¾«¶«´«Ã½

Each summer, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle School of Engineering invites selected undergraduates to participate in a prestigious 8-week research intensive with the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. The experience aims to provide Lyle students across all disciplines with an unparalleled, hands-on look into engineering research, working with faculty at Lyle to drive innovation at the cutting edge.

Noah Brada, a third-year student studying Data Science and Managment Science in the Operations Research and Engineering Management (OREM) Department with ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle, participated in the program this past summer. Under the guidance of Dr. Aurelie Thiele – Lyle Associate Professor with the Department of OREM – Brada harnessed knowledge in data science and system optimization towards increasing efficiency and safety in military anti-drone-strike defense systems.

Defense systems often encounter vulnerabilities like blind spots in their detection centers, which can cause air-strike threats to go unseen. Through 2D and 3D modeling to simulate airspace coverage conditions, Brada tested and contrasted a variety of sensor placements and system compositions to optimize performance, improve safety, and ultimately, save lives by protecting critical infrastructure from air-based attacks.

For Brada, the knowledge, mentorship, and hands-on experience gained through his summer with SURF were life-changing, with research implications that extend far beyond his eight weeks on the Hilltop – from applications in civilian and national defense to catalyzing his path in industrial engineering, teaching him how to harness his analytical curiosity to change lives.

We sat down with Brada to learn what made his SURF experience so unforgettable, and why the program is so valuable for ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle students across engineering disciplines.

What drew you to ¾«¶«´«Ã½ and the Lyle School of Engineering? Were there any specific memories or moments that made the Hilltop feel like home?

What drew me to ¾«¶«´«Ã½ and the Lyle School of Engineering was the combination of small class sizes, strong faculty support, and the welcoming community that Lyle creates for its students. From the beginning, I felt that ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle was invested in my success and growth, not just academically, but personally. One moment that made the Hilltop truly feel like home was during my freshman orientation, when I explored Dallas with other new students and quickly built friendships that have carried with me throughout my time here. Later, being able to join the Ultimate Frisbee Club and attending the football games with friends gave me that sense of belonging that confirmed ¾«¶«´«Ã½ was the right place for me.

You spent your summer as an undergraduate research fellow with Lyle’s SURF program. Thinking back on your time at ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle, what courses, mentors, or experiences helped you prepare to take on a project like this?

Having spent my summer as a SURF researcher at Lyle, I can confidently say that my coursework prepared me well for this project. Courses such as CS 1341 and CS 1342 gave me a solid foundation in programming, while STAT 3304 provided me with the data science skills to analyze and model real-life systems. More broadly, the courses I’ve taken at ¾«¶«´«Ã½, and specifically Lyle, have challenged me to think critically and problem-solve, which was essential for conducting research at this level.

Under the guidance of Dr. Thiele, your research project focused on data science & system optimization for anti-drone systems. Walk us through a typical day in the lab.

I’d usually start the day by reviewing any notes or simulation results from the previous session—looking at the coverage graphs or heatmaps to see what went well and where blind spots appeared. From there, I’d refine my code in Python, either adjusting the optimization algorithm or testing new sensor placements.

A big part of my day consisted of running simulations differing in the dataset I was analyzing, sometimes in 2D, other times in 3D—using random placements as a baseline and then applying optimization algorithms. Afterward, I’d compare the results, calculate coverage percentages, and analyze where the model had weaknesses.

On other days and weeks, I focused on the hardware side, studying how Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon sensors differ in terms of range, efficiency, and cost. Then, I would incorporate those specifications into the simulator, so they reflected real-world engineering scenarios.

What were your strongest successes this summer? Were there unexpected obstacles, and how did you work to overcome them?

Out of everything I did with my research, my strongest successes came from my ability to analyze datasets and use that information to develop software that advanced my work. I faced obstacles along the way—for example, I initially struggled with building a simulation that could accurately compare random and optimized sensor placements. However, with the guidance of my mentor and support from others, I was able to overcome challenges and continue refining my research!

How did your chosen project translate analytical curiosity to impact?

My project began with curiosity about how drone usage affected the outcome of international conflicts, which I refined into a focus on sensor placement and hardware trade-offs affecting anti-drone defense systems. By creating simulations that compared random versus optimized placement with GaN and Silicon sensors, I demonstrated how optimization improves coverage and efficiency. The improvements in research related to this have the potential to benefit millions of people across the globe!

Beyond technical strengths, what were your biggest takeaways from this experience? A new perspective, a change in how you approach challenges, or something else entirely?

My biggest non-technical takeaways from this experience were the professional development skills and a change in perspective of how I see situations where I might not be as knowledgeable. Over the course of SURF, I encountered dozens of things where I had no clue where to go. Instead of finding something else to do, I faced these challenges head-on, trying to develop a better mindset for difficult situations.

What advice would you give to Lyle students who might be interested in pursuing a research path or an impact project like SURF?

Take that leap. You’ve probably heard this before, but I can admit, it’s true: growth comes from stepping into new and sometimes uncomfortable situations. Seek out experiences where you know it will build you as a person. When I was first accepted into the SURF program, I had no idea what to expect. What I discovered, though, were opportunities that challenged me and allowed me to grow both academically and personally. In the end, what you gain from an experience directly reflects the commitment you bring to it.

Now that the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship has come to a close, how do you see this experience shaping your future academic or career plans?

I see my experience in SURF as a building block in my academic and professional future career. From SURF, I now have a clear vision of what I want to pursue as my professional career after college and what I would like to do continuing my education in graduate school. This experience taught me about professionalism and provided opportunities to work through complex engineering problems, which strengthened both my technical and problem-solving skills.

Interested in learning how Lyle’s SURF program could catalyze your next big research idea? Visit the link to learn more: /lyle/research/surf.

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

¾«¶«´«Ã½’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

About ¾«¶«´«Ã½

¾«¶«´«Ã½ is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. ¾«¶«´«Ã½’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.