## [Building a Career Through Capstone Projects in Engineering](/spotlight/student/building-career-through-capstone-projects-in-engineering) *"It was a great experience to work with an industry partner on an open-ended challenge. We did a lot of research and applied the knowledge we’d acquired in our courses and work terms to come up with a solution."* ![Grace smiling for a picture.](/sites/default/files/styles/max_480w/public/spotlight-images/2024-11/Grace_Website%20headshot.jpg.webp?itok=m7rVp-jd) ## Grace Quan Share- [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2F"e= "Share on Facebook") - [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=https%3A%2F%2F&text=:%20https%3A%2F%2F "Tweet") - [ ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2F&title=&summary=&source=https%3A%2F%2F "Share on LinkedIn") - [ ](mailto:?subject=&body=:%20https%3A%2F%2F "Send email") - **Degree:** - Bachelor of Applied Science - **Grad year:** 2023 - **Program:** - [Manufacturing Engineering](https://engineering.ubc.ca/programs/undergraduate/manufacturing-engineering "Find out more about Manufacturing Engineering") - **Campus:** Vancouver **Current Profession:** Pursuing Master of Applied Science in [Mechanical Engineering ](https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/graduate-degree-programs/master-of-applied-science-mechanical-engineering) ## **What got you interested in engineering?** I’ve always been a creative person interested in technology and innovation. That’s basically what engineering is all about: using your creativity and knowledge to solve problems. [ ![Three women looking at an object](/sites/default/files/styles/square_200/public/2024-08/whyeng-set20-square-logo-1080x1080-min.png.webp?itok=x6tuJF0w) ](https://engineering.ubc.ca/spotlight/why-engineering/engineers-are-creative-and-empathetic)## **Why did you choose manufacturing engineering?** I was part of the first cohort of the [manufacturing program](https://engineering.ubc.ca/programs/undergraduate/mechanical-engineering). In first year, you learn about all the different project options. > I liked that manufacturing engineering is very interdisciplinary, bringing together mechanical engineering, materials engineering, AI and robotics. I also liked the idea of doing a program where there were a lot of hands-on projects. [Manufacturing Engineering](https://engineering.ubc.ca/programs/undergraduate/mechanical-engineering) ## **What are some of your highlights from your undergraduate student days?** I really enjoyed all the project-based courses, starting with [APSC 100](https://vancouver.calendar.ubc.ca/course-descriptions/subject/apscv) and continuing on throughout the years. My capstone project in final year was another highlight. My team worked on automating an assembly line for a battery manufacturer. It was a great experience to work with an industry partner on an open-ended challenge. > We did a lot of research and applied the knowledge we’d acquired in our courses and work terms to come up with a solution. Interestingly, my capstone project played an important role in helping me get my job at [Worley](https://www.worley.com/). [ ![Three women working on a robot](/sites/default/files/styles/square_200/public/2024-08/whyeng-set14-square-1080x1080-min.png.webp?itok=Byza7F5S) ](https://engineering.ubc.ca/spotlight/why-engineering/career-stems-stem)[APSC 100](https://vancouver.calendar.ubc.ca/course-descriptions/subject/apscv) [Worley](https://www.worley.com/) Another highlight was my work on different design teams. I was part of [Third Quadrant Design](https://www.thirdquadrantdesign.com/), which is a group that designs and builds net zero buildings. I was on the architecture team and involved in some of the design of Third Quadrant’s passive house. I was also part of [UBC AgroBot](https://experience.apsc.ubc.ca/student-groups/engineering-design-teams/agrobot), which develops robots for agricultural applications. > We designed and built a robot for weed extermination and travelled to Italy to participate in an international conference and competition. This project involved a lot of cross-disciplinary research with students in agriculture and food systems and applied biology. We tested our algorithm at UBC Farm! [ ![whyeng_sustainability square](/sites/default/files/styles/square_200/public/2024-11/whyeng-set24_whyeng-set24-square-logo-1080x1080.png.webp?itok=nzkb6RTJ) ](https://engineering.ubc.ca/spotlight/why-engineering/engineer-sustainable-future-ubc)[Third Quadrant UBC](https://www.thirdquadrantdesign.com) [UBC AgroBot](https://experience.apsc.ubc.ca/student-groups/engineering-design-teams/agrobot) ## **What do you see as the value of design teams?