Bio
Ben Savonen is a PhD Student in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. He formerly received his Masters degree in Environmental Engineering from Michigan Technological University as a part of the Peace Corps Masters International Progam. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania for two years (2012-2014). He obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Ohio State University in 2011. His research interests include human-centered design, design for the developing world, and sustainable technologies.
Existing Works
Created the page on Water_Defluoridation as part of an assignment for the class "Engineering with Developing Communities" (CE5993) at MTU. [1]
Masters report from 2015 entitled Criteria for Sustainable Product Design with 3D printing in the Developing World. Criteria for Sustainable Product Design with 3D printing in the Developing World
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Design Projects
Resume
EDUCATION
Michigan Technological University Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, expected May 2018 Dissertation: Metrics for the Design of Mass Market Social Impact Products in Developing Markets Michigan Technological University M.S. Environmental Engineering, April 2015 Peace Corps Masters International Program M.S. Report: Criteria for Sustainable Product Design with 3D Printing in the Developing World GPA: 3.87 The Ohio State University Columbus, OH B.S. Mechanical Engineering, June 2011 GPA: 3.59 Cum Laude
SKILLS SUMMARY
Engineer with diverse experiences on unique projects in product design, community infrastructure, and education. Versatile, adaptable, and reliable with proven success in managing projects and collaborating with partners across different cultures and disciplines. Proven analytical skills and practical engineering design work with experience and training in impact-focused business planning and socially responsible design practices.
ENGINEERING WORK EXPERIENCE
Villgro Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya Strategy/Business Development Associate, June 2016 – August 2016 - Providing engineering design support to Kenyan entrepreneurs developing new health sector businesses - Prototyping and co-designing medical products with the use of 3D printing and human-centered design processes - Organizing and planning OkoaMama hackathon in Nairobi (August 2016) to find technology and business solutions to improve maternal and child health in urban slum settings - Leading in-depth study into the ability of 3D printing to sustainably benefit health centers in rural western Kenya The Ben Shima Group, Houghton, MI Designer, February 2016 - Present - Providing CAD and finite element analysis to support design process on proprietary contract design project for bicycle industry equipment manufacturer United States Peace Corps, Iringa, Tanzania Volunteer, June 2012 – September 2014 - Planner/manager of a water borehole/pipeline project for a rural hospital - Design of tank/pump system and coordinated community involvement in construction - Project improved inconsistent hospital water access (from 4 days/week to daily) for a hospital of 18 healthcare workers and 40 patients Det Norske Veritas, Dublin, OH Engineering Intern, June 2011 – August 2011 - Member of group assigned to assess the condition of natural gas pipelines - Systematically evaluated technical documents to verify equipment was maintained - Contributed to safe maintenance and operation of several thousand miles of natural gas lines
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCES
United States Peace Corps, Iringa, Tanzania Volunteer, June 2012 – September 2014 - Taught Physics and Chemistry classes to 500+ secondary school students for 30+ hrs/week - Design/construction of models, apparatus, glassware, and rocketry equipment with locally available materials to stretch limited school budgets by several hundred USD, effectively increasing the science laboratory budgets five-tenfold - Developed and edited Shika na Mikono, a set of manuals for low-cost laboratory and science education demonstration materials - Led over 30 hours’ worth of training events focused on low-cost laboratory sourcing for over 300 educators from Peace Corps and the Tanzanian Ministry of Education Umoja Engineering, Houghton, MI/Arusha, Tanzania Researcher, September 2011 - May 2012 - Researched ability and economics of regenerating locally produced filter media - Developed implementable social business model promoting defluoridation filter - Assisted business development for Tanzania-based social venture Michigan Tech, Engineering Learning Center, Houghton, MI Graduate Coordinator, August 2015 - Present - Organized budget, schedule, and day-to-day operations of engineering student support center that assists students in topics including statics, mechanics of materials, dynamics, and thermodynamics - Coordinated and managed academic coaching staff of 17 that supports approximately 200 student visit hours per week Michigan Science Teaching and Assessment Reform, Houghton, MI Graduate Research Assistant, April 2015 – August 2015 - Coordinated state-wide collaboration in the development of Common Core-aligned science curriculum for potential use in all 900 Michigan middle schools - Further development of three years’ worth of curriculum is ongoing with support from over 18 Michigan school districts and the American Geosciences Institute
HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
- Recipient of the Graduate School Dean’s Fellowship at Michigan Tech (2015-2016) - Scholar in National Science Foundation’s Sustainability in STEM program (2011-2012) - Swimming Team Captain and 4-year letter winner for The Ohio State University (2007-2011) - Three-Time Qualifier USA Swimming National Championships (2007-2010) - Event Organizer/ Program Director of “Water to Water,” an inter-university fundraiser for Thirst Relief International (2011-2012) - Swim Coach for Houghton HS and Copper Country Killer Whales (2011-2012, 2014-present) - Summited Mount Kilimanjaro (2014)
LANGUAGES
- Swahili - “Advanced High” level in US State Department’s Language Proficiency Interview - Kihehe – Self-taught the Kihehe Language and compiled Tulongane Pamwinga, a grammar book and dictionary for the indigenous Bantu language of Kihehe to be distributed to volunteers and NGOs in southern Tanzania
COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE PROFICIENCY
SolidWorks, ANSYS, Autodesk Inventor CAD, MatLab, FreeCAD, Cura
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