WKU News

Who knew that a fascination with remote control toys as a child could turn into a career in engineering? For Jaxom Kitchens, a WKU senior from Franklin, that is exactly what happened.

“I remember watching science and educational shows, as well as sci-fi, for a look at what could be. I have hazy memories of watching Beyond Tomorrow on The Science Channel as a kid,” Kitchens said. “It was always showing cool new technology being developed, often robots. I enjoyed How It’s Made, learning how things are built from raw materials.”

“I was fascinated by remote control toys as a kid to the point that I would take them apart. I also took apart the occasional appliance. While I never figured out how the electronics worked until more recent years, they still always fascinated me,” said Kitchens, who graduates from WKU in December with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

Kitchens eventually realized a strong interest in engineering, specifically in robotics.

“I wavered between electrical and mechanical before I got here, but ultimately decided I’d rather make robots move than build the frames,” Kitchens said.

A non-traditional student who worked full-time as a truck driver after earning an associate degree in Information Technology from Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, Kitchens was in the workforce long enough to recognize a need for continuing his education and strengthening his leadership skills, two things he decided to pursue at WKU.

When the opportunity arose to join a student organization on campus, he was all in.

Joining the WKU Student Branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and taking on a leadership role during his second semester not only created an avenue for Kitchens to practice leadership, but it also allowed him to build connections on campus right away.

According to the organization’s website, the IEEE is the trusted voice for engineering, computing and technology information around the globe.

Students engage with the organization for professional development opportunities and to stay informed on best practices and the latest technology in the field.

“I started as treasurer where I learned how the organization runs. After that, I became chair,” Kitchens said.

As chair, Kitchens connected with the organization’s regional and professional leadership and helped to revitalize speaking engagements and workshops for technical and professional development, as much of the organization’s existing activities had paused or dwindled during the pandemic.

“My proudest accomplishment is securing funding and coordinating logistics to bring more students than ever before to the regional conference. The conference is where the IEEE robotics competition was held as well as presentations on the research happening across the southeast region of the United States, both of which sparked interest in officer positions for many of the people we brought along,” Kitchens said.

Another area of involvement for Kitchens was serving as a research assistant in WKU’s Center for Energy Systems. The Center provides a multidisciplinary, inviting and engaging environment where students develop skills through the successful delivery of industrial projects. The Center’s goal is to advance scientific knowledge and cultivate technological developments for industrial sponsors. 

“Working in the Center for Energy Systems encouraged my interest in research. Having the opportunity to build robots and get them running is exactly what I want to do, which led me to pursuing graduate school next fall,” Kitchens said.

“I’ve been working this semester developing STEM related demonstrations for the K-12 tours that come through. We are developing ways to stoke interest in STEM careers through interactive demonstrations, hopefully leading to young minds seeking STEM careers in the future,” Kitchens said.

Additionally, Kitchens said his minor, Systems Engineering, includes a course about project management, which he believes will be very useful as he plans to open his own lab one day.

“I’ve been able to practice those skills as well as technical skills in my senior project. I am the project lead, and the project itself is my own brainchild. I’m already getting experience running a multidisciplinary team toward a united goal. Our team has two people in Electrical Engineering, two in Mechanical Engineering and one in Computer Science to work on an interesting robotics challenge,” Kitchens explained.

Kitchens’ first research position at WKU was at the Applied Physics Institute at the WKU Innovation Campus. It’s where he said he got his first taste of the tedious testing process, taking trial after trial of data, a process he said he is “growing to appreciate.” The experience revealed to him that he has the determination for a research career. He also had an opportunity to design a pilot experiment for a future grant proposal at that time, which was “an extremely fun process.”

Studying abroad is one of the last things Kitchens ever thought would happen while pursuing an undergraduate degree as a non-traditional student, but even that was not out of reach for him. He credits the WKU Office of Scholar Development (OSD) in making his study abroad dream a reality. After seeking assistance with application materials, Kitchens earned a Gilman Scholarship to fund a study abroad trip.

“Lindsey Houchin from OSD helped me accomplish a long-held dream of visiting Japan in the summer of 2023. Studying abroad gave me insights I can take into my professional life regarding understanding and navigating cultural differences,” Kitchens explained.

“I certainly didn’t think it was possible. I was primarily reaching out to OSD because trucking taught me that you’d be surprised by what you can get by simply asking. I was incredibly surprised by that lifelong dream fulfillment.”

Honored by the WKU School of Engineering and Applied Sciences on multiple occasions, Kitchens earned a 2023 Leadership Award and a 2024 John Russell Award in Electrical Engineering.

But it is the friendships made on the Hill that Kitchens described as paramount in his WKU experience.

“The best friend I made here, Brandon Hydol-Smith, was way back in my second semester. He came over to our table on the second day of Physics to see if he could join us. We’ve since worked together to build IEEE up, and he’s running it well now, growing it even more,” Kitchens said.

It’s the everyday student camaraderie, such as sitting in the student room talking with friends, working hard on a homework problem or debriefing about a test after completion that will stick with Kitchens long after his graduation day comes.

“As mundane as it is, it’s those little moments that matter more to me than most everything else here,” Kitchens said.

Kitchens is applying to graduate schools for next fall and recently applied for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

“I intend to seek a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering to further my ambition to design new robots and advance the field. My current interest is in exoskeletons for collaborative robotics applications,” Kitchens said. “My proposal for the fellowship program I applied to includes using the nature of an exoskeleton to track human motion, then using that model of a person in a real environment alongside the model of a robot in that same environment to create a new way for people to safely interact with robots that requires fewer costly sensors.”

Kitchens said whether that dream comes to fulfillment is yet to be determined, but his long-term goal is leading his own research team in the field.

For more information on a degree from WKU in Electrical Engineering, visit https://www.wku.edu/seas/.

#WKUGrad series: For more stories on graduating students in the #WKUGrad series, visit https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=default&categoryid=799&multinewsid=187