Alexander Woltman

Alexander Woltman is a biomedical engineering major from Glen Ellyn, IL

Hometown: Glen Ellyn, IL

High School: Glenbard West

Year: Expected graduation: Spring 2026

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
When I was younger, I wanted to be an aerospace engineer, but before I went into college, I decided to take another path.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am majoring in biomedical engineering. I decided on this major because I wanted to pursue a career in engineering and really wanted to help people. I have seen a lot of people who have lost limbs due to various accidents and decided that I wanted to pursue a major in which I could design prosthetics to help these people live their lives as close as possible to the way they did before their accident.

Have you conducted your own research through Research Rookies, Honors capstones or theses or any other faculty-guided research opportunity?
Yes

Tell us about the research you are doing and why it interests you.
I am currently doing biodynamics research with Professor Ting Xia. We have done research for the National Institute for Safety and Health involving how wearing an exoskeleton affects a person's balance. This research interests me because it allows me to look at how improvements to current technologies and practices can either help or hurt workers.

How has conducting research strengthened your education and experience at NIU?
This research has strengthened my education at NIU because it has given me real-world experience in how a lab works and has taught me how to use certain programs that I wouldn't have learned in my normal classes.

How will your research experience help you in the future?
My research experience will help me in the future by giving me experience in an area that many other students fresh out of college might not have received.

Who at NIU has been important to your success doing research and why?
Professor Ting Xia has been vital to my success in conducting research here at NIU. He put his trust in me to help him with an experiment, and now I'm one of his full-time research assistants. He has been very helpful when teaching me how to use the equipment and a great person to go to when I need help with classes or with things in the lab.

What advice would you give to an incoming student as it relates to research at NIU?
I would say to talk with your professors and see what they are currently doing.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
I was pleasantly surprised with all of the resources that were at my disposal. The Anywhere Printers and apps made it easy for me to get work done anywhere on campus. The library was a perfect place to do homework and to study, and the Holmes Student Center has become my favorite building on campus because of the Huskie Den and the other places to get food.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
A lot of the friendships I have made have been through the Huskie Den. When I first got here, one of my friends from high school and I started playing pool a lot, and so we spent most of our time at the Den. I would see a lot of the regulars who were there when I would play and would ask to play with them, and these people have become some of my best friends. One of them even helped me join the drumline here at NIU.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I am involved in the Huskie Marching Band as a part of the drumline. I already loved going to football games and this made everything so much more engaging. It is a great group of people, and it has been a large part of my success here at NIU.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology has helped me feel successful by providing me with plenty of resources, such as the computer lab and free tutoring, which has helped me prepare for all of my classes and exams.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
The Honors Justice Challenge helped me grow closer to my academic goals by introducing me to a lot of people with differing career goals or majors, which in turn helped me work with people who have different backgrounds than me.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I enjoy how participating in honors seminars and courses has increased the scope of my learning. For example, even though I am an engineering major, through taking honors courses, I have learned a lot about how other majors work with mine and how to collaborate.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
One of my favorite professors has been Professor Heather Bergan-Roller for BIOS 208. She taught in a way that really made the material stick, and in the honors section of the class we would listen to podcasts every week regarding biology topics, then have class discussions. These discussions were very productive and linked the very STEM-focused class with more social topics.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Attending class regularly has benefited me because I never feel behind, and I always feel prepared for exams and any projects or essays that are due.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is the Huskie Den. I'm drawn to it because it is a fun area to relax after a stressful week. I have also met a lot of my friends here, so it is always fun just going because there is almost always someone I know there, either bowling or playing pool.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
I would advise them to look at what resources or places the colleges have to help with stress reduction. College can be very stressful, so it is very important that the school you go to has resources to help with this. Whether that is an on-campus gym, resources to teach students about dealing with stress or a place you can go to relax, it is important that your school has things to help reduce stress.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is important to me because it will help me gain the knowledge and experience to be successful in my adult life after college.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I try to work on homework when I receive it in order to get ahead, so I can then focus on working or hanging out with friends and family. I usually either go to the library or a coffee shop and put on music to help me focus. Then I go through all of my homework and tests for the week, getting as much done as I can before I become burnt out.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I stay informed by following the Instagrams of various groups on campus, as well as looking out for any email that may interest me.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I usually either play pool, work out, or listen to music and nap.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I currently work as a research assistant for one of my professors and help him by designing 3D printed parts, recording data and using Motion Monitor software. My hobbies include listening to music, playing pool, playing the drums and playing video games.