Engineering Organizations
Click the Organization Logo for more information and a link to their website!
More in depth introductions are also available on the IDEA Center YouTube Channel!
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Contact: contact@acmucsd.org
Website
ACM UC San Diego is a computing focused organization at campus that seeks to establish and foster an inclusive member-first community for all who are interested in the field of computing.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Contact: aiaa@ucsd.edu
Website
We are a student run pre-professional organization with the goal of spreading our passion about aerospace, and connecting our students to the vast industry and academic world. Using our connection with the national American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics network as well as professional relationships we have cultivated ourselves, we aim to place students in contact with their fellow peers, professors, industry professionals and leading companies.
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Contact: aiche@ucsd.edu
Website
The UCSD Student Chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE at UCSD) aims to promote the professional development of chemical engineers at UCSD and to foster a community among its members through social activities, career-building events, and service opportunities.
Triton Unmanned Aerial Systems
Contact: tuas@ucsd.edu
Website
We are an interdisciplinary student-run team that designs, builds, tests, and flies our own UAV to compete each year in the Student UAS Competition put on by the AUVSI Seafarer Chapter against over 70 teams from around the world. Our team is split into four subteams: airframe, embedded, software, and business. The airframe team works on composite manufacturing, aerodynamic design, and 3D modeling. The embedded team works on PID control, PCB layout, and circuit design. The software team works on computer vision, path planning, and data networking. The business team works on sponsorships, recruitment, and outreach. Anyone is welcome to join the team regardless of experience!
Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
Contact: bmes.ucsandiego@gmail.com
Website
The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is dedicated to enriching the undergraduate experience for those in the Department of Bioengineering and for those interested in Biomedical Engineering by fostering personal growth and professional development. We encourage undergraduates to get involved with their education and start making a difference today!
Chem-E-Car Project
Contact: chemecar@ucsd.edu
Website
Chem-E-Car Project, centered within the NanoEngineering department, aims to provide chemical engineering students with the opportunity to participate in a team-oriented hands-on design and construction of a small chemical powered model car. In addition, it helps increase awareness of the chemical engineering discipline among the general public, industry leaders, educators and other students.
CS foreach
Contact: csforeach@ucsd.edu
Website
CS foreach is a community outreach, student organization which aims to resolve the problems of equity and access in regards to Computer Science education among the underserved communities of San Diego. In resolving this issue, CS foreach will take an active role to support and initiate efforts to teach Computer Science education and cultivate mentorship between college students and K-12 students.
Computer Science in Agriculture
Contact: rogerscommunitygarden@gmail.com
The goal of CSA is to enable students interested in a variety of fields to connect and engage on solving a singular goal – how to bring aspects of gardening and farming into the 21st century, through the engagement of computer science, engineering, and data sciences majors. CSA will work alongside Roger’s Community Garden (formerly North County Community Garden) to host student projects relating to agriculture, food waste, bioenergy, and sustainability-oriented projects. Members of the organization can hope to gain skills in hardware and software design, soldering, data science, biology, chemistry, etc. Members are not required to have any background knowledge, as CSA and its partners are more than happy to help get interested members up to speed.
Computer Science and Engineering Society (CSES)
Contact: csesucsd@gmail.com
Sponsored by top tech companies and working closely with the CSE department, the Computer Science and Engineering Society provides opportunities to students beyond what they get in the classroom. These include company sponsored events to help you get internships and jobs, workshops to improve your technical skills, social events to build your network, and events that allow you to interact with CSE department faculty and staff! We are open to all students with an interest in computing, not just CSE majors!
Design/Build/Fly (DBF)
Contact: dbf@ucsd.edu
Website
The Design/Build/Fly (DBF) student team designs, fabricates, and demonstrates the flight capabilities of an electric-powered, radio-controlled aircraft that can best meet a given mission objective. The contest provides a real-world aircraft design experience for students by giving them the opportunity to validate their analytical studies. The competition is hosted by Textron Aviation, Raytheon Missile Systems, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) national engineering society.
ECE Undergraduate Student Council (ECE USC)
Contact: eceusc@eng.ucsd.edu
Website
The ECE Undergraduate Student Council (USC) is the voice of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) undergraduate students at UCSD. Through networking, programming, leadership, & relevant education, the council strives to effect change within the department & campus at large, building a stronger & longer-lasting community for current & future engineers. The USC is committed to carrying out ECE’s mission statement of educating tomorrow’s technology leaders.
