The Art of Engineering Research

Very early in my academic journey, I fell in love with the concept of research. There is something deeply satisfying about tackling a problem that is difficult to solve—sometimes even difficult to define—yet incredibly rewarding when even the smallest step forward is made.

When I first started studying physics, I found myself overwhelmed by the question of what makes some problems interesting while others are less so. Certain research questions seemed ill-defined or even loosely connected to the methods being used to address them, yet this ambiguity was part of the game. The beauty of fundamental science lies in its ability to explore the unknown, often guided by intuition rather than immediate practicality.

However, when I transitioned into engineering research, I quickly realized how different the approach was. Defining the problem became much more straightforward. Unlike some theoretical pursuits, engineering challenges are often rooted in tangible, real-world issues—much like in medical research, where scientists work to solve actual clinical problems rather than abstract theoretical ones. Engineering, by its nature, is driven by necessity. The questions we ask are often shaped by industry needs, technological gaps, and real-life constraints.

This shift in mindset highlights a crucial distinction—one that many, even within academia, fail to fully grasp:

There is a clear line between "engineering" and "research in engineering."

Engineering is about building solutions—designing, optimizing, and implementing technologies that serve a specific function. Research in engineering, however, operates at a different level. It is about pushing the boundaries of what is possible, questioning existing solutions, and developing new frameworks that will define the technologies of tomorrow.

For this reason, it is critical for researchers in engineering to engage with industry. The industry provides real-world challenges, constraints, and scalability concerns that academic research alone cannot fully capture. Without these insights, engineering research risks becoming detached from practical applications, solving problems that are elegant in theory but irrelevant in practice. Conversely, the industry benefits immensely from academia’s ability to explore unconventional ideas, advanced methodologies, and next-generation technologies.

This symbiotic relationship—where academia fuels innovation and industry provides direction—ensures that engineering research remains impactful, relevant, and transformative.