Q: What inspired you to become an engineer? Were you always interested in technology? If so, why? If not, when did you become interested and why?

A: In 1991, when I was a teenager, my father served as a visiting professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey. I was fortunate enough to travel with my father and was provided with the opportunity to attend Piscataway High School for a full year – Piscataway is actually where IEEE’s global headquarters is located, so I saw the organization firsthand each day on the bus to and from school.

During my stay in New Jersey, I spent my free time utilizing the computers in Rutgers’ library. I always liked understanding how things worked, so this access to information was fantastic for my intellectual growth.

After I returned to Brazil, I realized that my time in New Jersey had stirred a curiosity in me that would ultimately drive me to pursue a career in computer science.