Envisionaries
Contact: envisionaries.ucsd@gmail.com
Website
1. To educate students in Engineering, Visual Arts, design, and manufacturing processes.2. To support the Envision Maker Studio and other UCSD maker studios working directly with Envision Maker Studio in their goals to provide students with an environment to connect theory with practice.3. To provide a forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas related to Engineering, Visual Arts, and the development of the maker studios. 4. To provide a platform of integration for non-arts or engineering students to learn and work within maker spaces. This group offers a means of access to Envision Maker spaces to non-majors.
Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW)
Contact: esw.ucsd@gmail.com
Website
ESW-UCSD’s Vision: We envision a worldwide era of sustainability in which all communities cooperate to achieve lasting environmental, social, and economic prosperity. ESW-UCSD’s Mission: Our mission is to bring communities together to develop, implement, and share sustainable technologies and practices worldwide.
Engineers Without Borders (EWB)
Contact: ewb@ucsd.edu
Website
Engineers without Borders-USA (EWB) is an international non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life. This partnership involves implementation of environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, while training internationally responsible engineering professionals.
Engineering World Health (EWH)
Contact: ewh.at.ucsd@gmail.com
Website
Engineering World Health focuses on improving the state of global healthcare by spreading awareness, and developing members' interdisciplinary engineering skills required to engineer low-resource medical devices. Year-long, innovative projects addressing specific medical needs of underserved communities will be developed for the Engineering World Health design competition. We accept students from all majors and walks of life who share our passion for improving global healthcare.
Eta Kappa Nu - Electrical Engineering Honor Society (HKN)
Contact: hkn@eng.ucsd.edu
Website
Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN) is the student honor society of IEEE and is dedicated to encouraging and recognizing excellence in IEEE fields of interest. Members consist of students, alumni, and professionals who have demonstrated exceptional academic and professional accomplishments. Student members are selected on the basis of scholastic standing, character, and leadership. At UCSD, HKN provides free tutoring and hosts a variety of workshops and events to promote technical, professional, and academic development.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Contact: ieee@eng.ucsd.edu
Website
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is the world’s largest professional association advancing innovation and technological excellence for the benefit of humanity. We are the UC San Diego Student Branch, and our primary focus is engineering excellence. By becoming excellent engineers, we hope to solve the world’s most challenging problems.
International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE)
Contact: ispe.ucsd@gmail.com
Website
Our purpose is to bring professional development to students in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and related industries. Thus our members will be offered resume/interview building workshops, networking events with industry professionals, industry tours, discussion panels, and much more.
NanoEngineering and Technology Society (NETS)
Contact: nets@ucsd.edu
Website
NETS is a non-profit student organization which facilitates communication and cooperation on nanotechnology and science. We work with NanoEngineering students, faculty members, non-major students and outside industry stakeholders. We provide opportunities for academic development, professional growth, and networking.
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Contact: nsbe@eng.ucsd.edu
Website
NSBE is committed to supporting diverse programs that enrich underrepresented engineering student professionally and academically. NSBE also promotes programs that encourage and influence young students in impoverished urban communities to pursue science and engineering degrees. NSBE's outreach programs create more dynamic interactive pre-college outreach programs that target minority into science and engineering study.
Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM)
Contact: ucsd@chapters.ostem.org
Website
Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) is a nationally recognized organization that is geared towards the personal and professional development of queer or LGBTQIA+ students who are interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through social, educational, professional, philanthropic, and outreach programming. It is also focused on helping students throughout UCSD and San Diego connect to a broader community of queer folks (students and professionals) whose academic interests lie in similar fields.
Project in a Box (PiB)
Contact: pib@eng.ucsd.edu
Website
Project in a Box (PiB) is a team of students passionate about creating. PiB’s goal is to foster a community of makers in order to empower students to invent and launch their careers. We pursue this vision by making projects accessible to students and promoting a hands-on approach to engineering education wherein students learn to place theory into practical, creative applications.
Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (RPL)
Contact: rocket@ucsd.edu
Website
The purpose of Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at UCSD is to help students develop engineering capabilities and promote good engineering practices to prepare them for industry careers. In pursuit of this goal, Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at UCSD will focus on designing innovative propulsion systems and launch vehicles for aerospace applications. Members will learn how to conduct effective research and implement that research in practical applications. By developing these systems from the ground up, members will gain experience and skill in the areas of design, analysis, testing, fabrication, safety, and flight hardware operations.
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)
Contact: ucsd@saseconnect.org
Website
Welcome to SASE @ UCSD! We hope that you will join us for this sen-SASE-tional opportunity! The Chapter is committed to providing support to the community and to promoting educational programs for the advancement of its members
Society of Civil and Structural Engineers (SCSE)
Contact: scse.ucsd@gmail.com
Website
We work to supplement the engineering education of University of California, San Diego students and to promote the personal and professional development of our members. SCSE UCSD also works to improve the community of which we are part through outreach and service.
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)
Contact: seds.ucsd@gmail.com
Website
SEDS UCSD draws its members from an multi-disciplinary group, motivated to advance the new space movement. We are united by the thought that the next logical step in human civilization is not only to explore, but to evolve into a space-faring civilization.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
Contact: shpe@eng.ucsd.edu
Website
The purpose of SHPE UCSD is to promote the advancement of Hispanics in math, science, engineering and other technical fields through our student chapter benefits; including but not limited to Professional Development, Academic Development, and Community Service. SHPE at UCSD is a non-profit student organization.
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Contact: swe@ucsd.edu
Website
Motivate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity.
Tau Beta Pi (TBP) - Engineering-wide Honor Society
Contact: tbp@ucsd.edu
Website
The UC San Diego chapter of TBP works to create and network a community of engineers across all departments and majors. Our goal is to help our members grow into well-rounded engineers who honor their Alma Mater. We host many professional development workshops as well as engineering industry info sessions to prepare our members for their futures. We also hold many community service events, our most notable being the weekly trips to Florence Elementary School to introduce science and engineering topics to 4th and 5th graders, to promote interest in STEM fields. Lastly, our chapter hosts social events for our members to meet and bond with each other. The majority of members have had lasting friendships beyond their college years, which were forged in Tau Beta Pi.
Themed Entertainment Association @ UCSD (TEA)
Contact: tea@ucsd.edu
Website
Officially affiliated with the international Themed Entertainment Association, TEA at UCSD is a club for aspiring theme park designers, engineers, and creators. Providing experience with industry-based, hands-on projects and events that can’t be found anywhere else at UCSD, members graduate prepared to work in the top businesses that create the magical and adventurous experiences we all remember, cherish, and love.
Triton Engineering Student Council (TESC)
Contact: board@tesc.ucsd.edu
Website
TESC wants to develop engineers who exhibit leadership through excellence in all aspects of life: - Prepare students for, and connect them with, professional opportunities; - Coordinate, and collaborate with, engineering student organizations; - Create and maintain a vibrant community for engineering students; and - Champion engineering and engineers in the school, community, and beyond.
Theta Tau (TT)
Contact: officialucsdtt@gmail.com
Website
The purpose of Theta Tau is to build a strong fraternal bond and maintain high standards of professionalism among fellow members. We are a pre-professional engineering organization established for the development of the brothers of the fraternity.]Theta Tau aims to provide its members the social and professional development necessary to succeed during and after their college years.
Triton NeuroTechX at UCSD
Contact: ucsdntx@gmail.com
Website
NeuroTechX at UCSD is a neurotechnology club. We aim to foster a community to share passion and resources around the multidisciplinary field of neuroengineering to instill creativity and produce capable neuro-focused professionals.
Triton Racing - Society of Automotive Engineers
Contact: ucsdtritonracing@gmail.com
Website
To equip up and coming engineers and entrepreneurs with fundamental skills in: design, design for manufacture, data acquisition, cost reduction, cost-benefit analysis, project management, technical writing, marketing, and communication through the lens of building a formula style race car. The FSAE competition itself involves the design and development of a proposed prototype formula style race car that is then taken to one or more of the nine international events hosted by SAE International to be raced against universities from around the world. The multi-faceted competition is composed of static and dynamic events and truly challenges students to meet the grueling demands of the project overall.
Triton Robotics Inc.
