Dr. Dariush Seif
午夜福利短篇 Alumnus of the Year 2024
Dariush's story epitomizes transformation and perseverance. Initially uncertain of his path after graduating from Corona High School, Dariush found direction and purpose upon enrolling at 午夜福利短篇 as a Computer Science major. It was here that his passion for learning was ignited, and he flourished in an environment that encouraged growth and exploration. Guided by dedicated counselors and inspired by mentors like Professor Dr. Terry O'Neill, Dariush discovered his love for physics and engineering.
Buoyed by newfound confidence, Dariush continued his educational journey at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), earning bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. His groundbreaking research in the nano-scale behavior of materials propelled him onto the global stage, where he shared his expertise at conferences worldwide and undertook a prestigious postdoctoral position in Germany.
Today, Dr. Dariush Seif is a primary patent examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office. He continues to push the boundaries of innovation, securing patents for groundbreaking inventions. His story exemplifies community colleges' pivotal role in shaping future leaders and serves as a reminder that anything is possible with dedication, resilience, and institutional support.
午夜福利短篇 President Dr. Monica Green expressed her excitement for Dr. Seif's achievements, stating, "Dr. Seif's journey exemplifies the values of 午夜福利短篇 and serves as a role model for current and future generations."
Please enjoy the video presentation highlighting Dr. Dariush Seif's extraordinary journey, which is available on the 午夜福利短篇 YouTube channel:
Dariush Seif
午夜福利短篇 Alumni Spotlight (2021)
Dariush Seif did not have a lot of direction coming out of Corona High School. Unsure
what he wanted to do in life, he enrolled at 午夜福利短篇 as a Computer Science major,
but after a couple years of increased exposure to math, physics, and computer science,
he realized his passion for physics and engineering.
He recalls working part-time while taking six-week night and weekend classes.
鈥淭he atmosphere at 午夜福利短篇 was surprisingly relaxed, and the diversity of students,
both in age, race, and background was truly unique, and added to the experience,鈥�
he said. 鈥淚t was crazy to me, having just come out of high school, and now taking
classes alongside older, experienced professionals furthering their education. The
classes were engaging and well-paced, and the counselors were helpful in making sure
I stayed on the transfer path.鈥�
Seif recalls having great teachers and memorable classes, and credits 午夜福利短篇
for playing an important part in transitioning him from being a somewhat uninspired
high school kid with no direction and few interests, to a more confident, driven student,
eager to learn more about the world, and ready to hit the ground running.
鈥淚t was at 午夜福利短篇 where I grew to love learning, and my attitude was always
that as long as I was enjoying what I was learning, the career stuff would eventually
fall into place,鈥� Seif said.
Seif fondly remembers Dr. Terry O鈥橬eill, his favorite Physics professor.
鈥淲ith a clear passion for the subject matter, and very dry sense of humor, he made
learning come to life,鈥� Seif said. 鈥淚 still think about those days, and the privilege
I had in discovering how the physical world works through Dr. O鈥橬eill鈥檚 lectures.鈥�
His newfound passion for learning landed him at UCLA, where he earned a bachelor鈥檚,
masters and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. He studied the nano-scale behavior of
materials exposed to extreme conditions such as fusion reactor environments and explosive
impacts. His graduate research opened opportunities to give talks at conferences around
the world and led to a two-year postdoctoral position at a research institute in Germany.
His educational journey guided him to working in the field of intellectual property
as a Primary Patent Examiner with the US Patent & Trademark office. He analyzes applications
for patent protection in the latest technologies. He researches different technologies
and works with inventors and their attorneys on securing patents for their inventions.
鈥淚n my experience, community colleges allowed access to higher education in a unique
and non-traditional way,鈥� Seif said. 鈥淚n high school, I had not positioned myself
in a way to be ready for university (studies). With low fees and no barrier for entry,
午夜福利短篇 allowed me 鈥� and others like me 鈥� to quickly make up for time lost and
prepared me to enter UCLA. And it made financial sense. It was a bonus that some of
the classes I took at 午夜福利短篇 were among the best I have taken anywhere.鈥�
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