Lauren Olsen

I am a mechanical engineer at Collins Aerospace. I work on the design of angle of attack sensors. I help perform computer simulations, analysis, and run tests on our designs to ensure they stand up and perform in the harshest environments. Each day is different. There is quite a bit of documentation as part of my job, but it is good because then everyone can understand and review your engineering decisions, tests, analyses, and assumptions. I love my job and the challenge it presents. The feeling that you get after finding a solution to an impossible problem is so amazing and rewarding!

I chose to study engineering because I have always been a builder and tinkerer. What I mean is, when I was young, I always wanted to know how things worked and how things went together. I loved Legos, Lincoln logs, craft kits, etc. I was really crafty and inventive with what I used as the building material. When I didn't have the means, I would rummage through out house for an alternative - I had a long period where I loved popsicle sticks and hot glue. Since then, I have only grown to love and appreciate engineering more as an adult. I love how logical it all is, and how we can make some of the coolest machines on earth - like ROCKETS!

I attended the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, College of Engineering for my undergraduate degree from 2012-2016. I received a Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics degree. For my graduate degree, I attended the University of Saint Thomas, School of Engineering, where I obtained a Master in Mechanical Engineering degree from 2017-2019.

Testing parts to failure: This is so much fun because you get to see things blow up, smoke, get struck by lightning, hit by a bird, etc. I think everyone can relate to how fun it can be.

A close second is performing root cause analysis. I love to figure out WHY something failed. Sometimes the failures can be so complex and are often caused by a chain of events, like dominoes falling. I love being able to form a hypothesis and then test it by (hopefully) recreating the failure we saw.

I helped define, procure, and install a production testing wind tunnel for angle of attack sensors in our facility.

The uneven gender representation: In school now, females are hovering around 25% in engineering - which is great! However, when you are out in industry, the percentage is lower, much lower in my specific field too. This was very difficult for me when I first graduated college because I struggled to find friends I could relate with at my workplace. Of course there is value in having diversity and being able to have individuals close to your age that you can relate to. After some searching, I've been able to find a few female engineers that I'm now close to, but initially, I did feel like an island. It has been true for me that I have been the lone female engineer on many of the teams I've worked on.

Earning the respect and building a reputation: This will take many years to prove to other established engineers that you are a qualified and smart-on-your-feet engineer. It's not just getting the degree, it's learning how to put it into practice and work with others to continually improve and execute towards deadlines.

I'm the first person in my family to be an engineer and second person in my immediate family to receive a Master's degree. My dad has owned his own home improvement business for many years and my mom is a project manager (she studied accounting in college). Putting together that my dad is a builder and my mom is good at math, it kind of naturally made sense that I could end up an engineer.

I would love to work on something that goes into space, and hopefully to Mars.

• Elon Musk.
• Dr. John Abraham (University of Saint Thomas).
• Greta Thunberg.
• Billie Eilish.
• Sheryl Sandberg. 
• Selena Gomez.
• Emma Watson. 
• Demi Lovato.
• Lady Gaga.

Go for it!
The world is your oyster and you are the only one holding yourself back.
I was always worried if I was good enough, or smart enough, or strong enough. I've always been quiet, reserved, and introverted. Female engineers definitely have this pressure to be more present and to push for constant, equal representation. Unfortunately, that pressure will exist and persist until the representation between genders is closer to even. HOWEVER, That does not mean that you need to change who you are to be an engineer. You can be an engineer if you work hard and dedicate yourself to the hard task. You'll need to develop some grit, meaning you'll fail, but what's important is that you accept it, acknowledge it, and then, the hardest part is the move on from it and grow. 

I love to play golf, garden, do yoga, and read. I love doing crafts and playing with my cat, Loki and my dog, Ruby :)