Contact: tritonrobotics@ucsd.edu
Website
Promote the practice and field of robotics in the community by providing the opportunity to enter robotics competitions, take part in workshops as well as join a supportive community. Currently, our main goal it to compete in the international RoboMaster Competition organized by DJI.
Triton Robosub
Contact: robosub@ucsd.edu
Website
This organization is devoted to students who want to explore underwater robotics and research applications of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, hereinafter referred to as AUVs. Our main method for exploring this field is by compete in Robonation's Robosub competition, hosted in San Diego's TRANSDEC pool. Students will have the opportunity to not only learn about Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) construction and testing, but will be able to meet technology recruiters at the competition, practice networking skills with other teams and companies, and learn how to write a journal paper.
Triton Software Engineering (TSE)
Contact: tse@ucsd.edu
Website
Triton Software Engineering (TSE) is an interdisciplinary student-run organization at UC San Diego that designs and develops pro-bono software (e.g. web and mobile applications) for non-profits, while giving our students practical, real world experience.
Triton Baja
Contact: baja@ucsd.edu
Website
Our mission at Triton Baja is to provide a challenging platform for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in designing, building, and racing an off-road vehicle. We aim to foster innovation, collaboration, and excellence in engineering while promoting hands-on experience and professional development.
Triton XR
Contact: hello@tritonxr.org
Triton XR is a student organization that connects students with the VR/AR industry through networking, workshops, and projects. Our mission is to foster a multi-disciplinary community dedicated to exploring and creating Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality experiences.
Undergraduate Bioinformatics Club (UBIC)
Contact: ubic.ucsd@gmail.com
Website
The Undergraduate Bioinformatics Club (UBIC) is dedicated to supporting students interested in bioinformatics by facilitating access to jobs, internships, and research opportunities; events, programs, and seminars; communication, collaboration, and socialization between like-minded students; and more.
Video Game Development Club (VGDC)
Contact: vgdcofficial@gmail.com
Website
The Video Game Development Club seeks to bring students who are interested in the process of video game design and development together in a collaborative environment. Students can develop games from start to finish with their peers, and seek feedback and assistance with ideas and projects they may be working on.
Undergraduate Women in Computing at UCSD (WiC)
Contact: wic.ucsd@gmail.com
Website
WIC is a non-profit student organization committed to fostering a supportive and informative environment for women in computing through technical, professional development, and social events. We also focus on high school outreach programs to bring more young women into the field. Keynote speakers, mentorship, career fair information, interview preparation, programming competitions, and attending CS conferences are few of the opportunities that we provide for our members.
Yonder Deep
Contact: deep.yonderdynamics@gmail.com
Yonder Deep, part of the Yonder family of student project teams, is dedicated to pursuing autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) projects, partnering with outside institutions to bring undergraduates closer to tangible research projects, and bringing tangible experience to students interested in the ocean and robotics.
Yonder Dynamics
Contact: yonder.dynamics@gmail.com
Website
Yonder Dynamics is a student-run engineering project team focused on constructing a Martian rover for the University Rover Challenge (URC). The URC is an annual robotics competition where teams across the world build rovers to complete challenges in a simulation Martian environment (the Utah desert). These challenges require the rover to traverse extreme terrain, autonomously navigate the “Martian” desert, perform high-precision tasks (such as typing on a keyboard), and even accurately test an environment for biological traces of extant or extinct life. As a part of Yonder Dynamics, students get hands-on experience working on a successful competitive robot designed to accomplish these diverse and challenging tasks.
Human Powered Submarine
Contact: submarine.ucsd@gmail.com
Website
Human-Powered Submarine (HPS) is a UC San Diego based student organization that designs, constructs, and competes with a human-propelled, fully flooded submarine. We strive to develop engineering intuition, team communication, and critical thinking in all members in order to prepare a new generation of engineers for their careers.
Triton Solar Car
Contact: ucsdsolarcar@gmail.com
Website
Triton Solar Car is UC San Diego’s first ever student-run solar car team. This project was established in 2015 to combine design, sustainability, and racing. Our team consists of over 25 passionate students across a variety of disciplines with the goal to successfully build and race solar-powered vehicles!
