Thomas Larsen ’22

October 17, 2022

MAJOR: Mechatronics
COLLEGE: M.I.T.
BORN: Staten Island
PARENTS BORN: Staten Island

Motivation: Before Thomas was born, his older brother suffered a debilitating stroke. Growing up, Thomas became a helper, eventually helping teach his brother to walk and play water volleyball: “I learned I could change someone’s entire world.” Thomas wants to change other people’s worlds by majoring in the emerging field of biomechatronics at MIT and going on to build mobility-enhancing devices for the handicapped: “If I could help my brother walk better in a few years, robotics holds so much potential to do more.”

I refined and combined my general interest in robotics and love of 3D printing into a specific educational and research path. I mainly credit the Weston program and my mentor, Dr. Horace Walcott.

Really good at: Robotics. In his Weston Research Scholars Program project at Tech, Thomas created a mobile cloud chamber for transmitting visualizations of any radiation present at a site, by video-telemicroscopy, to observing scientists. The device is believed to be patentable. His work earned him finalist, semifinalist, and high honors in numerous competitions.

For fun: The alto sax. Thomas was in the jazz band and soloed at school concerts. He also enjoys making breakfast crepes and embroidery.

Tech gave me: “I refined and combined my general interest in robotics and love of 3D printing into a specific educational and research path. I mainly credit the Weston program and my mentor, Dr. Horace Walcott.”