Computer engineering medalist loves what he does

Not every graduating student can look back and say they loved the difficult assignments and long hours in the library, but David Daobing Gong isn’t your typical graduate. He calls computer engineering his passion and says assignments never seemed like a chore. Sailing through his degree with an A average, ten scholarships and awards, and the IEEE Victoria Section Gold Medal in Computer Engineering, his love for his work has clearly paid off.

Gong moved to Canada from China in 2004 and chose to study at UVic because of its reputation and its size. He says small classes and a great faculty-to-student ratio drew him to Victoria. He began in computer science but changed to computer engineering because of its emphasis on both computer hardware and software.

His success comes from a happy marriage of his interests to his schoolwork. “I am really interested in computer engineering,” he says. “I enjoyed learning it so much that I never felt any assignment was a burden. I would say that passion is what made me successful in school.”

Gong expresses that enthusiasm for computer engineering in his non-academic life as well. “I like to work on my own electronic projects outside of school,” he says. It’s not all he does, though. He also plays badminton and ping-pong to let off steam.

Having a strong support system also helped Gong do well in school. His wife worked to support him while he went to school, for which he says he is incredibly grateful. Gong also found friends who helped him succeed. “Studying with buddies can really make learning a lot more enjoyable,” he says. Friends and family have also been important in the face of challenges that come with attending university in a different country. “English is not my first language,” says Gong. “I struggled quite a bit at the beginning.”

Gong calls the co-op program a highlight of his time at UVic. He completed four co-op work terms: two at UVic, another with a software company in Surrey, and a final work term in Burnaby with a telecommunications company. His work terms have helped him put his degree into action immediately upon graduation. Gong now works full time as an embedded software engineer with Delta-q Technologies, a company that supplies vehicle manufacturers with products for electric drive systems. “My co-op experience definitely helped me get the job,” he says.

As Gong begins his career as an engineer, he can’t help but feel a little nostalgic. “New challenges at work are exciting, but graduating does make me a little sad,” he says. “Learning at UVic was a great experience.”