ICAMS mechatronics program opens pathway for Auburn graduate

When Zachary Huber arrived at Auburn University, his academic path centered on business. Four years later, a unique opportunity through the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS) expanded his career aspirations beyond the business world and into manufacturing, technology and product innovation.

Huber graduated in May with a degree in business administration, along with minors in Business Engineering Technology and Entrepreneurship and Family Business. This fall, he will continue his education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where he received a merit scholarship and was selected as the sole recipient of the Irene and Robert P. Bozzone ’55 Fellowship in Management and Technology.

The fellowship provides financial support to an MBA student with an interest and aptitude in manufacturing and technology.

Huber credits much of that opportunity to his experience in the ICAMS Mechatronics Fellowship program, which allows Auburn students to earn a mechatronics certificate through Southern Union State Community College before working part-time at ICAMS during the academic year.

The 10-week summer program consists of four courses in precision machining, programmable logic controllers, robotics and pneumatics/hydraulics, providing students with hands-on training in advanced manufacturing technologies.

Huber became the first non-engineering major to complete the program, a decision that would ultimately reshape his academic and professional goals.

“The fellowship award directly reflects the unique opportunity I had to become the first non-engineering major to complete the mechatronics program, as well as the knowledge and skills I developed throughout the program,” Huber said. “Through the certification and my subsequent work at ICAMS, I gained invaluable hands-on experience. I am excited to continue building on this foundation and further develop my skill set at RPI, one of the world’s leading polytechnic institutions.”

Huber said the mechatronics program exposed him to a side of manufacturing and engineering that traditional business coursework alone could not provide.

“My experience shaped my academic and career interests by strengthening my passion for engineering management and product innovation,” he said. “Through hands-on experience in a cutting-edge manufacturing environment, I gained a deeper understanding of how modern technology, systems and production processes work together to solve real-world problems.”

Working alongside the ICAMS team also reinforced the value of continuous learning and adaptability, qualities that Huber said prepared him for graduate school.

“One of the most valuable parts of the experience was constantly being pushed outside of my comfort zone,” he said. “Whether I was learning a new skill, operating unfamiliar technology or troubleshooting an unforeseen obstacle, I learned that continuous learning is absolutely essential for problem-solving.”

Unlike a traditional classroom environment, the program emphasized practical experience and real-world application.

“Rather than memorization or lectures, we were trained and qualified to not only be proficient but confident in our knowledge and work on the machines,” Huber said. “Instead of simply learning concepts theoretically, I learned how to solve problems under real conditions, adapt quickly and work responsibly with advanced machinery and technology.”

The experience helped prepare Huber for RPI’s MBA in Design program, which combines design innovation, business strategy, systems development and technology. He said the program aligns closely with his goal of bridging technical knowledge with leadership and innovation.

Long term, Huber hopes to work on multidisciplinary product development teams that bring together engineering, design and business perspectives. He eventually plans to move into engineering management and launch his own company.