Mike Avila ‘26, an aerospace engineering major in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA), has soared during his time as a UHart student. On campus, he is highly involved with the Center for Manufacturing and Metrology lab and is a CETA ambassador. He even founded and serves as president of the Metrology Club.
Through this club, Mike has provided students the opportunity to visit a variety of aerospace part manufacturers like Horst Engineering and United Centerless Grinding. They were also able to collaborate with companies like CCAT (Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology) and United Centerless Grinding & Thread Rolling on a project to reverse engineer a diesel nozzle fuel injector.
Mike’s experience as a CETA ambassador helped improve his ability to communicate with others and “shed the shell” he once had when it came to communicating with people he didn’t know. “I feel these experiences have also been a big part of my career development,” he emphasizes.
Mike chose to pursue studies in aerospace engineering because he has always found himself interested in aircraft. He says the most enjoyable aspects of studying at UHart are the hands-on experiences and projects he was able to participate in through his classes and his on-campus work at the Metrology Lab, Machine Shop, and Makerspace. Mike states that several professors showed him a path of engineering that he didn’t know about previously, which led him to find a unique knack for metrology.
He began his professional journey with an internship at Horst Engineering, an aerospace parts manufacturer in East Hartford. Starting in the summer of his sophomore year and continuing part time during the academic year, Mike worked as a quality engineering intern. His responsibilities included interpreting and ballooning engineering drawings from major companies like Collins, GE, and Pratt & Whitney, creating inspection method sheets, conducting First Article Inspections (FAIs), verifying non-conforming parts, and collaborating with GE on its specific quality protocols (ECAVs).
This hands-on experience not only sharpened Mike’s technical skills but also gave him a clear picture of his future career. His favorite aspect of the internship was the welcoming and knowledgeable team at Horst, which made a lasting impact on him.
Building on this foundation, Mike is set to join Zygo AMETEK this summer, an industry-leading OEM known for its advanced optical metrology systems, as a quality engineering intern. He’s especially excited about working on high-precision technologies like laser interferometers and optical profilometers.
Mike credits much of his success to the mentorship of Associate Professor Suhash Ghosh and Vernon D. Roosa Distinguished Professor Chittaranjan Sahay, who welcomed him into the college's metrology lab as a first-year student. Their guidance, exposure to real-world projects, and professional networking opportunities helped pave the way for both of Mike’s internships and his future career path in metrology and manufacturing. “The hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment in the Metrology Lab and connections I was able to get through the club and my various jobs really put me ahead in the development of my career,” he explains.
After graduating, Mike plans to work full time and pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a focus on manufacturing/metrology.
Mike Avila ‘26, College of Engineering, Technology, and ArchitectureThe hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment in the Metrology Lab and connections I was able to get through the club and my various jobs really put me ahead in the development of my career.