Cougar Queries is a series profiling BYU employees by asking them questions about their work, interests and life.
BYU employee since: 2007
My job at BYU is… professor and associate chair of mechanical engineering. I teach classes in mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering.
I’m currently working on… wearable sensor systems that measure the ways that people with chronic low back pain move their spine.
I’m currently reading… “The Rabbit Effect” by Kelli Harding.
I get most excited about my work when… I discover something unexpected, or am able to see a problem in a new way.
A near death experience changed the way I view my life because… it helped me put the importance of my daily interactions with others into an eternal perspective.
My biggest professional accomplishment… was serving as chair of the steering committee of the NIH Back Pain Consortium.
Students don’t think I notice… when they are having a rough day, but I do and it matters to me.
My favorite part about teaching… is that moment when a difficult concept “clicks” for a student.
My favorite lecture to teach… is the final lecture of the semester, because it always includes a testimony and an expression of love.
When I have 30 minutes of free time, you can find me… learning to play the guitar.
My advice to incoming freshmen… is to watch President Worthen’s BYU devotional on “Successfully Failing.”
The best-kept BYU secret is… the trail to the top of Y Mountain after you finish hiking the “Y”.
My go-to BYU Creamery ice cream flavor is… strawberry sundae crunch.
My favorite BYU tradition is… University Conference because it inspires me to be better.
My favorite spot on campus is… the EB because it is alive with the passion of engineering and a desire to make the world a better place.
My favorite Cougar athlete is… Jimmer Fredette because of the joy he exuded as he played.
I chose to come to BYU… because the Lord prepared and guided my path. It has been a blessing.
My most cherished memory at BYU is… teaching at Education Week with my wife.
My go-to comfort food is… pizza!
A daily habit that has changed my life is… morning scripture study and prayer.
Three things that are always found in my refrigerator are… pickles, BBQ sauce, and Costco Orange Juice.
The title of my autobiography would be… “An Unexpected Journey.”
My favorite quote is… “Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the ‘high priest of good things to come.’" – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
My favorite TV show growing up was… "Doctor Who."
If I could travel anywhere, I would go to… New Zealand because I am a big "Lord of the Rings" fan, and the scenery looks amazing!
My fondest memory from my childhood is… when I participated in the Hill Cumorah Pageant with my grandparents.
My dream car is… a flying car.
The biggest challenge I’ve faced was… fighting through chronic neck and shoulder pain.
