A landscape view of a hiking trail leading to the summit of Moosilauke mountain.

Nathan Hammerschmitt Le Gal

Class of 2027
Nathan in his Dartmouth sweatshirt in his bedroom
Bio 

Hi there! I'm Nathan, a '27 from Lynn, MA (just outside Boston). I'm majoring in Engineering Sciences modified with Studio Art—I like to understand, design, and create things. I also love writing, photography, and being outside (hence this blog). On-campus, I'm involved in the startup scene through the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as the Triathlon and Cycling Teams. Outside of class, you'll probably catch me drinking coffee somewhere or out on my bike.

Academic Program 

Engineering, Studio Art

Favorite Thing Right Now 

Cycling around the Upper Valley.

Hometown 

Lynn, Massachusetts

Pronouns 

He/Him

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Nathan's D-Plan

What's a D-Plan?

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: BIOL 19 Honors Cell Structure and Function

      I took this class to explore the Biology Department and it ended up defining my freshman Fall. I grew close with other biology-minded students and together we delved deep into cellular mechanisms and processes in a fast-paced environment. The labs were long but rewarding and everything about this class made me a better scientist—Professor Bezanilla is an amazing teacher! I would recommend this class to anyone with a passion for biology and research.

    • WinterHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: ENGL 07.16 Investigative Memoir

      “Who do I want to be?” is a question that I frequently ask myself as an undergraduate (and I’m sure you will as well). A good place to begin answering this question, however, is “Who am I ?” Taking Investigative Memoir as my first-year seminar allowed me to explore this question via personal reflection and expressive writing—something that has helped me frame my identity at Dartmouth with the rest of my life. College can be a surreal experience, but Professor Sharlet’s introduction to the world of creative nonfiction has given me the ability to transform my own perceptions into tangible, recorded stories.

    • SpringHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: ENGS 11 The Way Things Work: A Visual Introduction to Engineering

      As a kid I drew a lot; I was inspired by architectural books like “Pyramid” and “Castle” and fascinated by illustrations in “The Way Things Work.” All of these books are by the author David Macaulay—and I had the opportunity to take this very class with him! I completed weekly sketchbook exercises, worked on visually communicating inventions, and was able to receive personal feedback. The theme of visual illustration as a tool in engineering resonated strongly with me, inspiring my interest in an engineering major modified with studio art. Given my long relationship with his work, this class was truly a dream come true.

    • SummerAmherst, Massachusetts

      I interned at a running biomechanics research lab in Amherst, MA, to explore my interests in kinesiology and running shoe design! I was able to self-fund the internship through a grant from the Dartmouth Center for Professional Development (CPD). I spent the rest of my summer reading, spending time with family, and took a trip to Quebec before returning to campus.

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: PHYS 013 Introductory Physics I

      The first of a two-part series on classical mechanics, this class made physics refreshing and enjoyable. The content came primarily through lectures given by Professor Caldwell, who was extremely clear and made each class memorable with demonstrations, jokes, or historical tangents. The lab section, which involved hands-on physics experiments, reinforced my understanding of the material in a practical sense. I took this course as an engineering requirement, and I found it to be my favorite quantitative course thus far.

    • WinterHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: SART 17.15 3D Design and Digital Fabrication

      I delved into the process of using digital design tools—such as the Adobe Suite, Rhino 3D, and Fusion 360—to create projects that used computer driven manufacturing methods like laser cutting and 3D printing. This class was right up my alley as the assignments required a hybrid of creative and technical thinking. My favorite projects included a making my own lamp, decorative tiles, and an architecture miniature. Overall, this class expanded my design skills and further solidified my pursuit of a Studio Art minor.

    • SpringHanover

      Favorite Class: HIST 032 The Life, Death and Rebirth of Great American Cities

      I learned about the history of New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles through a series of group discussions and presentations. Professor Orleck was an amazing lecturer and guided us through topics like labor reform, corruption, infrastructure, and economics across each city. The final project was an open research paper, and I chose to write about the evolution of culture in Boston's North End. Overall, this class reshaped my perspective of cities and allowed me to fulfill a SOC distributive requirement.

    • SummerHanover

      Favorite Class: ENGS 033 Solid Mechanics

      A classic engineering course in which I learned about rigid body statics, the behavior of deformable elastic solids, and how to build a system that can withstand load. The final group project was a truss bridge laser-cut out of wood that involved multiple rounds of simulation and computer-aided-design (CAD). In the end, it held over 20 kN, or about 4,500 pounds! I loved how this class changed the way I interacted with everyday physical objects and think about structures!

    • FallHanover

      I took the fall quarter "off" to work on a hardware startup with two other students full-time! We lived and worked on-campus. I helped with the mechanical engineering components of the startups and designed our website. As part of the Magnuson Center’s venture studio, we had a space to work from and met with fellow startup founders every Thursday to discuss highs and lows. The culmination of the term was a break trip to Seattle and San Francisco to meet alumni working in entrepreneurship and venture capital.

    • WinterHanover

      Favorite Class: ENGS 024 Materials Science

      An engineering course centered on understanding why materials behave the way they do. The class combined lectures with hands on lab sessions, where we used tools like a scanning electron microscope and X ray diffraction to actually see and analyze the materials we were studying. For our final group project, we investigated 3D printed metal lattice structures designed to improve performance in energy applications. I liked how the course changed the way I look at everyday objects, from the metals in a bike frame to the materials inside electronic devices, and think more carefully about what is happening beneath the surface.

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