that the realization of interest in this field occurred way before I even knew it existed. I am still on a journey and I believe that I am just beginning to understand God’s purpose for me, but the biomedical engineering department was a key component. 

Life after CBU

What have you done since graduating?
I am currently a master’s of engineering student at University of California San Diego for the bioengineering department. I plan to graduate soon and have been applying for jobs all quarter. I was an intern at MD Revolution (a company that makes apps to monitor patient vitals for doctors). I had classes with some of the leading members of the bioengineering community and am looking to pursue jobs related to device development or scaffold design in tissue engineering.

How has your major and time at CBU prepared you for your life and career after college?
It prepared me by introducing the more basic principles of bioengineering. It laid the foundation for the rest of my studies at UCSD and I found that the resources I gained from CBU were beneficial to my current success. I also learned how to best present my ideas and found that learning how to give a presentation is an invaluable skill in this field.

How are you making a difference in the world? How are you living your purpose?
I am making a difference by developing myself so that I may have more opportunities to develop medical devices for people who need them. Right now, I am not directly helping anyone, but by allowing myself to grow in the industry, I can make a larger impact in the long run.

Would you recommend CBU to others?
I would recommend CBU because it is a great atmosphere in social, educational, and spiritual senses. I was able to understand engineering from a biblical worldview and a secular world view. The campus is compact, but it allowed a full community experience. I made some of the most important friends in my life at CBU and I would not know what I would do without them. CBU fosters an environment that is both challenging to your respective field, but also fun and inviting with all the activities that they host. I could not stress enough about how influential CBU has been on my life.