Biography: Cameron Blatter, B.S. '99, M.S. '03
Cameron Blatter
System Architect and Technology Lead, Keysight Technologies
B.S. Electrical Engineering, '99. M.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering, '03
What research or technology are you most excited about right now, and why?
As a front-end system architect, my interests are in developing RF systems utilizing the state of art hardware elements for next generation communication technologies. These elements cover IC processes, MMIC developments, IC integration/assembly developments, and Optical to Electronic components. Advancing communications to higher frequencies will require all of these technology developments and it is an exciting time to be involved in the breadth and these new technology fronts.
How did your time at UC Davis impact you and/or prepare you for your career?
As a first-generation college grad, my knowledge of the Electrical Engineering field was limited coming in as a freshman. UCD exposed me to the many areas of electrical engineering, and I graduated with a broader understanding of the EE field(s) and how to be successful in industry. I had tremendous growth as student in ECE at UCD and walked out with an understanding of opportunities and a broad toolset to build a career from. I had a great experience meeting and working alongside so many other diverse, brilliant engineering students and professors and the relaxed campus environment provided the ability for me to learn and thrive in an optimal way.
Did you have a favorite course or instructor at UC Davis?
This is a difficult one to answer definitively, as I had many great professors in the ECE department. I favored the analog and electromagnetics courses which skew my answers. First of all, Professor Stephen H. Lewis impressed me with his professionalism, efficiency, kindness and the material he taught us in such a short time in the Communications Electronics EEC118. I remember walking away from every class with amazing practical and deep knowledge.
Secondly, I completed many of Professor Rick Branner’s courses with standouts of EEC132ABC (RF fundamentals with hands on training and fabrication), EEC228(Broadband passive microwave design), and EEC289 (Filter synthesis). Dr. Branner brought a passion from his experiences in industry to educate the next generation of RF engineering students. He did this in a manner the was very challenging but when the course was completed you walked away with the feeling of high achievement and knowledge that has been fundamental to my career developments. In his lectures, it was typical to furiously copy lecture notes and end with "…", meaning we needed to figure it out after class on our own. Today, former classmates laugh at these moments of "tough love" that led us to be self-learners.
What advice would you give to young people who are currently seeking a degree in electrical and computer engineering?
1. EE and soft skills are a powerful combination in career advancement.
2. Many peers at UCD have said EE is too difficult, but I would tell them anyone can learn this major if they put in the effort and have the interest.
3. EE is a broad area, and a 4-year degree is not narrow enough for strong specialization, so expose yourself to many areas by taking a variety of courses. I have found courses in other areas including non-engineering, has made me a stronger engineer working on interdisciplinary teams and understanding larger elements of the overall projects. I am a firm believer that every class is of value, and you will always find some benefit later in life from them that you will not foresee now.
4. Consider advanced degrees. I have found accomplishing at least a M.S. degree has provided myself a more enjoyable career path by allowing me to work on more challenging and interest projects. A Ph.D. would have been better. Do not be afraid of that as well!
5. Projects and internships are a fantastic way to stand out from the rest of your peers and it provides a way for you to sample different specializations.