Name: Aaron McCarville
Research areas of interest: Microwave NDE, Microwave SAR Imaging, Microwave Engineering
Anticipated graduation date: December 2025
Who or what inspired you to pursue your studies in NDE? During the fall of my first year at ISU, I happened to meet the director of CNDE, Dr. Zoughi, at a lunch event for transfer students. After hearing of my background in the military as a calibration technician and my interest in RF engineering, he encouraged me to work at the Microwave NDT lab as an undergraduate research assistant. My experiences in that role inspired me to pursue a master’s degree with a focus on Microwave NDE. Additionally, my Co-op at Skyworks Inc. helped me realize that I was truly passionate about microwave engineering in general.
Briefly describe something you have learned or discovered during your time at CNDE that surprised you. The numerous opportunities available to students in terms of scholarships as well as post-graduation employment were surprising to learn. In my case, I have received two scholarships that have made graduate school very affordable.
What are your future career plans? My plan, post-graduation, is to pursue an NDE-related microwave engineering role, preferably at an aerospace or defense firm. I have also entertained the idea of starting my own engineering firm that specializes in the design of microwave imaging systems for NDE applications.