UIC students bring engineering ingenuity to the Chicago Auto Show
1
Members of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) at UIC are returning to the Chicago Auto Show from Feb. 7 to 16 at McCormick Place to show off the vehicles they built and raced.
The students will display their Formula SAE internal combustion car, which they used to compete at the Michigan International Speedway, the Pittsburgh Shootout, and the Lawrence Tech Grand Prix last season. They will also exhibit their eBaja, which was the first electric Baja SAE vehicle built in North America.
“Showing the cars together gives people a good sense of how our Formula and Baja programs operate, especially as we’re already deep into developing our next-generation vehicles, said Uriel Delgado, SAE at UIC president and a student in mechanical and industrial engineering.
“Participating in the Society of Automotive Engineers and opportunities such as presenting at the auto show improve career prospects for UIC students,” Clinical Associate Professor Jonathan Comperda added. “They are exposed to large audiences and increase our visibility as an exceptional college of engineering that changes Chicago students’ lives.”
In addition to the auto show, SAE membership provides students with a hands-on experience encompassing many aspects of engineering. Students are involved in design, manufacturing, business presentations, and testing the vehicles on a track.
“That kind of real-world exposure, especially in the automotive space, helps students build practical skills early and better prepares them for engineering careers after graduation,” Delgado said. “Being part of SAE has given me the chance to compete at the national level alongside teams from all over the country and the world, which really expands my network beyond the classroom.”
At competitions, the cars are judged by industry professionals—many of whom are former SAE members—who provide detailed technical feedback. The organization also offers mentorship opportunities and access to professional and networking events that connect the members with engineers working in the field.
As SAE members, students are part of an interdisciplinary team with members from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and other colleges and majors across the university.
“Working in an interdisciplinary organization has shown me that engineering is about much more than just calculations and design work,” Delgado said. “Building a car takes constant communication, coordination, and planning across the whole team. Learning how to make design decisions together and keep everyone aligned has made me a stronger engineer and a better teammate overall.”