A student’s journey: Reva Chaudhary, Aerospace Engineering
As an international undergraduate student coming to a new country, Reva Chaudhary faced many challenges. At the start of her academic journey, she felt isolated, struggling to adapt to a new culture while taking on her first year in aerospace engineering. However, she soon gained confidence and inspiration from her professors.
“Professor Reza Faieghi encouraged me to explore neural networks and machine learning – topics I knew little about initially,” said Chaudhary. “Thanks to his guidance, I completed a thesis on that subject.” When facing uncertainties about her career pathways, Chaudhary credited Professor Cheung Poon for always offering helpful advice. “My professors' support has been crucial to my success as a student,” said Chaudhary.
“I came to this country with the dream of excelling in aerospace engineering, driven by a passion for innovation. I want to inspire others who may be facing similar challenges, showing them that it is possible to rise above difficulties and make a lasting impact in the world.”
Chaudhary presenting the award-winning project at the IEEE International Symposium.
As a research assistant under Professor Fengfeng (Jeff) Xi’s supervision, Chaudhary had the opportunity to present at the IEEE International Symposium on Personal, Indoor, and Mobile Radio Communications. Alongside teammates and researchers, Vishaal Venkatesh and Sifat Hasan, the team won the 2nd Best Demo award for their “Intelligent Systems for Active Noise Control within Aircraft Cabins” project. “It was a proud moment to know that our efforts were recognized by industry experts,” said Chaudhary. Further inspired to push boundaries in the field, this past year Chaudhary co-presented zone-based active noise control research with TMU PhD aerospace engineering candidate and lead researcher, Wintta Ghebreiyesus, at the Acoustical Society of America conference.
(Left) Chaudhary participated in TMU’s Toastmasters and TEDxTorontoMetU “Talk it Out” event, where she placed top five for her public speaking and impromptu skills! (Right) Chaudhary took her presentation skills to the Acoustical Society of America conference.
With a drive to innovate, Chaudhary pursued several internships to apply concepts in real-world environments. She completed internships at some of the leading aerospace companies, including Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney, and Airbus in Germany. Chaudhary said, “These experiences allowed me to immerse myself in the aerospace industry and gave me the confidence to contribute to complex projects and adapt to new environments.” Balancing the demands of a full academic course load while working posed new challenges, but it also showed Chaudhary the true power of perseverance.
Chaudhary enjoying her internship experience at Airbus in Germany, where she helped develop advanced digital processes for fiber lay-up in aerospace manufacturing.
Reflecting on her experiences to date, Chaudhary said, “I continue to be motivated by the belief that through hard work, perseverance, and the guidance of mentors, I can overcome any barrier and achieve my goals.” To her peers and future students, Chaudhary shared, “There will be moments when you feel like you’re juggling a million things at once, and honestly, you probably are. But trust me, you’ll come out stronger and smarter with some wild stories to tell.”