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     Viktoria Golden, a first-year student double majoring in electrical engineering and applied mathematics, is already paving her path in public infrastructure and energy systems. Golden, who is half Indian and half Colombian, spent her early childhood in the Bay Area before moving to San Diego with her family during high school. At UCLA, she jokes she is one of the few students on campus representing her San Diego roots, often spotted wearing Padres gear between lectures.

      During high school, Golden graduated as valedictorian and completed independent research on solar panel efficiency under the mentorship of UCSD professor Anthony Acampora, which she later presented at the California State Science & Engineering Fair. She also participated in the UC COSMOS program, where she focused on applied math in engineering design, and received recognition from the National Society of Professional Engineers for her academic work.

On campus, Golden is a member of Women in Engineering at UCLA and the Latinx in Engineering and Technology group, where she mentors other underclassmen and helps organize outreach events for first-generation students in STEM. She is also involved in tutoring for calculus-based physics courses through the Academic Advancement Program.

     After completing her spring coursework early, Golden accepted a position as a Student Design Trainee with the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Technology, where she will be working for two months on projects that support the city’s public safety infrastructure. Her work includes assisting with the design and analysis of communication systems used by first responders, a role typically reserved for upper-division students.

Golden said her interest in public sector engineering stems from her experiences growing up in areas where infrastructure access was inconsistent.

     “I wanted to do work that actually impacts people,” she said. “Energy, transit, emergency systems — that’s the kind of engineering I see myself doing.”

Looking ahead, Golden plans to apply to UCLA’s Smart Grid Energy Research Lab in her second year and hopes to continue working at the intersection of electrical systems and public infrastructure. For her, the goal isn’t to chase prestige, it’s to stay focused on work that serves people directly.

     “I’m not trying to be the smartest person in the room,” Golden said. “I just want to be the person who actually builds something useful and makes sure more people can be part of that process.”