When he left high school, Christopher Nguyen (BS ’15) knew he wanted to go into an engineering field, though he wasn’t confident in his knowledge of it. Nguyen applied to a variety of engineering programs and universities before ultimately choosing to pursue mechanical engineering at the College of Engineering & Computer Science at Cal State Fullerton.

His choice would launch a successful career path that has landed him in the role of senior engineer at Applied Medical, a company that develops products designed to improve patient outcomes and advance minimally invasive medicine.

Opportunities That Shape the Future

“I’ve always had an interest in building things,” Nguyen says of his love for engineering. “I decided to attend CSUF because it provided an affordable education and didn’t require me to relocate.”

Nguyen admits, “Originally, I didn’t fully enjoy the experience because some of my high school classmates attended really prestigious schools. By the end of my collegiate career, though, I really appreciated the opportunities CSUF offers.”

These opportunities included impactful collaborations with the community and other colleges, including the College of Business & Economics.

“I’m most proud of my accomplishments in developing the CSUF Titan Rover Program and the impact it has had on emerging engineers,” he says. “The staff in both colleges played a significant role in getting that program started.”

Nguyen also praises the extracurricular activities that he was able to participate in. “The projects provided practical insight into what it meant to produce a physical prototype, which really helped in the preparation for and formation of my career,” he says. “I think the eagerness that CSUF staff have to support students was also impactful. Their dedication to finding opportunities that improve students’ chance of success in their fields – like engineering expos and mentorship events like Professor for a Day – was especially valuable.”

During his time at CSUF, Nguyen met several faculty members in the Department of Mechanical Engineering who played notable roles in his professional and personal development, including Associate Professor Salvador Mayoral; Assistant Professor Nina Robson; Professor Haowei Wang; and Professor and Department Chair Chean Chin Ngo.

Sang June Oh, professor of mechanical engineering and associate dean for ECS, also had an impact on Nguyen, inspiring him and opening his eyes to future career possibilities.

As senior engineer of endosurgery research and development at Applied Medical, Nguyen’s responsibilities include ensuring that current product lines are maintained in production and that client feedback is used to inform future product designs. He’s also helped design entirely new products using clinical data.

“My average day at work typically revolves around designing components and features for our products, plus conducting a fair amount of testing and documentation,” Nguyen says. “One of the most rewarding things about working in this space is the direct impact it has on customers and patients. Having a purposeful job has led to a more ideal and rewarding career path.”

A Desire to Uplift Future Engineers

Now, Nguyen wants to help other ECS students find similar fulfillment and success in their fields. In February 2023, he participated in the Professor for a Day program, which invites alumni and industry leaders to campus to share their career and education experiences.

“The Professor for a Day experience was a privilege and very rewarding to participate in,” Nguyen says. “It was also inspiring to hear about the students and their career goals.”

“ECS provided me with a safe environment to take risks, and the opportunities there are endless.”

Christopher Nguyen (BS ’15), senior engineer of endosurgery research and development at Applied Medical

In his interactions with students, he emphasized the importance of taking advantage of collegiate opportunities and leveraging that experience within their desired fields.

“I was fortunate to have peers and mentors to support me through my collegiate career,” he says. “I wanted to be a similar resource to the students and help guide them on their own journeys.”

Nguyen has also donated to ECS, most recently for the 2023 Day of Giving event in March, and he hopes to develop a mentorship program for CSUF students involved in the Titan Rover program.

“I think my opportunities were afforded to me due to the generosity of other people,” he says. “I want to be able to provide that for future engineers and to motivate and encourage them to make strides in solving real-world problems.”

“I believe engineers have the capacity to make a significant impact on the world,” Nguyen continues. “ECS provided me with a safe environment to take risks, and the opportunities there are endless. I hope students learn to tap into those resources. I’m excited for the future and the kind of engineers that ECS can produce.”