Sophie Beitel (BS ’25)
What inspired you to study engineering?
When I was four or five, I declared I wanted to be an inventor. I dreamed of working with complex gear systems like the ones I saw in movies.
I chose USC for many reasons. Initially, I visited because the engineering school had an equal gender split. But I ultimately decided to apply when I realized how distinct USC’s culture is compared to other engineering schools. I also had many passions outside of engineering – at other schools, I felt like I would have to confine myself to a narrow field. At USC, interdisciplinary interests weren’t just accepted – they were encouraged and celebrated.
There were also several smaller factors that drew me in: the Solar Car Team, the Biomimicry Institute, USC Makers and the Grand Challenge Scholars Program. I knew I wanted to pursue that scholarship from the moment I arrived – and I was successful! I emailed Dean Yortsos to discuss the program – never expecting a reply, let alone a meeting. To my surprise, he sat down with me for 30 minutes to discuss my ambitions and the unconventional path I hoped to take.
As you approach commencement, what do you consider to be some of your most significant academic achievements?
There have been many, thanks to the wealth of opportunities at USC to take on big projects and turn ideas into reality. Winning the Min Family Challenge during my freshman year was a proud moment for me and my team.
When COVID-19 hit during my sophomore year, I chose to take a year off because I valued in-person learning. A lot of people warned me that I’d struggle to reintegrate and perform well academically, but I trusted myself. Another major achievement was developing my wave energy capture project. I came up with the idea after combing through countless research papers, and I built it from the ground up under the guidance of Professor Lynett.
How have you applied your learning in an industry setting?
Last fall, I joined Sperra – a company focused on harnessing ocean energy – as a mechatronics engineer working on their deep-sea battery. It’s a large concrete sphere that stores energy by pumping out water using excess grid power. When energy is needed, water is let back in and used to spin a turbine. It’s a brilliant design that’s essential for the clean energy transition and reduces reliance on chemical batteries.
I’ve been designing everything in the prototype that isn’t made of concrete. It’s been a massive undertaking, and I’ve had a lot of freedom and responsibility. The process involved constant trial and error, design and redesign. But I’m incredibly proud of the final product – every single component was carefully thought out and tested. It’s watertight in more ways than one.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities or organizations during your time at USC?
Makers! It’s an amazing club powered by pure joy, where students receive funding and support to build their passion projects. I completed three projects over three years: a modular robot, a propeller attachment that lets you fly paper airplanes from your phone (and even have battles with friends), and a low-energy, low-water solar panel cleaning system. That last one was inspired by a fellow student, Mitch Kirby, to reduce energy loss from soiling on solar panels. These projects gave me lifelong friends and invaluable skills.
What’s your best piece of advice for other students?
The two most important things you’ll build in college are your experiences and your connections. Say yes to as many cool projects as you can. Always go to office hours – even just to chat. Reach out to people who are doing the kind of work you dream of doing.
Published on May 12th, 2025
Last updated on May 12th, 2025
