“The very best undergraduate student with whom I have worked.” “The most excellent student I have encountered in my six years of teaching at UT.”
This is just some of the high praise for Aidan Weitzner, this year’s Outstanding Scholar-Leader for the Cockrell School of Engineering. Recognized for her hard work and dedication inside and outside the classroom, Weitzner, a biomedical engineering honors student, graduates with a 4.0 GPA and an MCAT score in the 99th percentile. Her impeccable academic record is complemented by her research activities and leadership experience with the UT Austin Global Health Alliance, Alaska Black Caucus Allies for Change and multiple biomedical engineering lab courses.
We spoke with Weitzner to learn more about her experiences in the Cockrell School, where she’s headed next and what advice she has for future Texas Engineers.
What was an unexpected lesson that you learned during your time at the Cockrell School?
I did not anticipate how much I would be challenged to craft connections between my hard and soft skills. When I applied to the Cockrell School, I knew I needed to challenge my learning mindset. In high school, I often retained information only long enough to test well, and then found myself forgetting it all. I knew engineering would require me to think critically about the world but was surprised to see just how many elements of my thinking shifted.
I entered biomedical engineering without any experience in the realms of software, electronics, or even research. It was hard to do things I wasn’t instantly good at. However, with the support of our engineering community here at UT, I gained the confidence to ask questions and try new things, and began to see how concepts intertwined with one another and between different classes. That ability to make connections has extended to other areas of my life as well, often in unexpected ways. For instance, one of my first research projects on campus focused on the neuroimmune and behavioral effects of nighttime light exposure during development. Working as a pediatric medical assistant off campus, I in turn discussed the impact of extended screen time and light pollution in Austin with families. The fact I studied engineering provided and inspired many unique opportunities to connect the human experience with science.
Which of your many accomplishments or experiences while at UT has meant the most to you?
Looking back on my time on the Forty Acres, I never would have imagined that I would be an active part of two communities, four thousand miles apart. While I grew up primarily in Austin, my family moved to Alaska the year I started at UT. Trips “home” were suddenly trips to a very different place, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a thriving, diverse, urban community in Anchorage. I challenged myself to deepen my roots there. With my interest in education, I volunteered with Story Works Alaska, a local organization focused on helping high school students find their voice through writing and public speaking. My passion for equity in health care and education also led me to serve as Education Committee Secretary for the Alaska Black Caucus, as well as an active ally for the Health Committee.
It’s been incredibly meaningful to create relationships in both Austin and Alaska, and to help forge links between the two. As the Global Health University Coordinator of Global Health Alliance, I educated organization members on current health care issues. Many times, I would be inspired by topics discussed with Story Works Alaska students. I enjoyed the opportunity to share my perspective of Anchorage with peers in Austin, and in a way create a bridge between two places that seem so distant.
Along with academics, you had a lot to balance! What was the trick to managing it all and achieving success?
The encouragement of others has been my primary driver, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic. I have been inspired by the different ways groups I am involved with have stayed connected, and that has made many of my accomplishments and contributions possible. As a result, I was able to testify at school district meetings virtually, as well as join Zoom meetings to develop and discuss Anchorage community policies. I was also inspired by the resiliency of my mentors and peers at UT, as we found ways to host virtual organization events, attend classes and spark innovation in research. Working with those that had such belief in my abilities made it all the more possible to manage multiple commitments.
I am also incredibly grateful for the support of my dad, mom and sister. I have definitely been influenced by the way my mother can bring a positive energy to any situation she encounters. Finding joy in the opportunity to connect and meet people with different life experiences is something that she has inspired me to consistently accomplish.
Where are you headed next, and how do you think your experiences from your time at UT and the Cockrell School will aid you in your next chapter?
I’m thrilled to be pursuing my medical doctorate at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. I cannot thank UT and the Cockrell School enough for preparing me for this opportunity, helping to shape who I am as I start this next chapter.
Engineering in particular has provided me the chance to work on diverse teams. Being surrounded by a wide variety of personalities, backgrounds, experiences and insights that have proven invaluable in learning how to work effectively with others. I am forever indebted to each and every one of my classmates for sharing their time, their intellect and their passion.
Access to the caliber of professors and mentors at the Cockrell School is something I never took for granted. Thanks to them, I’m leaving UT with confidence in my ability to succeed and contribute. The enthusiasm and dedication to learning that faculty possess is what makes an institution as large as UT feel very special and close-knit. Even through the age of online classes, I never once felt isolated. Moving forward in my career, I hope to emulate the same approach, one that has challenged me to be the best version of myself with kindness.
Where do you hope to see yourself in 10 years?
The integration of my experiences as a pediatric medical assistant, researcher and engineering student allows me to consider many different avenues of future practice. On the theme of connection, I’m particularly interested in neurology. There is so much rapid innovation occurring as we learn more about the interconnectedness of the brain with multiple elements of systemic response and behavior. I am also interested in otolaryngology; the intersection of signal processing and human hearing perfectly captures what I enjoyed the most about my time as a BME major.
I aim to emphasize collaboration and innovation in my future pursuits, working with engineers in the medical device industry to provide a clinical perspective. Getting to work with my hands and on a multidisciplinary team are two elements that were heavily emphasized during my undergraduate career. I would like to be part of a larger teaching center, with the opportunity to dip my toes into multiple pursuits as I continue to be a lifelong learner. Whether it be in health care, education or engineering, I also commit to continue to address inequities and to help elevate and amplify the voices of underrepresented populations.
What advice do you have for incoming and current students?
Firstly, you are here for a reason! Never doubt yourself or your abilities. Coming into the Cockrell School, I was incredibly nervous. When you are surrounded by a group of intelligent, high-achieving people, it is easy to have some form of imposter syndrome. I was worried that engineering would be a cutthroat environment, yet nothing could be further from the truth. The Cockrell faculty and your peers are among the most supportive, compassionate people you will ever have the pleasure to spend time with and learn from.
An important piece of advice I received as a freshman was to explore as much as possible. It’s easy to fall into the trap of a checklist approach, only doing what you think will get you from point A to point B. Instead, make the most of the opportunity to investigate what you would truly like to learn more about. There are so many opportunities at UT to pursue different interests, identities and ideas. Even if you decide an activity or pathway isn’t right for you, you will learn something valuable in the process of giving it a chance.
