Matt Joplin

Matt Joplin MS ‘18 Hometown: Chattanooga, TN Current Job: Radiation Effects Electrical Engineer, BAE Systems, Inc. MS Program: Electrical Engineering

Why did you choose UTC CECS?

Dr. Loveless recognized my work ethic and encouraged me to pursue a graduate degree. I was going into the workforce otherwise. I chose UTC CECS because I had roots in Chattanooga, TN and I wanted to be at home and give back to the university by continuing to be a part of its growth in the community through the programs like the GigTank Accelerator.

What is your career ambition and how is the MS program helping you get there?

My career ambition is to be an expert embedded electronics engineer with an understanding of project management. The MS program at CECS let me set my own course to get there through the thesis option and provided me diverse opportunities to see what I would like or not among my interests in the field.

What have you liked about the MS program?

I liked that the instructors were very good with feedback, engaged, and interested in my development as well as becoming better at what they were doing. They really care about the students and are able to give individual attention. 

Did you take any online courses?

Yes. The interaction between students in the context of message boarding was an encouraging sight to see. If stuck on something, a student could go to a forum and crowdsource an explanation.

What opportunities have you had during your degree to gain other skills?

Where to start?

• I presented my student research on a CubeSat design I made at a conference in San Diego and it was funded by the Chancellor Student Research grant.
• Two high altitude balloon projects designed by my classmates and me in a Space Electronics course that tracked our flying object across multiple states, captured the Great American Eclipse on video, and reached an altitude in excess of 100,000 feet.
• An internship at SpaceX for two semesters in which I got to do radiation effects testing for the Starlink satellite project in Redmond, Washington.
• A thesis sponsored by the Air Force and a private company in which I had the opportunity to layout and model a silicon chip for fabrication.
• Multiple projects at the Chattanooga GigTank Accelerator that lead to an NSF grant for Dr. Loveless' lab to further develop a technology platform for local K-12 students and many business relationships I maintain today.
• I had a great opportunity to do a study abroad in Cadiz, Spain to help my advisor further develop our GigTank project in the Summer of 2018 and finish my thesis far away from distractions, but very near a beautiful beach.

Have you had support from CECS faculty/staff? 

I have always had amazing encouragement from the staff at CECS. Dr. Loveless, Dr. Ofoli, and Dr. Reising have been amazing advisors, teachers, and connections to have made. I would not be where I am today without them.

How has the program helped you?

The CECS MSEE program prepared me for a high tech workforce in a specialized and competitive world and I have continued to thrive since my time there. I recommend it to anyone who wants to pursue a graduate degree in electrical engineering. The experience is what you make of it, and the effort I put into my studies there have paid off in kind.

What has been the best part of your experience? 

My favorite part is the projects that I have been a part of; the projects are the best way to expand your knowledge, and engage your passion, in my opinion. They completely changed my learning habits. I was empowered to go in my own direction, and they gave me confidence in my own skill as an electrical engineer.
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