In the weeks leading up to the 2026 commencement ceremonies for UVM's College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Class of 2026, we will be sharing senior spotlights of some of our exceptional students from each CEMS program.

How did you choose your major?

My major was Mechanical Engineering. During my freshman year of high school, I took an introduction to engineering course at my local technical center. I quickly came to enjoy the process of brainstorming solutions to problems, working to create and test these solutions, and then improving them until the final solution worked. I continued taking engineering classes for the remaining three years of high school. As I worked on more projects, I began to narrow down my career aspirations. I have always enjoyed understanding how things work and using that knowledge to solve new problems. Mechanical engineering seemed like the best career to apply these skills since it involves studying a variety of topics, including physics, mechanics, materials science, fluid dynamics, basic knowledge of electronics and computer science, as well as more advanced courses that explore the intersections of these topics. Mechanical engineers can end up in a wide variety of industries and use this broad knowledge to solve very unique problems. This breadth of knowledge and love for the engineering design process is what led me to mechanical engineering.

Ryan has continuously demonstrated exceptional creativity and problem-solving skills as an engineer. As his SEED mentor, it was such a joy to watch him and the team conceptualize, design, and fabricate new and innovative designs throughout the semester.  His ability to be a gracious leader, whether that's in SEED, the Fablab staff, or elsewhere, is really quite exceptional, and the Mechanical Engineering Department will certainly miss Ryan Poloquin!! 

—Assistant Professor Laura Treers
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Mentor to Ryan's Senior Capstone Design Team

Did you choose to include a minor or certificates?

I have a minor in Computer Science and a Certificate in Autonomy and Robotics. I chose to pursue my Computer Science minor after my freshman year since I saw how widely used computers were in almost all engineering applications. I chose to add computer science skills to my resume to help make me a well-rounded student who can help on multidisciplinary projects and be prepared for the increasing use of computers in everyday technology. Throughout my time at UVM, I was exposed to projects that included mechanical, electrical, and software design. I enjoyed working on all aspects of these projects and was able to apply skills from both my major and my minor. These experiences, along with my exposure to automation in manufacturing facilities at my summer internships, led me to be interested in the field of robotics and industrial automation. When it was time to select my SEED project, I saw the opportunity to work on a complex automation project that involved designing an automated chocolate truffle packaging system. After working on this project for a semester, I was certain that robotics and automation were the career fields that I wanted to pursue, so I enrolled in the Autonomy and Robotics Certificate. I had already satisfied many of the requirements, including working on my SEED project, and only needed a few more classes to complete the certificate.

What extracurricular organizations and activities did you enjoy at UVM?

The organization that I was most involved in during my time at UVM was the FabLab, which is a fabrication space on campus that helps students and researchers turn their ideas into reality through the use of 3D printers, laser cutters, and other manufacturing techniques. I started working in the FabLab as a technician during the spring of my freshman year, where I learned how to use the machines and how to properly design for different manufacturing methods. I was promoted to an operations manager in the spring semester of my sophomore year. In this position, I lead the lab with another operations manager to keep the lab running safely and efficiently. During my time at the UVM FabLab, I helped work on exciting research and class projects, set up new equipment in the lab to expand our capabilities, and mentored new staff members to ensure the future of the lab. I learned a lot about what it takes to lead a team and how to help people optimize their designs for manufacturing.

Is there a class or professor who had a significant impact on your academic journey at UVM? 

One of my favorite classes was Digital Control with Embedded Systems, taught by Dr. Tony Barsic. This class explored how microcontrollers can be used to control a variety of electrical components. I enjoyed all the hands-on experience this class provided and the opportunity to apply the skills we learned to two final projects. This class helped lead me towards my career aspirations of automation and robotics.

Do you have a memorable research experience from your time in CEMS?

I've had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects during my time at UVM, including a 3D printed bust of Nefertiti that was displayed in the Fleming Museum, custom topographic maps for Gedakina that were used to share Native American stories, a custom quadruped robot, a line following robot, and many more. Out of all these projects, the one that stands out the most is my Senior Capstone Project, where I worked on a team to design, build, and test a fully functional chocolate truffle packaging system. This was the most memorable project since it was my first opportunity to build a custom automation solution, which helped to solidify my career aspirations. It was exciting to work with a company to solve a real-world problem. I also enjoyed working on an amazing team of my peers to watch the project evolve and grow throughout the year. My team spent months working through brainstorming, prototyping, late nights of testing, and frustrating failures to try to complete the project on time. Seeing the system running fully autonomously after all that work was one of the most rewarding moments of my college career.

A short video demonstrating Ryan and his team's senior capstone project: 

Has an internship helped to guide you on your career path?

I have had three internships so far in my career. My first internship started during my senior year of high school at a precision plastics machining company called EPTAM Precision, where I learned basic quality control techniques, assisted in continuous improvement projects, and learned about the manufacturing process. My next internship started during the summer between high school and college, where I worked for a thermal management solutions company called Boyd Thermal. At this position, I lead continuous improvement projects, helped with designing custom test fixtures, created work instructions and other documentation, and helped on the product engineering team to create quotes and technical packages. This position gave me a much more in-depth view of the manufacturing process. I started my third internship during the summer between my junior and senior year, where I worked for an automotive seal manufacturing company called Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies. In this position, I worked on improving automated manufacturing equipment to decrease downtime. I also worked on a project to create custom tooling for outdated machines. This experience helped confirm my career aspirations of entering the field of robotics and automation.

Is there an achievement during your undergraduate years at UVM that you are particularly proud of?

The achievement that I'm most proud of is being named the UVM 2026 Student Engineer of the Year.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I will be pursuing an accelerated master's degree in mechanical engineering at UVM. My time in CEMS has prepared me for this experience by giving me all the knowledge necessary to pursue a more advanced degree. The accelerated program has also been very beneficial since it has allowed me to see what master's classes are like before pursuing the degree. This program will help me save time and money by double-counting master's classes towards my bachelor's and master's degrees.

How do you envision your future in the next five years?

In the next five years, I hope to earn my master's degree and find a job in New England where I can design, build, and test custom automated solutions.

Is there any advice you would share with incoming first-year students?

All of the hard work that you put into your classes will pay off. Engineering is not an easy degree, but the challenges will teach you how to effectively solve problems in the future. There will be times when you have no idea how to solve a problem. The best thing to do is to set the problem aside and come back to it tomorrow. Try to pursue an engineering project on your own time. Classes can only teach you so much, and having a side project will allow you to apply what you learn in class, build your resume, and have fun building something that you're interested in.

Ryan brought a unique combination of experience, curiosity, motivation, growth mindset, and collaboration to his capstone project, which contributed significantly to his team winning the student choice award. Not only does Ryan come up with creative solutions, but he also explains them well, fabricates and tests them, and iterates the designs to improve them. I learned a lot from Ryan's creations in Capstone Design.

—Keith Epstein
Senior Lecturer,
Department of Mechanical Engineering
SEED Program Director

Would you like to include any "shout-outs" to people who helped support you?

I'd like to thank my girlfriend Anita, who's been by my side throughout my entire college journey, my mentor Mr. Martin for getting me interested in engineering and guiding me through my early career, the UVM FabLab for being my second home on campus, and my family for always supporting me.

Do you have any parting thoughts?

One of the most amazing experiences that I've had at UVM was watching the total solar eclipse on the green with my friends. It was incredible to watch the sky go dark at 3:30 in the afternoon and see the corona around the moon. I've also enjoyed going to local activities and festivals like the Champlain Valley Fair, Maple Fest, Vegfest, and so many more. There's always something fun to do off campus in the area, and a lot of the time it's free.