Triton Quantitative Trading
Contact: tquantt@ucsd.edu
Triton Quantitative Trading is the first fintech org student organization affiliated with the CSE department and sponsored by fintech companies. Our goal is to establish a collaborative ecosystem that fosters the joint creation of algorithmic, statistical, and trading models by students, while also ensuring they have access to comprehensive resources for continuous learning. We strive to facilitate interactions with industry experts, providing valuable insights and to connect students with the industry for practical experiences and mentorship from esteemed professors.
International Collegiate Programming Contest
Contact: icpc@ucsd.edu
The Competitive Programming Club at UC San Diego participates in the annual International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). Join us to develop your problem-solving abilities, sharpen your algorithmic thinking, and prepare for technical job interviews.
KK6UC Amateur Radio Club
Contact: kk6uc@ucsd.edu
Associated with the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) the Amateur Radio Club @ UCSD is a club for students interested in the electrical theory behind radios. We provide student access to typically inaccessible radio equipment, hold weekly meetings to discuss and learn radio theory and provide hands-on opportunities via project teams and build days. No license or background is needed!
For a list of graduate student organizations please visit, http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/idea/student-orgs/graduate
Why should you get involved?
1. It's a resume builder (at the very least)
We all know that in today’s job market, just having a college degree is not always enough. Employers love to see that you can go above and beyond, and a student organization is a perfect place to do just that. Through participating in the organization’s activities, you can also gain tangible experiences to talk about in interviews.
2. Meet and network with like-minded people
Student organizations bring together people of similar interests - people who you might not have met if you didn’t join. You may be fortunate enough to find a new best friend, or you might get to know that colleague who will connect you with a job opportunity in five years. Also, student clubs can connect you with more than just peers - you’re able to get to know faculty too. The advisor of the organization can be a clutch professional resource.
3. You'll grow in ways you never could’ve expected
College is already a hotbed for personal growth and development, and a student organization is a fantastic venue to seek out enriching experiences that YOU find interesting and worthwhile.
Bottom line? Get involved (and that means more than going to the first few club meetings), make an impact, and enjoy the best time of your life.
4. Make a Difference
When you get involved, you become a role model for others to aspire to. Your time and efforts will have real and lasting impacts that improve the experiences of the students who come after you.
Cited from: Sydney Abbott, Linkedin
What do you gain?
Top 5 Competencies and Transferrable Skills
Effective oral and written communication skills that anticipate and adapt respond to the needs of diverse audiences and communication contexts (including digital environments)
Critical thinking and complex problem solving skills: Skill in analytic reasoning and systems thinking in real-world settings, resulting in innovative solutions within desired constraints
Proactive ability for research: Ability to identify reliable sources of, and to access and, evaluate, and use information, including images and visual media, effectively for life-long supplementation of initial knowledge base.
Demonstrated ability for self-reflection and self-improvement, ability to seek and use feedback
Leadership: Demonstrated initiative, effective decision making, informed risk taking; ability to motivate and inspire others to a shared purpose
Track your development with your Co-Curricular Record
The Co-Curricular Record (CCR) validates your educational achievements outside of the classroom while you are a student at UC San Diego. The research and experiential learning activities you complete are tied to competencies (transferrable skills) that will help you market yourself to potential employers and/or graduate programs. In a competitive field where all applicants have excellent grades, your CCR helps you stand out! Create and Track your progress starting today at https://myccr.ucsd.edu/home.htm.
How to Get Involved
- Join an engineering club or start one of your own if you can’t find something that interests you Stop by the IDEA Student Center (EBU1) and talk with a student organization advisor.
- Attend an event advertised on the Center for Student Involvement main webpage.
- Volunteer for or run for a Student Government position. Elections happen in winter and spring quarters each academic year.
- Join one of UCSD's 400+ student organizations. Get more info here: https://students.ucsd.edu/student-life/involvement/.
- If you live in the Residence Halls there are lots of great activities and opportunities. Connect with your Resident Assistant or Housing Assistant to find our more information.
- Participate in Intramurals, Outback Adventures, or Fitness Classes offered through Sports & Recreation.
- Everyone's A Triton... Make time and support Tritons Athletics Teams - It's FREE!
- Visit a Campus Community Center: the Black Resource Center, Cross Cultural Center, Women’s Center, LGBT Resource Center, American Indian Resource Center, la Raza, and SPACES are all excellent resources in your journey to make the most of your time at UCSD.