Computer engineering grad programmed a path to success at Western

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Mind-controlled prosthetic limbs may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but Western Michigan University student Camryn Ruiz is working on the technology in real time.

"I want to design something that will potentially help people," says Ruiz, whose senior design project involves programming a robotic arm to operate from brain signals.

Under the mentorship of project advisor Dr. Simin Masihi, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering whose research focuses on intelligent health monitoring systems, wearable biosensors, physiological signal acquisition and processing, and robotic-assisted medical systems, and with the guidance of Dr. Massood Atashbar professor of electrical and computer engineering, Ruiz and his team are exploring the potential of neuroprosthetic devices. It's the type of hands-on learning and that drew Ruiz to Western initially.

"At Western, a lot of the classes and clubs offer opportunities to get real-world experience and connections to internships—and that really made the difference," he says.

In just two-and-a-half years, Ruiz has racked up enough credits to earn his bachelor's degree in computer engineering at Western's fall 2024 commencement ceremony. And with multiple experiential learning opportunities to back up the skills he honed in the classroom, he's confident he'll be able to hit the ground running in his future career. In fact, he's already secured job interviews with leading companies in the health care, aerospace, automotive and defense industries.

Driven to succeed

Engineering has always fascinated Ruiz. It's what drew the Fenton, Michigan, native to Western in the first place. The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences' focus on experience-driven learning sealed the deal.

"I'd looked at another school that seemed more focused on the theory side. Here, it seemed more about being in labs, making a circuit or building hardware, basically applying the knowledge I learned from classes. And that's what I wanted to do."

From day one, Ruiz found professors who challenged him and offered plenty of opportunities to put the concepts he was learning in class to work. 

"That helped me a lot, because I had already worked on serial data protocols, and that's what is used in the industry."

After his first year at Western, Ruiz got an engineering internship at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, getting a chance to work on the cars of the future. 

"I did a lot of computer engineering, programming printed circuit boards (PCBs) and testing and debugging, making sure software worked that I developed for electric vehicles."

He impressed the company enough to earn a second internship a year later, this time as an eDrive core software engineer, continuing his work on electric vehicle software and racking up resume-worthy experience.

In addition to internships, Ruiz also worked on a number of projects ranging from developing a custom 9-bit processor and a digital oscilloscope to programming and controlling a conveyor belt system interface.

"These projects helped me develop technical skills, problem-solving abilities and confidence," Ruiz says. "For instance, courses taught by professors like Dr. Lina Sawalha and Dr. Janos Grantner included challenging projects where we were tasked with designing and building systems independently. These experiences helped me stand out in interviews and feel ready for industry challenges."

Staying on track

Western has hundreds of registered student organizations (RSOs) where Broncos can find professional development opportunities, network, flex their athletic skills or simply socialize and have fun. Ruiz found all of that in the Sunseeker Solar Car Project.

"My favorite part of being on the Sunseeker team was the opportunity to apply classroom theory to real-world problems," he says. "It’s one thing to understand concepts, but demonstrating the ability to put them into practice is what really stands out to employers. Sunseeker provided a hands-on learning experience that reinforced my technical skills and problem-solving abilities."

The Sunseeker team is composed of dozens of students all working together to design, build and race a solar-powered vehicle. Ruiz was part of the RSO's PCB and programming team, which allowed him to apply what he was learning in the classroom to a project in real time.

"I designed and developed PCBs and their schematics and programmed components directly on the boards to meet specific project needs. This experience not only strengthened my technical skills but also taught me how to approach complex, multidisciplinary problems—something I’ll carry forward in my career and will make me more competitive for positions."

Ruiz also got a chance to put his skills to the test under intense pressure one summer, hitting the road with the Sunseeker team for the Formula Sun Grand Prix, an international solar car competition. 

"It was a great experience—a lot of thinking on the go," he says. 

Just add it to the list of resume-worthy opportunities that boosted his confidence and made him career-ready.

"Project-based learning was probably the most important thing I did at Western," he says. "The classes, the clubs, the internships—all of them gave me hands-on experience that was invaluable."

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