Ryan Welch

Ryan Welch is pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at George Washington University. He credits SMART with introducing him to the range of opportunities available withing the Department of Defense (DoD), which influenced him to envision a career at a DoD research facility. Through his scholarship, Ryan was able to secure his first internship, where he gained valuable experience in utilizing high-performance computers, networking with professionals in his field, and observing engineering in action. 

As a SMART scholar Ryan also benefits from having a full-time job upon graduation. After completing his degree, he will pursue his research interests at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Virginia. He says, “I have freedom to guide my research, and I have made important connections with people within my field. This will lead to more opportunities in the future and keep me tuned into new technologies that are under development.” 

Overall, Ryan’s experience as a SMART scholar has been incredibly rewarding; he’s continuously provided with the tools and support needed to succeed in his career and educational goals. He recently won first prize for the George Washington University three-minute thesis competition, where Ph.D. students pitch their research to a nontechnical audience. His presentation can be found here. Outside of his work, Ryan enjoys playing pool (billiards), fishing, swimming, surfing, and being outdoors.