As a design engineer in the automotive parts industry, Bruce Ankenman found that an engineer's job depends on the ability to efficiently collect and analyze data. Since many engineers have limited access to statistical methods, his research has centered around developing simple-to-use, yet statistically powerful tools for the design and analysis of both physical and simulation-based experiments.

 

In 2016 at the Segal Design Institute, Bruce co-developed a course with Professor Pam Daniels called Designing Your Life for Northwestern. It was inspired by the course of the same name at Stanford. The course is now offered multiple times per year and has drawn high praise from undergraduate students from across all schools at Northwestern.

 

In 2022, Bruce and Professor Joe Holtgreive co-founded the Northwestern Personal Development StudioLab, which offers classes, a certificate, resources, events and materials to enhance the personal development of undergraduate students at Northwestern.