Tal Nir

Preparing for a hike is not so different from solving an industrial engineering problem, says Tal Nir.

“What are you putting in your bag? What is the weather going to be like? Who are you bringing with you?” says Nir, an avid hiker since childhood. “Industrial engineering specifically, it’s about being part of a system — how things work together.”

That systems-focused thinking has shaped Nir’s experience at UMass Lowell, where she is studying industrial engineering with a minor in mathematics. Along the way, the Brookline native has overcome academic challenges, gained experience in clean energy and aerospace manufacturing and found opportunities to mentor other students.

Nir says she struggled with some STEM subjects, particularly mathematics, but the support and opportunities she found outside the classroom — including co-ops and other experiential learning — helped her build the confidence to pursue engineering.

“Everyone I’ve met at UML has been helpful and friendly. It feels like we’re all here to bring each other up,” she says.  

During an internship with EVOLOH, a clean-energy startup in Lowell, Nir contributed to the manufacturing of electrolysis components. The experience introduced her to the fast pace of startup work and connected engineering with a mission she cares about: making clean energy more affordable and accessible.

At first, however, the experience was intimidating. Nir was the only young woman among 14 men at a startup she had never heard of. Over time, however, she began to appreciate the uncertainty and variety of startup work.

“Throughout my time there, I really found my mission, not just as an engineer, but in a startup,” she says. “Almost like hiking, there’s just so much to do and figure out.”

Nir followed that up with an industrial engineering co-op at Pursuit Aerospace, adding experience in another complex manufacturing environment. 

She hopes to pursue leadership positions in technology-driven manufacturing, with particular interest in marine industries and environmentally sustainable processing of plastics and other materials.

Nir’s leadership on campus has been just as important to her development. As a team leader in the River Hawk Scholars Academy, she mentors first-generation college students like herself as they adjust to college.  

Nir describes being a first-generation student as “having a blank map to fill out.” That experience motivates her to help other students find their way.

“I want to be there for future students the way my leaders were — and are — for me,” she says. “To help make the first year less stressful by making sure each student is heard, and by making sure everyone can find their place in this amazing community.”

Nir has also found community through UMass Lowell’s Outdoor Adventure Program. During her junior year spring break, she joined eight other students on a trip to Hawaii, where she snorkeled off Maui and backpacked through Haleakalā National Park. 

As a Shah Academy Scholar, Nir has developed her technical and leadership skills through mentorship and connections with industry professionals. The experience has expanded her sense of what is possible and reinforced her belief that engineers can make a difference in the world around them.

“Being a woman in engineering can be hard sometimes, but you can excel no matter who you are,” she says. “You can use where you come from to your advantage and become an amazing engineer and find your way.”