Jaden Crute

Tell us about your work/ research. What kinds of things do you do?

During my undergraduate education, I was an ocean engineering intern through the University of South Florida's Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT). This role primarily consisted of refurbishing an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) that had been out of use for over a decade. The eventual goal was to get the vehicle up and running autonomously to map the seafloor. This goal was met in late 2023, so the current mission is to design a second version of the vehicle from scratch, manufacture it, and turn it into an educational tool for programs focused on oceanography. My tasks throughout this project were primarily to design USV modifications to be manufactured (e.g. designing a hull mounting system), assist in field deployments of the vehicle, and work closely with the project lead on the vehicle software.
 

What sparked your initial interest in your career?

My path to mechanical engineering started when I was around 6 years old. My mom initially signed me up for ballet classes but after they were cancelled, she switched me into to a children's robotics class. These classes shaped the entirety of my career choice up until my sophomore year of college. It was during that year that one of my advisors mentioned the Hollings Scholarship program with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), suggesting that I may be interested in applying. After doing research on what NOAA was, what they did, and how oceanography connected to robotics, I was set on becoming an ocean engineer. The idea that so much of the ocean was still unexplored and I could use my engineering expertise to change this fact was thrilling. From that point forward I looked for every possible opportunity to work in the field and gain experience.
 

Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?

My high school physics teacher really influenced my career path and view of the world. Without her, I'm not sure that I would've ended up choosing mechanical engineering as my undergraduate major. She helped me to realize how much I love learning about how the world works and discovering applications of this knowledge.
 

What element of your work/ study do you think is the most fascinating?

The most fascinating thing I have worked on recently is exploring the feasibility of resin 3D printing propellers for use on the COMIT USV. Initial field tests of my propeller prints have been very amusing, in hindsight, since every test up until this point has resulted in the blades snapping in comical ways. I wrote a blog about it on the USF COMIT website with a lot more detail, but to sum up the message of it, these mishaps taught me that being an engineer is breaking things until you can't break them anymore. I'll carry this lesson with me for the rest of my life.
 

How did you get involved with Ocean Exploration Trust? How did you become part of the expedition team?

I got involved with Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) through the Science & Engineering Internship Program (SEIP). I applied for SEIP ROV Internship after learning about the program for my mentor Kristopher Krasnosky, who has worked with OET for many years.
 

What other jobs led you to your current career?

Before becoming an intern for COMIT, I volunteered to assist a professor in USF's College of Marine Science with field testing a commercial remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) in saltwater settings. Although the project was very informal and didn't produce significant results, it solidified my passion for ocean exploration. As I learned to pilot the ROV right on the water, the weight and stress on my shoulders would lift away. Getting to see my academic efforts finally pay off was amazing, and I fell in love with the career path I was slowly progressing towards.
 

What are your degrees and certifications?

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering -- University of South Florida 2024
 

What are your hobbies?

I love boxing, drumming, and photography. Keeping up the drumming is hard living in an apartment, but I practice whenever I can!

What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?

Get out and see as much of the world as you can. Even if you don't have the capability to travel outside of your hometown right now, explore cultures, meet the people around you, and appreciate the environment. Textbooks and academic degrees can only teach you so much. As physicist Fabiola Gianotti once said, "This job is a great scientific adventure. But it’s also a great human adventure." As an engineer it's so easy to forget that our main jobs are to better the lives of people and preserve the environment around us. In the Ocean Engineering field, the focus is primarily on contributing to scientific advancements and ocean exploration. On top of this though, it is our jobs to expand our horizons. Our careers shouldn't just be a "scientific adventure," it should also be a journey of self-growth and increased understanding of others. This value is what makes a great engineer.