Mechanical engineering student, Mette Madsen, is the only female member of the Shippensburg University SAE BAJA team. As the only woman on the team, she took on the role of being in charge of the roll cage and suspension for the team’s buggy models – used to compete in competitions across the nation. Madsen strives to inspire women to explore the field of engineering and to take on the challenge of entering male-dominated spaces. 

“My interest or inspiration to pursue mechanical engineering started in my childhood,” Madsen said. “My father is an electronics engineer, and since the age of seven, I would spend my free time helping him with projects around the house from fixing light fixtures, building a fence, doing automotive maintenance and small electronic things too. I’ve always loved working with my hands, putting things together, and learning the mechanics behind it.”

Madsen’s studies as a mechanical engineering student and passion for the field led her to join Ship’s SAE BAJA team, where students design and build an off-road buggy designed to operate through rough landscapes. 

“SAE BAJA is about designing and then building a small, compact off-terrain vehicle that can withstand severe rough terrain, which, in my opinion, goes hand-in-hand with my interest in wanting to pursue a career working with Formula One in designing and enhancing their race cars,” she said. “Not only is it really fun to design and create this little vehicle, but it also gives a great introduction to how vehicles work and what is required to make one run.”

Madsen explained that the process of building the buggy requires strong problem-solving skills, especially when it comes to her role working on the roll cage and suspension. 

“It’s interesting seeing how each design affects the performance of the vehicle, such as weight, speed, durability, etc.,” she said. “It’s little details from the first design that one may not think could impact the performance of the vehicle so greatly until simulations and calculations are run, proving otherwise. When that happens, it’s time to go back to the drawing board. However, that’s the other exciting part of being part of these teams—engineering solutions to the problems that arise.”

Madsen went on to acknowledge how being the only female student on the team was an adjustment. 

“There’s this, what feels like, initial uneasiness where your colleagues aren’t sure how to interact with you until they have warmed up to your constant presence—usually from some ‘bonding’ moment,” she said. You shouldn’t hide your presence or hide your voice; you need to have them see that you want to help, want to be involved and don’t need to be treated differently than how they’re treating each other.”

Madsen’s hard work and dedication paid off last August when the Ship SAE BAJA team showed off their results in the 2024 Michigan competition.

“You’re working over 12-hour days in the heat, surrounded by other teams prepping for the day’s events from as soon as you arrive until the first event of the day starts, and then going through the day’s events until the day is done,” she said. “Walking around the competition site, you can see teams working on tuning or repairing their buggy cars. It felt as if you were in the pits of a NASCAR track, which was pretty fun.”

During the competition, Madsen managed the team’s supply truck, requiring her to quickly locate and hand off tools and equipment to her teammates to keep the vehicle running efficiently.

“Though I was tired by the end of each day, I left the competition site excited for the next day to come and to get back at it,” she said.

As the Ship BAJA SAE team prepares for future competitions, Madsen hopes her experience will encourage other students, especially women, to consider joining the team and pursue mechanical engineering. 

“My advice for any student (regardless of gender) who is interested in SAE BAJA is to come check us out! Come see what we’re doing in the engineering building and come talk to us!” she said. “To any women thinking about joining, think about how badass you’d look being part of this team! C’mon, the boys can do it—how hard can it be? Don’t let any negative feelings or thoughts stop you from wanting to be part of something like this! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and take things in stride.”