** Design teams are a great complement to your courses. You get to practice and apply what you are learning in class – and, more often than not, to learn and explore many other new areas. You also gain other skills – at UBC AgroBot, for example, I was the marketing and outreach team lead. > It’s a great reminder that all the different engineering disciplines share a lot in common, and it gives you experience in them. [UBC Design Teams](https://experience.apsc.ubc.ca/student-groups/engineering-design-teams) [ ![Two women working on a robot](/sites/default/files/styles/square_200/public/2024-08/whyeng-set21-square-logo-1080x1080-min.png.webp?itok=IyWsXrjs) ](https://engineering.ubc.ca/spotlight/why-engineering/learning-doing) ## **What did you do after you graduated in May 2023?** Over that first summer I worked as a robotic application research assistant with [Dr. Kefei Wen](https://mech.ubc.ca/kefei-wen/), a professor in [mechanical engineering ](https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/graduate-degree-programs/master-of-applied-science-mechanical-engineering?_gl=1*zfwaxs*_gcl_au*MTEzMDU4NzIwOS4xNzI5OTA2Nzcy*_ga*NjE5MTk5ODU3LjE3MzE2NDE0NTQ.*_ga_4HEE092K89*MTczMTcwODY5MS40LjEuMTczMTcwOTE2OC4xNy4wLjA.)doing research in robotics, dynamics and kinematics. I then started working full time with [Worley](https://www.worley.com/) as a junior mechanical engineer. Worley is an engineering consulting firm that works on a lot of sustainable material manufacturing projects, many of which are related to automation. > I worked on a project very similar to my capstone as part of a team automating the warehouse and production line for a battery manufacturing facility. Another project was doing a feasibility study for a project on plastics recycling in Saudi Arabia. [Dr. Kefei Wen](https://mech.ubc.ca/kefei-wen/) [Worley](https://www.worley.com/) ## **What do you like about working for a consulting company**? It’s really interesting to be part of a team whose members are from all over the world (and not without its challenges given we are part of different time zones!). I have learned so much from the senior engineers about how to execute on projects. ## **Why did you decide to go back to school to do a master’s degree**? My research work with Dr. Wen and my experience in consulting engineering contributed to my interest in robotics and automation. > Doing a [master’s degree](https://engineering.ubc.ca/programs/graduate-programs) in this area enables me to gain more expertise in a field I’m passionate about and can see myself pursuing as a career path. The [Master of Applied science](https://engineering.ubc.ca/programs/graduate-programs) includes both coursework and a research-based thesis. I’m working with Dr. Wen to test and validate theories about human-robot collaborations and safety-related sensors. [ ![Engineering is a rewarding choice](/sites/default/files/styles/square_200/public/2024-07/whyeng-set18-square-logo-1080x1080_0.png.webp?itok=r9C_rnBm) ](https://engineering.ubc.ca/spotlight/why-engineering/engineering-one-of-most-rewarding-careers)[Masters and Graduate Programs](https://engineering.ubc.ca/programs/graduate-programs) ## **Any advice for other students?** Don’t just focus on grades – get out and get involved in [co-op](https://coop.apsc.ubc.ca/undergraduate/undergraduate-co-op-program) or design teams. Try things out to see what you like and discover your passions. [Applied Science Co-op Program](https://coop.apsc.ubc.ca/undergraduate/undergraduate-co-op-program) ### Find me on: [ LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-quan-14bb43226/ "LinkedIn") [ UBC Manufacturing Engineering ![UBC Manufacturing Engineering logo](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2026-02/ubc-manufacturing-engineering-logo-shortname-439x28.png.webp?itok=YX8kabkf) ](https://manufacturing.engineering.ubc.ca/ "UBC Manufacturing Engineering") - [Student](/spotlight-type/student "Student") - [Alumni](/topics/alumni "Alumni") - [Alumni Success](/topics/alumni-success "Alumni Success") - [Engineering](/topics/engineering "Engineering") - [Women in Engineering](/topics/women-in-engineering "Women in Engineering")