Extraordinary Engineer: Erika Landree

Erika_Landree

Erika Landree

Hometown
Catonsville, Maryland

High School
Catonsville High School

Degree Major
Biological Engineering, Spanish minor

Expected Graduation
May 2026

What is your favorite thing about being a student at UGA?

“My favorite thing about being a student at UGA is being surrounded by people who can teach me something new everyday.”

Why did you choose engineering?

“I chose engineering so that I could not only study biology but also use my creativity to modify and create new technologies in the biomedical field.”

Why is it important for the university to have a diverse community?

“Through diversity and collaboration, new ideas can be born. By diversifying the campus we are able to bring new perspectives together and create change.”

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced while at UGA?

“My greatest challenge I have faced at UGA is finding a balance between coursework and extracurriculars. With engineering having such a demanding course load and there being so many opportunities across campus, it is important to me to make time for both, even though that can be hard at times.”

What have you learned that has made a difference for you?

“College has been the biggest growing experience of my life. The biggest thing I have learned is to dream big. While we are surrounded by endless opportunities, it is never too late to expand your goals and reach for the stars.”

Erika Landree with Friends in Dresses

 

Who has helped you become a successful student at UGA?

“Damion Dixon, whom I consider my favorite mentor ever, has taught me the ins and outs of engineering in a laboratory setting. He has not only taught me a lot, but has also made research more fun than I ever thought possible!”

What is your reasearch and why did you choose this area?

“During the past semester I have been exploring the effects of piezoelectric bone scaffolds on bone cell growth with Ph.D. candidate Damion Dixon. These scaffolds have future applications in bone regeneration in the medical field. It has always been important to me to help others and through biomedical engineering I am able to use math and science to do just that.”

What is your favorite spot on campus and why?

“My favorite spot on campus has to be either the third floor reading room in the Main Library or the Founders Garden.”

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?

My favorite restaurant in Athens at the moment is The World Famous.

What has been your favorite class at UGA?

“My favorite class so far was a history class I took during my first semester of college (HIST 1211). I had an amazing professor that demonstrated to the class how many lessons can be learned from the past and other people’s perspectives.”

What’s been your best memory at UGA so far?

“Picking my favorite memory at UGA is hard but I think it has to be volunteering with UGA Habitat for Humanity. This club helps to provide housing for lower income individuals and our help as an organization directly contributes to lowering the cost of building the houses.”

Erika Landree at a football game with a friend

 

What advice do you have for younger students who wish to pursue engineering?

“I would suggest finding an area of study that you are truly interested in. When you find passion about a topic, learning becomes a lot more fun and new ideas start popping up all of the time.”

How do you hope to impact society with your engineering degree?

“By completing my engineering degree I hope to prepare myself to create change in the biomedical engineering field. This change will hopefully provide treatment for people suffering incurable conditions and give them hope for the future.”

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