Evan Cusato
Engineer, Designer, & Explorer
-
Use the right tool for the right job.
-
The right tool is always a hammer.
-
Anything can be a hammer.
Technical Challenges
Satellite Thermal Testing at NASA JPL
During the summer of 2019, I was invited to be a part of the team of engineers preparing the Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite for launch. This talented group taught me more than I could have imagined about practical thermal engineering.
Endoscopy at Boston Scientific
For my senior capstone project, I am leading a student engineering team to develop new endoscopy technology by partnering with Boston Scientific. The details of this project are protected under NDA.
Shape Memory Alloys at NASA Armstrong
After my sophomore year at Olin, I was invited to join an engineerign research team at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB. While there, I assisted in the team's preparation to use shape memory alloys for aircraft wing actuation.
Robot End Effectors at Olin College
For my final project in my Design for Manufacturing (DFM) course at Olin, I worked on a team of five students to design a robotic end effector to explore techniques for optimizing cost, mass manufacturing methods, and other concepts.
My Projects
User-Oriented Design & Product Development
Developing the WorkBar Coworking Space with Olin College Academic Center Reboot
As a part of an effort I led to reimagine Olin College's academic center, a clasmate and I made a scalable prototype of a new style workspace, which could be easily modified to fit the ever-changing space demands of the community.
Programatic Architecture with Olin College Academic Center Reboot
In my second year of undergraduate studies, I founded and organized a team of top faculty, staff, and students to outline redesigns of critical academic spaces to embody Olin's singular academic philosophy.
Designing for Social Good at Olin College
Service animal handlers are a surprisingly underserved and isolated group of people. I had the pleasure to work with that community on a student design team charged with generating ideas to improve their quality of life.
Beyond Engineering
Public Speaking & Performing Arts
Since long before Olin, I have been blessed with many opportunities to step onto the stage and say my piece. Here are a few of my recent forays in public speaking and my appearances in theatrical productions.
Travel: Western Europe & Morocco
In the spring of 2019, I had the absolute privilege to live in Sevilla, Spain for four months. I met so many wonderful and fascinating people from all over the world as I traveled through Spain. Read more of my adventures in my travel blog here!
Olin Fire Arts
As a practicing member of the Olin Fire Arts Club, I must walk the line between peril and wonder. However, this seemingly dangerous hobby also presents me with a wonderful engineering challenge. I am currently in the process of designing an entirely original prop.
Why I am an Engineer:
I became an engineer to make a difference, and to do so surrounded by capable, driven, and good people. I want to create products and solve problems that will add value and make peoples’ lives better. I’m a dreamer and an optimist, and I believe that engineers who can consider the consequences of their work have the power to change the world for the better.
It’s those consequences themselves that inspire me to be creative. To me, the technical challenge holds only as much value as the impact I can make by surmounting it. I see the creative products of engineering as one of the key ways in which we can make a difference in the lives of others. Whether that’s making everyday tasks a little less difficult or using technology to fundamentally alter human understanding, engineering creates value. I want to create value.
tools by i cons from the Noun Project, person by Guilherme Furtado from the Noun Project, sticky notes by OliM from the Noun Project, Arrow by M Yudi Maulana from the Noun Project, product by Rafael Garcia Motta from the Noun Project, Send fun by Alfonso López-Sanz from the Noun Project