Sophie Thompson ‘26

Sophie Thompson ‘26

Advisors: Professor Karl Wittrup (10-ENG); Tom Kinney (undergraduate)

10-ENG Concentration: Biomedical 

Why did you decide on Course X for your undergrad?

Going into college, I was very interested in the application of math, chemistry, and engineering in biomedical settings. As a first year, I took the chemical engineering introductory course, 10.00, which gave me a broad understanding of Course X. Through a series of hands-on projects, I learned about the basics of the engineering design process, systems controls, and systems level thinking. I enjoyed the course and thought that Course X would provide me with enough flexibility if my career interests changed.

What attracted you to 10-ENG?

As a first year, I began UROPing on a four-year interdisciplinary manufacturing and health systems project in the MIT Biomechatronics Group. The project included solving problems at the intersection of material science, mechanical engineering, and chemistry. My experience in the Biomechatronics Group was transformational to my future interests and career goals. As the project progressed, I found myself wanting to take classes outside of the Course X curriculum to supplement my understanding of the research. At the same time, I loved the flexibility 10-ENG provided to integrate these interests into the Course X degree. I chose to pursue the 10-ENG Biomedical concentration, which allowed me to take all the core ChemE classes, as well as additional classes in Course 2, 3, and 20.

How was your experience designing your curriculum?

After deciding on 10-ENG, I looked at the MIT course catalogue, Course X degree pathways, and recommended 10-ENG classes to I put together a 4-year course plan. I also met regularly with my 10-ENG degree advisor, Professor Karl Wittrup, to discuss course offerings, and he was very helpful in deciding which classes best suited my interests. Over time, my 10-ENG course plan changed as I became aware of different classes and course offerings changed. However, having an organized plan made substituting classes easy and allowed me to ensure I met all graduation requirements.

What are you doing now? Did 10-ENG help you with your career or personal growth?

I am now on a research Fulbright to Sweden, where I am studying and conducting textile recycling research at the University of Borås. The flexibility of 10-ENG allowed me to take many classes that will be beneficial to my background understanding of the project I will be working on in Sweden. Beyond the classes, 10-ENG helped me develop and identify my particular areas of interest. Through speaking with a variety of people about my 10-ENG curriculum, I was exposed to many different possible career paths and fields of study.

Do you think Course 10-ENG would be beneficial for MIT and Course X undergrads?

10-ENG is beneficial to anyone interested in exploring an in-depth subject outside of the Course X core curriculum. There are many different concentration options within 10-ENG, and students have the flexibility to choose from an array of classes within their concentration. The course allows students to create a niche skillset in their specific area, while also still gaining fundamental ChemE knowledge.

Do you have any other thoughts about your personal 10-ENG path or the program in general?

If you are considering 10-ENG, talk to as many people as you can. Although I stayed in the same concentration, the majority of my planned classes changed over the semesters as I learned about new classes and course offerings changed. Talking to my peers, advisors, and reaching out to professors of the classes I was interested in greatly influenced the courses I took. Through this process, I was able to find classes that were the best fit for my interests, as well as new courses I was not previously aware of.