Sai Doddi is a Mechanical Engineer with Professional
Engineering License. He is currently working as a Project Engineer at Hatch
Mott MacDonald based in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Born in Hyderabad, Telangana,
India, Sai grew up with Mechanical Engineers around him and became naturally
inclined to the profession – Mechanical Engineering.
- What is Mechanical Engineering? Can you explain your
specialty for us.
Mechanical Engineering is a subject that was derived from
the need to design and manufacture everything from small things to large systems.
I specialize in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). CFD is a
branch of Fluid Dynamics that uses numerical methods and algorithms to analyze
and solve problems that involve with fluid flows (liquids and gases).
- Can you explain your work for us?
I work at Hatch Mott MacDonald, Full service consulting
Engineering firm. We build tunnels, train stations, infrastructure etc. And
within Hatch MacDonald, I work in the Fire & Life safety department.
Right now, I am currently working on a $1.3 Billion Transit
project and my role is to assist Design team design ventilation systems such
that life can be brought to safety through ventilation system in the shortest
amount of time incase of a fire or emergency situation.
Using CFD software, I design ventilation system models as
per the client requirements and also make sure that they are compliant with
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes for a Train station based in
Los Angeles, CA
- When and how did you first realize your interest in
Mechanical Engineering?
Growing up with three brothers in Mechanical Engineering
field, I was easily influenced by my brothers and became naturally inclined to
Mechanical Engineering profession.
During my undergraduate degree (B.Tech), I spent all my
summers at IIT assisting a CFD professor with his research and just became
passionate about this specialty – Computational Fluid Dynamics. I was
challenged to determine the shape of a droplet on a surface by my professor and
it just heightened my interest in Mechanical Engineering.
- How did you continue to pursue your passion for Mechanical
Engineering?
I was lucky to get good training in EAMCET & IIT-JEE prep
during +1 and +2 and was able to join prestigious IIT – Madras for
undergraduate education in Mechanical Engineering. I was surrounded by
passionate people and was thrilled to get quality education from top
educational institution. I never took time to go home and kept assisting
professors in their research. I became very interested in Mechanical Engineering
and just couldn’t quench my thirst for knowledge in Mechanical Engineering. So I
enrolled in Masters degree at University of Kentucky and then immediately went
for Ph.D at Rutgers University. I specialized in Computational Fluid Dynamics
in my Ph.D and researched on Biological Cells and Capsules.
- Would you please explain your Ph.D thesis?
During my Ph.D, I was able to model Red Blood Cells (RBC)
using CFD software and understand the properties and deformability of RBC. My
thesis provides valuable information for the diagnosis and understanding of
various pathologies including diabetes, cardiovascular disease etc.
- What challenges did you face in this career journey?
My biggest challenge was getting an undergraduate degree in
Engineering. The amount of hard work that went into getting admission was the
highest so far. The transition from +2 to Engineering College was very
difficult.
Next biggest challenge was deciding specialty in Masters
program and getting into Masters program with financial assistance.I was
determined to get Masters degree from US but I didn’t have enough funds to get
into a school abroad.
- How did you overcome these challenges?
I worked very hard and studied well to get an Engineering
degree. After getting an admitted into IIT, I had wealth of information about
getting offers from US universities for MS programs with financial assistance.
I took the information and advice I received and ended up receiving offers for
Masters degree with full financial funding from multiple US universities.
- What advice and suggestion do you have for young people
interested in pursuing a career in Mechanical Engineering?
I suggest aspiring Engineers to network and gather
information on interesting topics. I advice students to keep their passion lit.
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