Loreta Arzumanyan

What’ve you enjoyed most about your area of study? Was there a particular discovery, new skill or way of thinking, or insight that you found especially valuable? Please share an example from your favorite class or experience.

I’ve most enjoyed discovering the rich traditions of the German-speaking world. Studying the culture, literature, and opera in class was always rewarding, but seeing Germany firsthand made those lessons come alive in a way I didn’t expect. One highlight was my independent study on opera with Dr. Goodling, which let me weave together many of the cultural threads that had inspired me from the start. Beyond the material itself, the most valuable part of studying German has been learning how to learn a language.

How does the knowledge from this field, or your interest in it, combine with your other major or minor studies at MIT?

While German might not seem directly connected to Aerospace Engineering, it complements my work perfectly. It has given me the opportunity to collaborate with German scientists and conduct research abroad, which I have been doing since my sophomore year through MISTI. It also allows me to read original scientific literature and find inspiration in the work of German and Swiss engineers and mathematicians, such as Leonhard Euler.

An MIT education includes study in the scientific, technical, social science, arts, and humanities fields. How do you think that wide range of knowledge and perspectives will be valuable to you – for your career success and for your enjoyment of life?

Seeing the world through different lenses has taught me that life is not a simple function that can be minimized. Solving a single problem usually requires considering complex factors, meaning not just technical feasibility, but also ethical, environmental, and social impacts. I plan to incorporate this holistic perspective into my PhD work to design better airplanes that take all these human factors into account.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to attend graduate school for Aerospace Engineering to focus on designing next-generation aircraft. I also intend to continue my study of language and literature. My goal is to learn several other European languages and travel extensively, engaging with other cultures through their own native tongues.