Clarkson Student Spotlight: May '09
David Yambay '11
Electrical Engineering major/Biomedical Engineering minor
David, a sophomore from Wallkill, N.Y., sure does know how to keep busy at Clarkson. Between his membership in Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity and recent nomination to the presidency of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, helping undergraduate minorities through LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation), and acting as director of membership development for the Society of Hispanic Engineers, it's hard to believe we were able to catch up with him. But luckily, we found him in his biometrics lab and got to ask him a few questions! Speaking of biometrics lab, David recently took second place in a poster contest for his biometrics research at the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) annual conference. Let's see what else he's up to.
Q: If you could have dinner with anyone, real or imaginary, dead or alive, who would it be?
A: R.A. Salvatore. I read all of his books, he's an amazing author.
Q: If you weren't an electrical engineering major, what would you be?
A: Pre-med. I like the idea of helping people.
Q: The world is ending in one week. What's on your to-do list?
A: I'd spend it in Japan. I was there for a summer and I promised the people I met that I'd go back. So I would
go and fulfill that promise.
Q: What do you think is the greatest invention of your time?
A: Definitely biometrics security systems. I'm a little partial, since it's what my research is on.
Q: What are your three favorite things about Clarkson?
A: The first is the helpful professors and small class sizes. For example, my physics lab professor gave all of us
his cell phone number, just incase we ever needed anything. That's cool! The second thing would have to be
people watching on the Cheel lawn. There's always something going on out there, from sword fighting to
football. The third would have to be Dan Davis (Wellness Outreach Coordinator). Everyone in the world
should know him.
Q: Tell us something that people would be surprised to know about you.
A: For a few years I was in the Young Eagles, where I learned how to fly small planes when I was a kid. It was
so much fun!
Q: Who is your favorite professor?
A: James Svoboda (associate professor of electrical and computer engineering). He's always there and willing to
help. I never leave his class not understanding what's going on.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: Late night Empire Diner trips (as he holds his stomach)!
Q: What has been the proudest moment of your Clarkson career so far?
A: Definitely getting the position in the lab I'm currently working in. We're doing really significant research that
could lead to huge improvements in biometrics. It's exciting and fulfilling, what more could I ask for?
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