Shaping Tomorrow's Engineers: Dr. Budinoff's Passion for Sustainable Innovation

Hannah Budinoff holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. An assistant professor of systems and industrial engineering, Dr. Budinoff’s research interests include additive manufacturing, geometric manufacturability analysis, design for manufacturing, sustainable design, and engineering education. Dr. Budinoff oversees the Manufacturing and Design Exploration (MADE) research group at the University of Arizona.

What drew you to join the School of Mining & Mineral Resources?

I am interested in exploring how engineers can design sustainable products and systems. To do so, we need to have a better understanding of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the materials that engineers use in their designs. The School of Mining & Mineral Resources brings together a range of stakeholders whose diverse expertise can help us better evaluate and minimize the impact of the materials we use.

What feeds your passion for research and/or teaching?

I’m motivated by helping to train the next generation of engineers, both in classes and in research. I’m passionate about preparing students with critical thinking skills and empathy for the stakeholders who are impacted by their design outcomes or research outputs.

What drew you to the mechanical engineering field?

I love mechanical engineering because it has a direct connection to the objects we see and use in everyday life. Cars, medical devices, consumer goods—all these things are supported by mechanical engineering. I chose this field so I could better understand the world around me and contribute to new tools and products that will make others’ lives better.

What makes you passionate about your fields of research?

I am passionate about improving engineering practices to enable more efficient and sustainable decision-making during new product design and development. My goal is to improve the lives of others and to make a practical impact in industry through my research.

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in the mining and minerals industry?

Engage with a variety of viewpoints and take an interdisciplinary approach to your education. Engineering the complex systems we see today is a huge undertaking and requires engineers to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Networking and professional skills can help you engage with diverse stakeholders and make you a more effective engineer.

What role do you see manufacturing and design exploration and the School of Mining & Mineral Resources playing in addressing the global challenges we currently face?

For engineers, it’s important to consider that the materials in your product don't appear magically during manufacturing. All the materials we use in engineering are extracted from natural resources. We need to consider the impact of these materials from extraction and refinement to disposal or recycling after the product's useful life. If we explore more of the possible design and manufacturing options, we can create products with lower environmental impacts over their lifecycle. Engineers can consider sustainability along with functional requirements to design more sustainable products and processes that can help address the global challenges facing society.