Student Spotlight: Mechanical Engineering PhD Student Megh Doshi

After completing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering in the spring of 2023, Megh Doshi decided his time at UW-Madison was not quite complete. Now, more than a year into the Mechanical Engineering PhD  program, Megh has enjoyed diving deeper into his research on control systems for haptic devices. The emphasis of the PhD degree to conduct independent research has provided Megh the opportunity to work on impactful projects, network with colleagues, and see his work come to life.

What has your engineering journey been like? Did you ‘always’ want to be an engineer?

My engineering journey has been a lot of fun so far. I started my engineering journey with an undergraduate degree in Electronics and Telecommunications engineering. I was always interested in building multi-disciplinary projects, however, which led me to change majors during graduate school. The research I do in mechanical engineering is very hands-on and applied, which makes every day challenging and enjoyable. Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be an engineer, simply because I liked building cool things. Being an engineer allows me to do exactly that.

How did you decide to pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineering?

I have always been very interested in research. In fact, as an undergraduate student I already had 4 publications. Despite majoring in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, I was part of my college BAJA team, which won multiple awards at different competitions, and motivated me to change my major from ECE to Mechanical Engineering (ME) in grad school. I realized I was more interested in the visual and applied field, i.e. robotics, which led me to the mechanical engineering degree and department at UW-Madison. Changing majors in grad school was not easy; it took me over a year to learn and get used to the coursework and concepts. But it has all been worth it. I truly enjoy building machines that move, and it is very satisfying to watch my work come to life.

Can you describe your research with Professor Mike Zinn?

My research with Professor Mike Zinn in the REACH lab has been very exciting and fun. Most of my work has been on control systems for haptic devices, which is a very hands-on topic. Haptic devices can emulate textures or objects that are not physically present using force feedback from motors or other actuators. In simpler terms, they are devices that allow you to feel virtual objects. Most often these devices are used for teleoperating robots, so the operator can feel what the robot is feeling, or for video games in virtual reality. In terms of research, it is even more interesting as the device allows you to feel any changes you make to the math equations residing in it. My research focuses on developing novel control and actuation approaches for improving the performance of haptic devices, as well as robots.

Mike is one of the most motivating advisors I have come across at UW. He allows my lab mates and I to explore the research area by ourselves, while still managing to guide our research productively. The research we do is very applied and experimental from moving robots to high-fidelity haptic devices. The skills we gain through this are very valuable in both industry and academia. Apart from the technical skills, my lab mates and I all say, with Mike “you get a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and in life”. Mike has a lot of wisdom to share, and I doubt I would have continued down the path to a PhD without his support and encouragement. It has helped me develop both as an engineer and, overall, as an individual.

What has your experience as a graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering been like?

As a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UW-Madison, my experience has been both challenging and rewarding. The program offers exceptional research opportunities with access to state-of-the-art facilities and a collaborative environment with faculty and peers. The underlying coursework provided a strong foundation and set me up for success in my independent research, where I’ve had the chance to contribute to impactful projects. The mentorship here is supportive, with faculty encouraging open communication and interdisciplinary collaboration.

What is a favorite memory or accomplishment you have from your time at UW-Madison?

My favorite memory is sailing on Lake Mendota during summer evenings with my lab mates or friends. UW has a great sailing club where I started and learned sailing and it has been the most enjoyable experience of my time here. My lab mate, Patrick, introduced me to sailing and sloop racing, which the Sailing Club conducts every week. It is an experience unique to Madison and I recommend everyone to try it.

Are you involved with any student organizations? If so, what is your involvement?

I was heavily involved in the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Graduate Student Advisory Council, ME GSAC, over the last two years. My main role was to plan, advertise and execute social events. I took up the role because I wanted graduate students in ME to have more opportunities to interact with other students outside of their lab. This was especially important to me, as it was something I had struggled with during the COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid/virtual work environment. I think having more social events has facilitated the forming of both professional and social connections within the ME graduate student community. As I mentioned above, I was also part of the sailing club here at UW, which made for some of the most enjoyable summers I have had.

What might you share with other UW/Engineering students coming up behind you?

I would say enjoy your time in graduate school, because there is probably not going to be a better environment to learn and grow both as a person and as an engineer. The other piece of advice I would share is the UW community is invaluable. Make sure you network and connect with people who are outside your area of expertise and gain perspective from them as well. Few other places would have such a helpful environment that will help you grow in such a way as I have here.