Feature Stories 2024: Divyamaan Sahoo MS '24: The art of engineering

Divyamaan Sahoo may be the first engineer of his kind at UMass Dartmouth – or anywhere else for that matter. An electrical engineer, mathematician, musician, and professional puppeteer, Sahoo's research centers on electroacoustic transducers for undersea applications. Sahoo has proven that an artist can become an engineer, and that a background in the arts provides a unique and valuable point of view in his field.  

Tell us about your background; how did you go from arts to engineering? 

"I grew up in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. I was a musician and studied western classical music through the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM). My teachers encouraged me to study in the United States, so I went to Bates College in Maine where I triple-majored in mathematics, music, and philosophy. That's where I discovered the connection between the science of sound and the philosophy of math.   

"After earning my bachelor's degree, I pursued a master's in sound art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I learned to build instruments. I also earned a diploma in Acoustics & Noise Control from the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) in the UK, where I saw how acousticians collaborate with architects to design concert venues. This was a turning point in realizing how arts and engineering overlap." 

"There's something special here. UMassD’s strong engineering programs and history in the arts and textiles make it an ideal place for collaboration between the arts and sciences."

"I also worked as a professional puppeteer with Sandglass Theater in Vermont, toured a one-person shadow puppet show internationally, performed with Maine State Ballet’s “Nutcracker” and taught puppetry at children's camps in India. These experiences form a bridge to where I am now—bringing my creative side to acoustics engineering to offer solutions that are both beautiful and effective." 

"No one has tried to do this- until now" 

Sahoo's research is focused on bringing to life an idea that, until now, had only been explored in theory.  

"The project I'm working on involves creating a new kind of transducer for underwater and biomedical applications. A transducer converts energy from one form to another, such as electrical to acoustic. Microphones and speakers are common examples of transducers. I'm working on the design for a toroidal (donut-shaped) transducer that will be stable in underwater pressure and serve as an underwater sensor for full-ocean-depth applications and could also be used in biomedical settings. 

"Before now, engineers had theorized about the use of toroidal shapes, but they haven't yet been used to build transducers. We're actually getting to design, build, and test a prototype to learn how it performs. I am very grateful to see this through from the theory and design concept to fabrication and testing."  

Sahoo's research won the first-place prize (graduate category) at the 2024 Sigma Xi Research Exhibition.  

"I've been an artist for so long, it feels wonderful to be recognized as a scientist, too," Sahoo said. 

Funded by the Office of Naval Research via the Marine and Undersea Technology Research Program (MUST), Sahoo conducts his research out of the UMassD Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) in Fall River, MA.  

Why UMass Dartmouth? 

"UMass Dartmouth is one of the few U.S. institutions with a robust acoustics-focused graduate program, especially suited for studying underwater acoustics due to its proximity to the ocean." 

What do you like most about UMassD? 

"I’ve had many opportunities to connect with acoustics professionals across the U.S., including presenting research at the 186th Acoustical Society of America meeting and attending the Physical Acoustics Summer School hosted by the National Center for Physical Acoustics at the University of Mississippi. 

"There's something special here. UMassD’s strong engineering programs and history in the arts and textiles make it an ideal place for collaboration between the arts and sciences." 

Who at UMassD has made a difference in your life? 

"My professors—Dr. David Brown, Dr. Paul Gendron, Dr. David Rancour, Dr. Hangjian Ling, Dr. Ana Doblas, and Dr. Yifei Li—have all been instrumental. Conversations with Dr. Dayalan Kasilingam, Dr. John Buck, and Dr. Ana Doblas have been invaluable, especially regarding the challenges international students face. The department's administrative assistant, Fernanda Botelho, and engineers, Frankie Bouchard and Andrew Smart, provide critical support. 

"I am also deeply grateful to my UMassD counselor James Alston for continuing to help me through those inevitable twists and turns." 

What plans do you have for your future? 

"I plan to get a PhD and continue my research. After that, I would like to work in industry and contribute to my field. I've been very fortunate to have received so much support, and I hope to give back and support the people I love. I enjoy working with students so I would also love to teach again one day." 

Advice for future students? 

"Believe in yourself. I've heard about many people who left science to become artists, but not often the other way around. There are days when I experience imposter syndrome, but I want people to know you can be an artist and go into STEM. Be curious and creative and be open to learning."