When Mason Allen arrived at Oregon State University, he thought he’d pursue mechanical engineering with a focus on aerospace. But after taking his first engineering course, he discovered a different path — one that aligned more closely with how his mind works.
“I realized I was more interested in the big picture,” Allen said. “Industrial engineering lets you zoom out and look at entire systems. You’re not just solving one problem — you’re designing how everything fits together.”
That systems-level thinking is what drew Allen to industrial engineering, a field that blends data analysis, process optimization, and human-centered design. It’s also what led him to Oregon State, where he found a vibrant engineering community and a campus surrounded by forests, rivers, and trails — perfect for hiking, biking, and floating in his free time.
“I toured other colleges, but Oregon State stood out,” said Allen, who is also part of the Honors College. “The engineering program here is diverse, and there are so many opportunities to get involved.”
Building a robot to collect data on Mount Hood
One of those opportunities was the URSA Engage program, through which Allen joined the Research in Applied Decisions Lab, a robotics lab focused on planetary exploration helmed by assistant professor-senior researcher Cristina Wilson. Allen’s work in the RAD Lab combines mechanical design, data collection, and field testing. His main focus has been the Traveler Leg — a robotic system designed to measure the mechanical properties of soil and other surface materials.
“It’s like a robotic finger that pokes and scrapes the ground to see how much force it takes to disturb it,” Allen explained. “We use it to simulate how robots might interact with terrain on other planets.”
Allen rebuilt the Traveler Leg after a previous version failed, then tested it during a field mission on Mount Hood. He also operated the Spirit quadruped robot, collecting data in rugged conditions. Back in the lab, he designed and built a custom frame to allow the Traveler Leg to be used with a fluidized bed system — a setup that simulates planetary surfaces indoors.
“I took it from sketches to SolidWorks files to a physical model,” Allen said. “Now it’s ready to be used in the lab, and I’m mentoring another student on the project.”
For Allen, the research experience has been transformative. “I love coming to the lab and seeing everything come together,” he said. “It’s exciting to watch a system you’ve worked on actually function.”
Interning at Intel and going systems-level thinking
This summer, Allen took his skills to Intel for an industrial engineering internship at the Hillsboro semiconductor factory. He worked on data automation, facility design, and optimization problems — applying the same systems thinking he’s honed at Oregon State.
Allen’s journey has been shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and a desire to make things work better. He sees industrial engineering as a perfect fit for people who think big, enjoy solving complex problems, and want to blend technical skills with business and design.
“There’s an engineering path for everyone,” he said. “If you’re interested in computer science or mechanical engineering but don’t want to go fully down those routes, industrial engineering is a great option. You get coding experience, but you also learn about design, systems, and even business.”
As Allen looks ahead, he’s excited to keep building — whether it’s robotic systems, manufacturing processes, or entire organizations. His time at Oregon State has given him the tools to do just that.
“Oregon State has been the perfect place to explore, learn, and grow,” he said. “I came here with one idea, and I found something even better.”
