Man with short dark hair and a beard, wears a light blue collared shirt while smiling.

Learn more about instructor Miguel Perez, why he loves teaching, Virginia Tech, and advice for students interested in biomedical engineering and BEAM.

Why Virginia Tech? What do you love about VT?

When I visited Virginia Tech for the first time back in 1996, I knew this was where I wanted to end up. It sounds cliché, but it felt like home! I particularly love the feel around campus, which is mainly a function of the people that come to VT. I truly believe that by and large, people at VT not only care about each other but care about doing work that betters the lives of others.

What is your favorite thing about being a professor/faculty member?

The interactions with the students! It's refreshing and inspiring to be exposed to their energy and drive, and see that renewed again and again, year after year.

What originally got you interested in your teaching/work and/or research?

Well, my area of work is most easily described as surface transportation safety. More simply put, I try to make sure that people get safety from point A to point B when they walk, ride, or drive on our roads. The reason I keep coming back to work on this, day after day, is because of the immediate impact that I see from my work. If a single person is more likely to make it to their destination unharmed because of the work I do, then I've done my job.

What advice do you have for students looking to join the Biomedical Engineering field?

Explore! There are so many different fields and opportunities here and I think the embracing of that breadth is one of the strengths of our program...look at what is out there and see what makes you feel like work is less (or no!) work. If you find that, you are set.

What is your favorite Virginia Tech memory?

One day many years ago, I was on campus on a summer Friday afternoon, on the Drillfield next to War Memorial Chapel, and there was no one else that I could see around...I don't remember even seeing cars moving around. The contrast with what the Drillfield looks like during class change time made me appreciate that a whole lot.

Visit Miguel's bio page.