SETU postgraduate student Aderinola Ogunleye has successfully transitioned from academic excellence to industry impact, securing a position as a Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer at Mbryonics in Galway.
Currently pursuing the Master of Science in Innovative Technology Engineering at SETU, Aderinola’s new position marks a significant milestone in her professional career, allowing her to apply her advanced technical skills to cutting-edge aerospace and photonics technology.
Aderinola was selected as a recipient of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) Women in Engineering (WiE) IDEA Award at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Japan. Building on this achievement, she has been appointed to the IEEE RAS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee for the 2025 and 2026 terms, supporting initiatives that promote inclusion across the global robotics and automation community.
Choosing SETU
After completing her undergraduate degree in Mechatronics Engineering in Nigeria and gaining almost two years of industry experience through internships and engineering roles in aviation, automation, and the oil and gas sectors, Aderinola chose to pursue a master’s at SETU as it aligned with her ambition of becoming a design engineer.
"To be a great designer, one needs a strong foundation across multiple key disciplines. The combination of mechanical engineering, business and biomedical engineering modules provides a cross-disciplinary basis necessary to design innovative solutions for a broad range of complex engineering industries" she said.
Modules such as convergent technologies, novel materials, advanced mechanics of materials and technology management were key in developing her technical expertise, she added. In addition, professional practice & development and technology entrepreneurship helped equip her with the skills needed to succeed in industry, whether as an employee or entrepreneur.
A supportive learning environment
For Aderinola, the lecturers, coursemates and interactive teaching approach have been the highlights of her postgraduate experience.
"Our lecturers are always approachable and willing to answer questions, no matter how simple they may seem. They encourage participation and presentations, creating an engaging learning environment that helps us build confidence and deepen our understanding."
Aderinola Ogunleye SETU Graduate.
She believes choosing SETU was the right decision and values the university's student-centred approach, which places a strong emphasis on students learning, wellbeing and overall experience.
Beyond the classroom
Outside her studies, Aderinola is an active member of SETU’s Women in Tech, taking part in networking events and industry visits. One of the highlights was a visit to Google's European Headquarters, where students met Google engineers and learned about career opportunities and innovation within the technology sector.
Engineering with purpose
Aderinola's dissertation focuses on the fabrication of a racing car chassis using carbon fibre reinforced polymers as a sustainable alternative to conventional metal. Her research investigates fatigue performance, fracture behaviour and life cycle assessment, with the aim of designing safer, lighter and more environmentally friendly vehicles.
Looking ahead, Aderinola is eager to begin her new position as a Mechanical Design Engineer at Mbryonics, where she will contribute to innovative design work and collaborate on high-technology engineering projects. Her appointment reflects both her technical ability and SETU’s commitment to developing industry-ready graduates who can make a positive impact.
