Rachael Lau

Why I Chose Duke Engineering

I chose Duke Engineering because I wanted to find a place where I would take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding traditional engineering problems. While my career goals have changed throughout my tenure at Duke and after, my experiences in my degrees at Duke informed my interest in public service, centering people in my work, and thinking with an entrepreneurship mindset. I found Duke’s access and emphasis on international travel and research-based activities the most stimulating and rewarding (Bass Connections, for example).

Before Duke Engineering

Before Duke, I knew I wanted to work in crisis response, but I wasn’t sure in what capacity. I was (and still am) very passionate about people and Duke’s encouraging and open culture of collaboration gave me the space to think about crisis through an engineering and sociopolitical lens.

After Duke Engineering

After Duke, I went on to work in public service as a technical expert in the use of remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and civil engineering for disaster response. I was able to pursue a Fulbright during my time at Duke, start a lab with Bass Connections, and spend years cultivating a deep working knowledge of how infrastructure and people interact in periods of disaster. This prepared me to serve in my current role today, thinking about systems from social, economic, and technical perspectives — perspectives I wouldn’t have gained if I hadn’t had the opportunity to explore them independently during my time at Duke.

5 Ways to Maximize Your Time at Duke

1. Embrace being uncomfortable. Duke is about growing, and the discomfort of unfamiliarity means you’re learning. You’re doing it right.
2. Take advantage of the incredible mentorship Duke faculty and graduate students can offer. Everyone can teach us something. Be excited to learn from others.
3. Embrace pluralism. Duke is a wildly unique place where I learned that multiple truths can exist at the same time. Make space to understand yourself and others, even though the way you may see the world is different. Examine and celebrate one another.
4. Travel. Duke has incredible opportunities for international travel. Bass Connections, independent courses, study abroad — there are plenty of accessible ways to travel at Duke. I didn’t travel much internationally growing up, but taking that leap at Duke was the best thing I ever did and I have never looked back.
5. Be competitive, but most importantly, be kind. Your only competition at Duke is yourself. Compete with yourself, not with your peers. They are your biggest asset both during your time at Duke and after — lean on each other, support each other, and let them challenge you to be better.