Introduce yourself briefly:
Hi! My name is Michael Hanley, and I am a part of the 2025 Nanotechnology Engineering Class. I’m
also currently the Mechanical Project Manager and Aerodynamics/Composites Manufacturing Lead on Midnight Sun Design Team!
Waterloo Engineering in one word:
Cool
I choose Waterloo Engineering because:
The co-op program at Waterloo is amazing, the ability to get 2 years of working experience by the time I graduate was something that would greatly increase my chances of getting a job once I’m finished my degree. Also, I knew I wanted to try many different types of working experiences to find out what I like. With the co-op program structure, it’s amazing that I have the potential to work at 6 different companies and positions, which I knew would be an invaluable experience in helping me figuring out what field I want to pursue.
The best thing about my program is:
100% the people in my class. My cohort is such a great community; everyone is very friendly and quick to offer one another help we needed. We also have class wide events throughout the school terms which has been amazing and great time to bond with my classmates.
About my Co-op experience:
At my first co-op, I was a Regulatory Engineer at a company called Engineering CPR, they made brain surgery devices. I was responsible for making sure I could get their devices in the EU. I also expanded the company’s regulatory portfolio by helping their new client get 3 of their medical devices to the US military, which ended up helping the company make $80,000.
At my second co-op, I was a Product Development Engineer at a company called Inforesight Consumer Products, a company that makes infrared heaters. I was able to solve an overheating problem in their new product by designing an infrared wave reflector for the new product line. I also design a thermal evaluation test for their heaters, designing it in CAD, writing code for it, and manufacturing it myself. This helped the company in pitches to companies for multi million-dollar contracts, comparing our data with competitors’ data.
This term, I’m starting my 8-month co-op as an Opto-Mechanical Engineer at Vena Medical, a company that makes a medical device that helps patients with blood clots and stroke. I will be helping to improve the design of the machine as well helping get the product to more hospitals around the country.
I wish I had known before I came:
Grades aren’t the be-all and end-all, having a healthy balance between social life, extracurriculars, exercise and mental health as well is the just as, if not more important than grades.
Outside the classroom, I’m involved with:
As of Fall 2022, I’m currently involved on the Midnight Sun Solar Car Design Team and Engineering Ambassadors as well play soccer and volleyball intramurals.
In the past, in addition to activities above, I’ve been an Engineering Society Class Representative from Fall 2020 - Spring 2022, Shadow Social and Events Commissioner on Engineering Society from Fall 2020 - Winter 2021 and a Faculty of Engineering Tour Guide in Spring 2022 as basketball intramurals.
I’d extracurriculars are one of the best things to do while at university!
A fun project I’ve completed:
In 1B for the nano design day, I was in a group of 4 people, and we had to design a glucose biosensor using gold nanoparticles to detect if a patient had diabetes or pre-diabetes. It was awesome to able to put all my knowledge I learned in first into a cool project that actually worked in the end!
One more thing about me:
I love to play sports