Riley Carlin’s fascination with problem-solving began long before he set foot on Notre Dame’s campus. It started with Legos—intricate builds like the London Bridge and the Star Wars Death Star that captivated him for days beginning at the age of six.

Then came Rubik’s cubes, an obsession that began in seventh grade with an iPad app and quickly evolved into a growing collection of complex, unconventional cubes. “It was never really about how fast I could solve it,” he says. “It was more about how many different types of cubes I could solve.”

That passion for puzzles and building brought Carlin to Notre Dame, where he’s majoring in electrical engineering while ambitiously pursuing three minors in bioengineering, chemistry, and engineering corporate practice.

His workload is heavy—18 to 20 credits per semester—but for Carlin, each course is another step toward his ultimate goal: innovation for good.

“I’ve always been interested in using engineering to help people,” says Carlin. “Thus, ideally my career will serve a social purpose.”

Currently, he envisions a future in medical device development, though he is unsure what that will look like. “The only goal in my career is to start my own company,” he says. “I do not know what it’s going to be yet, but I’d like to make some medical device that solves some pressing problem—an innovative solution, not just a copy of something old.”

To build the skills he’ll need, Carlin has immersed himself in experiences beyond the classroom. He took a science entrepreneurship class, has been involved with the Biotech Club, and is currently leading a project for the Student International Business Council (SIBC), a student-led consulting group that has helped him develop soft skills.

“While my current plan is to pursue an engineering career, I want to keep my options open,” he says. “Regardless, every job [to] some extent involves a consulting aspect, so it’s good to get those soft skills early.”

Carlin is also active in club sports, competing in both boxing and lacrosse.

Despite his packed schedule—”I keep a packed schedule because I love doing things - being a part of teams, clubs, and projects - regardless of what they are”—he still makes time to unwind, whether it’s watching action movies, playing video games with friends, or teaching his hallmates a few of his old Rubik’s cube tricks.

Originally from St. Louis, MO, Carlin grew up with a strong connection to Notre Dame—both of his parents are alumni—but he says that his decision to enroll was entirely his own.

“I always saw it as the perfect place,” he says. “It’s the best Catholic school, and that was always really important to me. But it’s also the people, the mission the school has. Other schools… have good missions as well, but there is nothing quite like Notre Dame. It is such a unique place and this becomes most apparent to me after my fights in Bengal Bouts. After trading hard punches with some of my best friends all in the name of charity, we turn to each other once the fight is over to congratulate one another, and instead of holding grudges against each other, this whole experience strengthens our friendship like nothing else.

That sense of community is part of what makes moments like singing the alma mater at the end of a football game so meaningful to him.

“I stay to the end of every game just for that reason,” he says. “It’s very wholesome.”

In addition to his studies, Carlin has sought out ways to immerse himself in different cultures. Last summer, he traveled to Spain, where he worked at a nursing home for six weeks. “They did not really speak English, but I’ve always loved Spanish, so I was excited to improve my language skills,” he says. “It was cool to immerse myself in a different culture.”

Next spring, he’s headed to Dublin to study abroad. “I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland,” says Carlin. “I’ve saved it for a special occasion, and I think studying abroad for a semester qualifies.”

Despite his many commitments, Carlin remains grounded. He knows he has a packed schedule—so much so, in fact, that he sometimes forgets all the activities he’s involved in. “That’s kind of an indication that I probably do too much,” he admits with a laugh. Still, he’s making the most of his time at Notre Dame, embracing every challenge and opportunity that comes his way.

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