Student Spotlight

Jefferson Santos Da Silva is a first-generation Ph.D student in mechanical engineering from Brazil. Jefferson’s road to BYU was not an easy one, but it was a path he always knew he wanted to take.

While on his mission in São Paulo, Brazil, he felt very strongly that he should come to BYU. He knew that if he came here that he would be surrounded by people who share similar experiences to him. Just three short months after returning home from his mission, Jefferson headed to the United States to attend BYU. Before Jefferson could begin his educational journey, however, he first had to learn English. He spent a few years at BYU’s English Language Center (ELC) studying and learning English. Once he completed his time there, Jefferson was ready to begin his undergraduate degree at BYU!

Growing up, Jefferson was always curious about how things worked. He had a knack for math and science and knew that he wanted to apply these to his field of study. He originally wanted to study chemical engineering or physics but was drawn to the breadth of mechanical engineering. He loved how broad the major of mechanical engineering was and that he could learn a variety of engineering concepts.While at BYU, Jefferson participated in both the rocketry club and the wind energy club. He got to design and build his own rocket and helped create a wind turbine for a team competition! Jefferson has also been a TA for several different classes. He loves the opportunity to be involved with the students and help them in their studies.

Not only did Jefferson pursue an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, but he wants to always be learning, so he is now pursuing a Ph.D as well. He loves the research aspect of his continual studies, especially the fact that he can research something no one else has before. His favorite classes he has taken at BYU all relate to the field of fluid dynamics. Jefferson finds it to be a beautiful science. Jefferson’s PhD focuses on cavitation dynamics— studying how bubbles form and behave under special circumstances.

While at BYU, Jefferson participated in both the rocketry club and the wind energy club. He got to design and build his own rocket and helped create a wind turbine for a team competition! Jefferson has also been a TA for several different classes. He loves the opportunity to be involved with the students and help them in their studies.

Jefferson has felt included in the college by surrounding himself with people who have similar interests. Despite limited Brazilian communities in Utah, Jefferson has found his own community within the College of Engineering. As he said, “Everyone here loves math and science and building things.” These common interests help him feel included and helped him to find a welcoming community.

Jefferson’s advice to his fellow students would be to find a group of people that you can study and do your homework with. “The engineering program can be hard and time consuming. If you try and do it by yourself, it will be even harder,” he said.

Outside of his studies, Jefferson loves spending time with his wife and two kids. He and his wife consider themselves to be “food lovers” and enjoy going out to try new places to eat.

We are so glad that Jefferson traveled all the way from Brazil to attend BYU, and we are so grateful that he is a part of our College of Engineering family!