Gracy Padgett is a civil engineer in the making. The Mercer University junior has been getting real-world experience for the past three years as a junior engineer at a private firm, while learning the why behind her work during her classes.
Padgett, who is from Rome, Georgia, has always liked math and realized she was interested in the field of civil engineering after securing an internship with engineering company EXP as a high school senior.
She initially had her sights set on a larger Georgia university and was accepted there, until her hometown doctor — a Mercer alumna — suggested she look at the University since it was a smaller school with similar offerings.
“I went and I toured, and I fell in love with it,” Padgett said.
Padgett is involved in Mercer’s Go Baby Go program, in which battery-powered toy cars are modified to meet the needs of children with limited mobility. She has also been working in the labs of Dr. Anthony Choi and Dr. Sarah Bauer.
“Gracy impressed me right away,” said Dr. Bauer, assistant professor of environmental and civil engineering. “She stood out as very intelligent, very motivated, very driven. Most importantly, she’s very organized and goal-oriented, which is really good for being a college student and learning to be a professional engineer but also a very important skill when you’re working in a research group. Gracy’s also just a pleasure to be around. She’s excited to learn and get the most out of her schooling here.”
Under Dr. Bauer’s direction, Padgett and two other students have been conducting environmental research for their Engineering Honors Program project.
“The project that we’re working on is a waste to energy project, where we’re trying to look at ways to feasibly and sustainably convert food waste to bio oil,” Dr. Bauer said. “Our students are using this process called hydro-thermal-liquification, which is basically a pressure cooker for the waste. We’re looking for food waste that is high in carbon content to see if we can convert that into a renewable oil product.”
Padgett has been doing foundational research with Dr. Choi, electrical and computer engineering professor, related to using artificial intelligence to manage traffic signals.
“Mercer taught me a lot of the background to what I’m learning (at EXP). Before, I would be designing with our design software and not knowing the math behind it. Mercer has really helped me to know why I’m doing what I’m doing,” she said.
Padgett has returned to EXP to work during each of her summer and holiday breaks at Mercer. The firm’s main focus is transportation engineering, but it takes on projects in all areas of engineering, including structural and environmental geotechnical.
“I mainly work on transportation engineering. That’s what my passion has been ever since I started working at EXP,” Padgett said. “I’ve had an opportunity that’s once in a lifetime, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m so fortunate to be able to work here.”
Much of Padgett’s work has revolved around the Georgia 400 express lanes construction project. She’s done traffic studies, intersection design, logged lane closures, and collaborated with construction teams. She travels often to cities and towns to help local governments secure funding for education, economic and environmental projects and has represented EXP at state conferences.
Through a new arrangement, she is working part time for EXP remotely while at Mercer this year. She plans to become an entry-level civil engineer at the company after she graduates.
“I really love the work. It’s a real family and a close-knit work environment. It’s just absolutely incredible, and it’s so supportive,” she said.
Dr. Bauer said Padgett’s work experiences with EXP will make her that much more ready for her career once she graduates.
After taking and passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, Padgett will do supervised engineering work for four years and then obtain her Professional Engineering license, which will allow her to manage her own projects. In addition, she would like to eventually work for the Georgia Department of Transportation to gain additional experience.
