Caitlin Oswald, a School of Engineering alum, was recently named one of the 100 most creative people in the country by the magazine Fast Company.

Currently the additive manufacturing project manager for Pratt & Whitney, Oswald graduated in 2009 with a Mechanical Engineering degree. Fast Company, a magazine that specializes in creative ways of doing business, praised Oswald for her use of 3-D printing in the design process of making geared turbofan engines (GTF) – which the magazine calls “possibly the most sustainable jet engine ever built.”

From the article:

[T]he GTF will use 16% less fuel and significantly reduce CO2 emissions—a breakthrough that was only possible via advances in 3-D–printing technology. Caitlin Oswald  led the team that incorporated 3-D printing into the design process, looking at each part of a jet engine to determine if it could be better developed with the new technique. As a result, engineers were able to approach challenges in a completely different way. “They’re able to print a part to scale and hold it in their hand,” says Oswald. “They can really understand what it looks like and what the capabilities and limitations are.” Next, P&W is considering including 3-D–printed parts in the finished product.

In the Q&A, Oswald talks about how her study of dance has influenced her work, her morning routine, and the importance of list-making.

Go here to read the full article.