Nicholas Thomas

Background

About Nicholas Thomas

As a senior at The University of Akron, I have achieved satisfactory academic standing within the Williams Honors College, I have excelled through my coursework, and I have gained a keen interest in mechanical design, manufacturing, and analysis. I will graduate with a co-op bachelor’s degree after my fourth year (instead of the typical five-year plan). From there, I will continue my education in the accelerated Master's Degree Program with a focus on material science. The University of Akron Engineering College has furthered my interest in mechanical design by offering engaging opportunities within their design teams. Throughout the duration of my four years of undergrad, I have been a member of the Zips Electric Racing team. I have earned the position of brakes subsystem lead and I have gained experience designing in Solidworks CAD, working in the machine shop, and testing a finished project. My experience as part of this team has also taught me how to work as a team from an item’s conception to its fruition. For my undergraduate senior honors project, I will be designing the brakes system for the 2021-2022 car. Overall, the experience I’ve gained through the design team has furthered my skills and enthusiastically prepared me for my career as a mechanical engineer. I have also demonstrated an accelerated level of knowledge and skillset during my co-op experiences. Through the Summer sessions, I have gained hands-on experience running mills, lathes, and EDM production machines on the shop floor. I have also worked in the quality assurance lab, assuring that parts are within specifications. My co-op rotations have exposed me to a real work environment and have engendered a desire to learn more about manufacturing processes. In January of this year, I joined the team at Peak Nano Optics. Peak Nano is a startup company that has made many technological advances in polymer film nanolayered optics. Recently named a 2021 R&D Gold 100 winner as a market disruptor and 2022 Edison Awards finalist, Peak Nano is an exciting place to work and discover new possibilities with polymers. I am looking forward to my future at Peak and am excited to apply the knowledge I will gain from materials and polymer classes that are included in my graduate coursework.