Engineering medal winner mad about computers

Boyle IEEE Gold Medal—Computer Engineering

When Kiel Boyle’s family first got a computer about 12 years ago, he wondered how it worked. "I took it apart," he says. "I broke it quite a few times but I usually fixed it, eventually. I chose computer engineering at university because it was going to teach me how computers work and how to make them.

Boyle is this year’s winner of the IEEE Victoria Section gold medal as the top student in computer engineering.

His career goal is to be part of a development team working on integrated circuits and computer architecture—in other words, making computer chips. But first, he wants to earn master’s and doctoral degrees in computer engineering.

Boyle is attracted to the systems side of computer engineering—as opposed to software—which ranges from programming and higher-level circuits to low-level design, which examines how individual transistors work.

His main interest is systems architecture, which involves deciding what pieces go into a microprocessor. "The courses that were involved with systems architecture seemed the most interesting, and there’s so much that can be done to improve microprocessors," he says. "I was also very good at the classes I was in."

Boyle especially enjoys lab work. "I like it when we can build something and see results," he says. Of having the highest GPA in computer engineering, he says it’s probably because he was very interested in the material.

"Learning how things work is what really motivates me. If I see something and I’m not sure how it works, I like to investigate it and open it up to see what’s going on."

Boyle was assisted during his studies by the Sant S. Aulakh Memorial Scholarship and two President’s Scholarships.