Marley Downes
Hometown: Townson, Maryland
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Class Year: 2024
What made you realize you were interested in engineering?
When I was deciding my major, I had a hard time choosing between the sciences and engineering. I wanted to study the fundamentals, but be able to apply my learning outside of a lab. I landed on Materials Science and Engineering because it's a perfect intersection of what I wanted to do!
When you were looking at colleges, what stood out about Drexel?
Honestly, the co-op program. It offers so much more than a regular internship and offered more opportunity than I would get at a different school.
What has been you best co-op experience so far?
My first co-op was a continuation of my STAR project at the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and was an amazing experience. I truly developed my skills as a scientist and ran my own project, which has become the backbone of what I am doing for my BS/MS thesis.
What has been your favorite class so far?
Any of Dr. Weyant's classes! His class series focus on the stress/strain behavior of materials and are so applicable to every aspect of my studies.
What about your major is special to you?
The versatility of MSE really makes it special. I can work on any project I want because it will, in some way, pertain to materials. I have chosen to focus in Nanomaterials, so I like to call myself an atomic engineer!
What extracurricular activities are important to you and why?
Engineers Without Borders and rock climbing. I had not done either before Drexel, and together they have really shaped my Drexel experience and pushed me to experience new things.
What piece of advice would you give to someone who's thinking about declaring a major right now?
Talk to other students in that major before making your choice. I came to Drexel as a chemical engineering student but after talking to other chemical and materials students, I made the switch, and I am glad I did! Consider how your major will play into your life as a whole. Not just what you want to learn, but what you want to do with your life.
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Alessandra Cabrera, materials science and engineering '26, has spent five years at Drexel doing research, running a literary journal, designing stage backdrops, and mentoring the next generation of engineers. This spring, she takes the stage as the College of Engineering's undergraduate commencement speaker.
A student team from Drexel Engineering earned first place and the Project Pitch Champion title in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar District Cup with their solar-plus-storage design for a New Jersey campus.
A group of Drexel engineering students is taking on one of Philadelphia's most pressing challenges through the lens of sustainable construction. Their capstone project proposes a mixed-use building for Hunting Park using an engineered wood product that stores carbon and offers structural performance comparable to steel and concrete.