Morse Research & Development Engineer Mike Lambert recently had the opportunity to speak to college graduate students, drawing on his experience working at Morse.
“My path at Morse to Research & Development started in January 2012. I began as an operator in circular saws, moved to be a continuous improvement tech, and then over to R&D, where I have been since 2019,” Lambert said. “I have dedicated the last six years to material science and design for manufacturing theory.”
Last year, Lambert presented at IMECE 2024—the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition—in Portland, Oregon. Afterward, he was approached by University of Akron Professor Dr. Tanmay Tiwari, who asked that he deliver a lecture to mechanical engineering master’s and PhD program students about the transition from academia to industry.
“I considered going over my standard material science lecture that I have done in the past but figured it would be better to do something that couldn’t be learned in a textbook,” Lambert said.
He focused on the product development process in industry through a case study on the spring-loaded pin drive arbor. He covered the concept from idea to launch; starting with the idea flow from the customer to sales, marketing, engineering, and then to launch. He reviewed design theory, design iterations, machining, material selection, tolerancing, and documentation.
Afterward, he led a Q&A session and answered a number of questions about industry culture, polymer science, metallurgy, and design.
Sekhar Rakurty, R&D manager, gave more insight to Lambert’s inspirational story at Morse.
“Mike’s path to R&D began six years ago, when he first started asking about the design process and the theory behind it. After answering countless questions, I eventually handed him a book, partly to give him more to explore, and partly hoping it might slow down the stream of questions. It didn’t. Instead, it sparked something deeper,” he said. “Since then, Mike has been reading engineering books and research papers on his own and applying that knowledge directly to his work as an R&D engineer. He is now a published author and a co-inventor on a patent, further demonstrating his ability to turn curiosity and learning into tangible technical contributions.
“He is a unique case, someone who truly epitomizes self-learning, curiosity, and a genuine desire to understand the science behind what we do. His experience as an operator gives him a practical perspective, allowing him to translate design theory into real-world products more quickly and effectively. His interactions with academic leaders and professors have only strengthened his interest in materials, cutting tools, and the fundamentals of manufacturing science,” Rakurty said.
“Mike’s growth reflects a rare combination of hands-on expertise, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to continuous learning, qualities that make him an exceptional contributor to our R&D efforts.”