Materials Science and Engineering M.S.E.

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

The master’s degree helped me stand out by giving me the opportunity to delve deeper into a field I was very interested in. I had learned the basics of materials in undergrad, but my master’s allowed me to have a differentiated position due to the different perspective I brought with me from my undergraduate studies and the ability to implement the content in projects in a way I hadn’t been able to before.

The in-depth classes in my master’s program allowed me to gain more knowledge and familiarity with the subject and be more prepared for a career. The master’s program allowed me to customize my courses, and I was able to continue finding hands-on projects, really allowing me to tailor it to the skills and experiences I was searching for to become a stronger engineer.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

Seek out as much hands-on experience as possible to give you real-life experiences on how to apply the theoretical learnings and critical thinking from the classroom.

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

My experience at the University of Michigan had a significant impact on the path of my career. The work in the labs was so relevant to the type of work done in industry, that it made for a very comfortable and smooth transition into a global, corporate R&D environment. Having access to top notch metallurgical equipment and the guidance of world class faculty was instrumental in shaping my preparedness for a professional position.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

I really enjoyed the advanced level of research opportunities present at the University of Michigan. The resources available to students looking for employment were excellent, and the connections I made at the University have continued to be beneficial in my career. My advice to prospective and current students would be to fully take advantage of those opportunities, without apprehension of putting yourself in unfamiliar territory.

My technical degrees have allowed me to advance through the engineering ranks at several companies.   Possessing the foundational skills in engineering and applying them in many aspects of my career has allowed me to contribute to many technical projects and later lead these project teams.   My most recent position has allowed me to develop new products for lighter weight to enable the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles.

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

My Master’s degree and Doctorate degree from the University of Michigan have opened many doors for me both personally and professionally. With my background, I was able to be selective in the path my career took and which ways I wanted to go.   

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

I really enjoyed the unique opportunity of performing my own undergraduate and graduate research projects and authored several research papers as the primary author.  This is an experience I highly recommend for any prospective graduate students to start early in their undergraduate years.

Throughout my time in school, both undergraduate and graduate, I had several internships and research opportunities. Each of these opportunities provided me with experience in various industries, such as the automotive industry, the golf industry, and academic research. Although my projects during each of these experiences had different applications, I was able to build upon my skills and apply them to my current job. As a Polymer Failure Analysis Engineer, critical thinking is crucial for determining the root cause of failure. We must learn about the part and its service history, perform applicable material testing, and use what we learn from our analysis to form a logical and informed conclusion for the customer. My past opportunities have undoubtedly provided me with analytical thinking and testing skills, which have assisted me in learning how to think as a failure analysis engineer.

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

My Master’s degree has definitely given me a “leg up” for the career path I have set out on. Since my undergraduate degree was a physical science degree, I did not have much engineering classroom experience; however, my internships were in the materials science and engineering field. With my master’s degree in MSE, I was able to enhance my chemistry background while adding key engineering skills and knowledge to my resume in combination with my internship experiences.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

Coming from another university and undergraduate program/field of study, I wanted to make sure I took advantage of what the MSE program and UofM had to offer. I would advise students to participate and play an active role in a research group. This gave me great research experience and helped me determine if I wanted to pursue research in the future. The research experience helped me to apply what I had learned in the classroom to challenging projects that required critical thinking. I would also advise students to join any organizations that are advertised and are of interest. The CoE does a great job of posting events hosted by organizations across the college, and it is a great way to meet other students, give back to the college and the community, and enrich your time at UofM. 

I entered a two-year rotational program at Eaton after graduating, starting with an internship the year I was completing my Masters. I am now in my third research and development focused role since starting full-time, and I think the variety of projects I had the opportunity to work on at school helped prepare me the most for being able to quickly understand new problems and provided meaningful solutions.

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

The program I was hired into is exclusive to Masters and PhD students only. By completing my Masters degree, I also could continue my research, which I think was my most beneficial experience at school.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

Take advantage of the different opportunities here. Finding activities you do not like can be just as helpful as finding ones you do, and I think trying different experiences is the best way to prepare for working in an ever-changing world.

Following my graduation from the Materials Science and Engineering SUGS program, I did a post-grad internship at SpaceX as a Materials Engineer. Following my internship, I took on a full time position as a Supplier Development Engineer, focusing on special processes such as additive manufacturing, welding, and non-destructive inspection. I am currently a Materials and Process Engineer at Northrop Grumman Corporation focusing on materials and processes that will be used on next generation aircraft. I work on projects that involve additive manufacturing, composites, and coatings. I’ve had the privilege of working on a wide variety of different projects, giving me the opportunity to broaden my understanding of different kinds of materials and processes. More importantly, I got to meet and work with all sorts of incredible people all across the nation! 

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

My Masters degree provided an excellent platform for me to broaden my expertise in the field and elevate my career to the next level.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

During my time at Michigan, I was very involved in the Michigan Marching Band, Michigan Materials Society, and BLUELab. Shout out to those organizations and the people that keep them going! I also really enjoyed getting to know my professors and working alongside my fellow classmates, those were truly the good ole days. My advice to students is that life is what you make of it, so make it interesting!