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Being named one of the 2022 CSE Magazine’s “40 Under 40” is an impressive accomplishment, but for Bibek Karki, graduating from ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle proved even more significant – setting the foundation for his success.

Driven by his engineering aspirations, Karki traveled more than 8,000 miles from his high school in Nepal to Dallas College, where he spent three semesters earning his prerequisites. When it came time to transfer, he began researching strong engineering programs and took a special interest in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle.

“ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle fit the criteria perfectly,” Karki said. “As a reputable engineering school, they provided scholarships to international students, unlike your typical state universities.”

With many exceptional programs in the running – including Baylor, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and Texas A&M – Karki faced a challenging decision regarding where he’d spend his next four years. He made the spontaneous decision to visit campus and fell in love with ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ at first sight. The visit solidified his choice, and in the fall of 2009, Karki joined the Hilltop.

“I randomly decided to tour ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½,” Karki recalled. “It was as amazing as I expected. The transfer process was smooth; my orientation was fantastic and with scholarships it was affordable too.”

Torn between biomedical and electrical engineering, Karki benefited from the profound mentorship of Lyle's professors from the moment he arrived on campus. With the advice of Dr. Behrouz Peikari, Karki realized his passion for electrical engineering and never looked back.

“Bibek was full of enthusiasm and can-do attitude, always positive in his viewpoint and eager to learn,” said Dr. Behrouz Peikari, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle. “He showed his passion for learning by routinely helping his classmates with their assignments and understanding the subject covered in the course they were taking.”

As his perspective shifted, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle itself was advancing, bolstered by the support of additional funding and industry partnerships.

“By the time I got here, Lyle's engineering program was growing exponentially,” Karki shares. “A lot of new departments were coming in, a lot of professors with creative ideas – it was the time to be in engineering.”

This development supported the addition of the accelerated master's program, allowing Karki the opportunity to complete his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a combined five-year plan. Furthermore, it established ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle as a hub for engineering innovation, connecting students with researchers and industry giants.

“Lyle was able to leverage all of the industry leaders – we’d have talks, lectures, and companies coming in looking for interns.” Karki recalled. “Through the Lyle Advisory board, I was constantly meeting with professors and getting great feedback.

Although he credits Lyle’s small class sizes, industry connections, and exceptional professors as the driving force in his academic success, it was the extracurricular offerings that made the school really stand out.

“The best part about ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle was the blend of academic and non-academic experiences,” Karki shared.

During his academic career, he had the opportunity to participate in research, serve as a teaching assistant, advise the Lyle administration, design courses, and lead the university’s chapter of International Society of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

When he wasn’t in the classroom, Karki dedicated time to volunteering with ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, hosting high school students in science projects, building homes with Lyle City & Engineering, mentoring underclassmen, and serving as an ambassador for prospective students.

“As soon as I got to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, I got to meet a lot of students from different backgrounds,” Karki shared. “The way the engineering buildings are, I worried we’d get siloed and that I wouldn’t venture out. By tutoring, mentoring, and being an ambassador, I got to understand the school from a new perspective.”

For Karki, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ was more than a university – it was a passionate community defined by diverse interests and experiences, where high-achieving peers encouraged his development as both a student and a well-rounded leader. In turn, Lyle’s programs transcend the typical engineering experience a student might receive at another institution.

“Unlike a state school, you’re a name, not a number, at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½,” Karki expressed.

Despite choosing electrical engineering as his focus, his education was diverse and collaborative, like the interdisciplinary robotics competition his junior year. Across every department, engineering hopefuls came together to showcase their skills, including Karki, designing a robot that could drop a ping pong ball into a box.

“But as far as projects go, the highlight of my career at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ was the senior design project,” Karki shared.

In collaboration with his teammates, Karki designed a prototype for an automated braking system designed to react and potentially save lives if a vehicle ahead slams on its brakes. The project was an in-depth look at designing and executing a highly technical project, guiding it from inception to completion.

“We took an idea and set the budget, researched the components, figured out the contingencies when things didn’t go as planned – and they often didn’t.” Karki reminisced. “We worked with fantastic professors from each discipline. I still remember it all because it was so instrumental to my success now.”

When it came time to graduate, Karki was armed with competencies not limited to his strength in academics, including leadership, public speaking, community-building, and collaboration. After leaving the Hilltop, he turned to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle’s alumni network to land the position of electrical engineer with IPS PowerServe.

As an international student with a specialization in semiconductor devices and circuits, he struggled to find the right fit, because many of the industry leaders in his field, as defense contractors, only consider U.S. citizens. By tapping into Lyle’s vast alumni network, he was able to leverage industry connections to catalyze his career.

“The reason I got my job was because my manager and his manager knew about ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle.” Karki shares. “Everyone in this field is good at engineering. Everyone has passion and good grades. What sets Lyle graduates apart is the intangibles.”

His exceptional engineering background was supplemented by the leadership and volunteering experience he gained during his undergraduate studies, establishing him as a stand-out in a field of incredible candidates. He remained with IPS PowerServe for more than a decade, advancing from electrical engineer to electrical engineering manager. With the support of his employers, he recently gained his citizenship.

When one of his coworkers nominated him for CSE Magazine’s “40 Under 40”, Karki believed his well-rounded leadership, which he attributes to his time at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle, was the defining feature that helped him earn the title. By taking advantage of the wealth of opportunities available to him through ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle, he learned how to leverage his education in a meaningful way, establishing him as an innovator in his industry.

For engineering hopefuls at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle, Karki emphasizes the importance of learning beyond the bounds of the classroom, citing the many incredible opportunities ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle has to offer.

“From coursework to mentorship to volunteering, I believe Lyle’s collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to leadership empowers every student to reach their fullest potential.”

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About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

About ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.