HARRISBURG, PA – At Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU), students take center stage. Each month, our Student Spotlight will shine a light on the internships, career outcomes, published research, and other ways our learners are demonstrating their skills in science, business, technology, and more – and making an impact in Central Pennsylvania and beyond.
This particular Student Spotlight demonstrates the power of connections between academia and industry – a key tenet of HU’s mission and operations.
The second annual Joint Defense and Manufacturing Meeting for Innovation and Transition, better known as J-DAMMIT, returned bigger and better than ever this fall, hosting nearly 400 attendees over three days. The event featured inspiring keynote speakers and dozens of hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies improving combat readiness for warfighters across the globe – including 3D printing and scanning, smart factories, digital simulation, laser welding, collaborative robots, and many more.
A highlight of the summit was a well-received series of student research poster sessions, led by HU students and including post-doctoral researchers from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Representing Harrisburg University at the poster sessions was Advanced Manufacturing (ADMA) major Kadijatu Johnson‘25.
“My project is on Factory I/O, which are factory simulations, or digital twins. Using Factory I/O can be cost effective for companies and reduces accidents in the workplace. If something breaks down, time and money are spent to get it fixed. But with Factory I/O, we’re able to do testing and debugging; after you create your code, and an error is detected, you’re able to fix it without investing money in changing the physical factory, which could cost thousands or even millions of dollars.”
Kadijatu isn’t just an enthusiastic student and researcher; she’s also been involved in STEM outreach in Central PA through a work-study program she learned about through ADMA Professor Glenn Williams.
“We’ve been able to expose high school students from different backgrounds to these concepts. Over the summer, we worked with the Environmental Teen Corp and introduced them to Factory I/O to nudge their interests in the direction of manufacturing. We were able to show them that there’s a real pathway here; they’re mostly students from urban areas, so we’re trying to get them involved and let them know it’s possible get started in this field with interest and not necessarily knowledge. Professor Williams was the one who showed me what’s possible – it’s been a great learning opportunity, and now here I am doing a presentation on it.”
“Kadijatu has demonstrated a willingness to take on knowledge and learn technologies outside of her past experiences,” said Professor Williams. “She also demonstrates a common characteristic of HU students through her willingness to share with others – including high school students from the area. Factory I/O, Control I/O, and PLCnext technology from Phoenix Contact are a few of the tools she is engaged with.”
Kadijatu says her interest in engineering and advanced manufacturing was first sparked by watching the International Space Station live feed on television.
“They were showing how astronauts prepare to go into space. I started researching, and I found that to be an astronaut and work for NASA, you need to be in an engineering or related field. After a couple of [ADMA] courses, I was sold! It involves a lot of hands-on activity, which is how I learn best. Much of what we do in the ADMA program is literally what’s being done on the factory floor. I already have actual experience going into my field, which is great!”
“I am extremely proud of Kadijatu’s educational growth and excited to see where her skills take her in the near future,” concluded Professor Williams.
Harrisburg University thanks and congratulates each of the outstanding learners featured in our Student Spotlight for their contributions to our institution, our community, and our country. We see the difference you’re making, and we can’t wait to watch how your studies and careers develop from here!
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
