Profile

I graduated in 1963, so that was a little before your time.  I got a masters in EE from NYU and have found my math education to be quite useful.  I specialize in feedback control systems and analysis of mechanical systems.  I design electronics and software.  I use my math education almost every day.  If you want to see some of my work, go to my web site at www.servos.com and also search the web for TADS/PNVS and LANTIRN.  These are two of the night vision systems I worked on many years ago.

Several years ago, I programmed analog computers, which as you know, solve differential equations.  I programmed them for 14 years. Needless to say, I got pretty good at analysis.  I still miss the analog computers because they're like friends.  The analog and computers from the sixties are still faster than a modern day PC.

Many of the guys I work with use fairly sophisticated mathematics in their work:  Finite element models for structures, motor analysis, and thermal analysis.  Calculation of performance of electro-optical systems including infrared cameras.  I'm working with a grad student from U of I who is trying to discover the cause of 1/f noise in circuits.  He is getting his PhD in physics.  Image processing and signal processing.  There is a lot more.  I think this is probably somewhat invisible to students unless they get out and get summer jobs.  With the explosive growth of technology, particularly PCs so we can do the calculations, mathematics is playing a larger and larger role in engineering.