Brain Power
Venezuelan native Luis Aguilar found a home at Widener, a place where he could forge strong mentorships and lifelong friendships, and pursue his interests in brain-computer interface research.
- School of Engineering
Luis Aguilar certainly made the most of his time at Widener. He worked closely with Dr. Xiaomu Song, researching brain-computer interface, a technology that creates a communication pathway between a wired brain and a device, such as a computer or prosthesis. The field is on the cusp of improving the lives of people with damaged hearing, sight, and movement, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
“At Widener, classes are small. So you can actually have that deep conversation with professors," says Luis. "It turns into an almost individual class and becomes better in the learning process.”
A Venezuelan native, Luis found a supportive community at Widener, benefitting from mentorship within the classroom and out.
I consider my growth heavily influenced by my mentors at Widener, whether in engineering, theater, or International Student Services. — Luis Aguilar '18
Luis had such a positive mentoring experience that he's now paying it forward in his professional life. He's part of the Uncommon Individual Foundation's technology mentoring program. Luis visits schools to help develop STEM-related curricula and instructs both teachers and students in STEM-related skills, including programming, 3D modeling and printing, animation, and robotics.
Widener’s small class sizes were a perfect for Luis, whose one-on-one interactions with professors helped him develop his interest in neuroscience and pursue brain-computer interface research.
A Venezuelan native, Luis was far from home. But Widener's welcoming environment put him at ease. He forged friendships with students of all backgrounds, received support from International Student Services, and developed strong mentorship relationships with faculty and staff across campus.
Luis pursued Widener’s 4+1 accelerated biomedical engineering program, earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees in less time, helping him jumpstart his career.
