2026 Berkeley Engineering PhD Commencement Speech

Megan Teng, a PhD graduate in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley, delivers a commencement speech reflecting on the profound responsibility and human cost associated with the engineering profession. Her journey from studying international business in Taiwan to researching micro-electromechanical systems highlights the power of interdisciplinary passion and resilience against skepticism. A central theme is the "weight" of a PhD, illustrated by a poignant story of her 96-year-old grandmother’s fear that five years of study would cost them their final time together. This narrative emphasizes that engineers are not merely products of optimization but are defined by their capacity to care for the human lives impacted by their designs. Ultimately, the transition from academia to industry roles at companies like Qualcomm represents a commitment to bringing "light" to the world through intelligent systems while honoring the personal sacrifices made by loved ones.