Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Mohammad Nassar

Year in Program: Second-year PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Yunfei Zhao
Research Interests: Probabilistic Risk Assessment and Fault Tree Analysis

What drew you to engineering?
I've always been fascinated by engineering because it combines creativity with problem-solving. From a young age, I was captivated by how things work—whether it was taking apart household gadgets or trying to understand complex systems.

What made you choose UMD and the ENRE Reliability Program?
I chose the ENRE program at UMD because it's one of the few specialized programs that offer a comprehensive focus on reliability. The program is well-structured, and the community of faculty and research assistants is incredibly supportive and helpful.

What do you want people to know about Reliability Engineering that they may not be aware of?
Reliability Engineering is about more than just making sure products work correctly—it's about designing systems that are dependable, safe, and cost-effective throughout their entire lifecycle. Many people don't realize that reliability engineering is proactive, not reactive; it involves predicting potential failures and mitigating risks before they occur, which ultimately saves time, money, and lives.

Fun fact about me:
I enjoy practicing origami and cycling, even though I'm not that great at either!

Published September 3, 2024