2022 Engineering Undergraduate Recipients

Ever since I was young, it was as if engineering was in my blood. I was always taking electronic devices apart, just to be fascinated by the complexity of their inner workings. After building random gadgets throughout middle school, I decided to attend an early college high school. By the time I was done with high school, I had earned my associate's degree and had found my interest in electrical engineering. Currently, I am attending the University of Utah working to obtain a master's degree in electrical engineering.

Daniel Johnson is a rising senior at Georgia Institute of Technology pursuing his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Daniel first started working with NDT during his engineering co-op at The Timken Company in North Canton, Ohio, where he worked in the metrology R&D group to develop improvements to acoustic resonance testing techniques. The research project, titled “The Mahalanobis-Taguchi Method Applied to the Acoustic Resonance Inspection System for Improved Quality Control,” involved applying statistical machine learning algorithms to improve the pass/fail decision making capabilities of the acoustic resonance testing system on steel rings.

In addition to his co-op, Daniel also worked with NDT in his undergraduate research at Georgia Tech. Using computed tomography devices, he conducted inspections using multi-dimensional image processing techniques integrated with machine learning algorithms to automate the visualization and porosity detection of laser powder bed fusion additively manufactured components.

Daniel is an active member of Georgia Tech’s competitive robotics team, RoboJackets, and served as Bot Lead and Mechanical Core Chair this past year. In his free time, he also enjoys the outdoors, including running and hiking. Looking forward, Daniel plans to continue his education in mechanical engineering in pursuit of a Master of Science.

Madison Pixler is a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame studying chemical engineering. Her passion for nondestructive testing stemmed from her interest in making a positive impact in bioengineering in her grandfather’s memory. A Notre Dame education has given her experience in various testing methods used in nondestructive testing and she looks forward to being able to apply these skills in the industry to promote the efforts of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing. Inspired by her grandfather’s battle with cancer, she hopes to apply nondestructive testing to medical research and development after graduating. Last summer, Madison worked on two summer-long internship projects where ultrasonic and eddy current testing helped her to determine the source of product defects. Madison is spending her summer in a chemical engineering internship with the intention of applying the skills she learns to future nondestructive testing roles. When she is not busy in the chemistry lab, Madison enjoys scrimmaging with her club basketball team and mentoring underclassmen. As a senior, Madison will act as a Resident Assistant for her dorm and she looks forward to building community and making lifelong memories. Go Irish!