Systems Engineering + Design MEng Online & On Campus

My path has been non-linear, but it was the pivots I made that allow me to conduct my research and assist biotech companies with a unique perspective. My B.S was in bioengineering, but my goals were original to become a medical doctor. As I explored both spaces, I grew to realize the impact I could have as a bioengineer could be far more reaching than as a physician. I committed to the engineering path and engaged in various internships, but instead of choosing to go straight to work, I decided I wanted to learn more and gain a broader design perspective. This brought me to Michigan where I pursued Systems Engineering and Design. I wanted to better understand how to think and design at a system level as opposed to technical component level. Projects in this field were drastically different from what I was familiar with, but the challenges I faced had substantial impact in my ability to lead and communicate with employees at all levels ranging from floor technicians to directors of global technology. After working for a year with my Masters degree, I began my PhD at USC in Industrial and Systems Engineering. My focus is on health care decision making, which can range from clinical and operational level decisions to policy level decisions. The design thinking mindset I developed through my masters degree enables me to generate unique research questions and methodologies that are more application focused and better translatable from academia to practice. While I pursue my PhD, I also work as a biotech consultant and am co-founder of a medical device startup. My journey has had a lot of twists and turns, but my central focus has always been improving health and quality of patient care. Projects across the three disciplines I have studied provide me with a broad perspective that enables me to be an effective leader and communicator in multi-disciplinary teams.

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

Based on my work experience after getting my Master’s degree and being part of a PhD where most other students have also obtained a Master’s degree in a different field of study, what differentiates me is my way of thinking. Systems and design thinking can be applied in any context and I have found that it is not something that has been learned by my colleagues, regardless of education level. This mindset has given me an abundance of opportunities in terms of expanding my network, job prospects, and visibility with executive level management.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

Don’t be afraid to pivot in your path. Every experience has taught you something that you can translate to wherever you are headed next. Also, don’t let your academics and professional goals be an excuse to stop doing your hobbies. It’s a long road ahead, make sure you are enjoying it.

Since I completed my undergraduate degree I have been working at Ford, and had the opportunity to do their rotational program before I started working in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for the last four years. My work so far has primarily involved validation testing for driver assist features at the vehicle system level just before they launched on a product. Now I’m more interested in working on newer features and making decisions earlier in the process to help define exactly what the feature should do and how it should do it. 

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

I think the SE&D program has given me the foundation I need to be able to break down complex projects into manageable pieces to make sure we are delivering the content our customers want, and implementing it right the first time.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

Two courses really stood out to me in this program. System Architecting, Concept Development and Embodiment Design gave us the chance to practice using tools that help in making important tradeoff decisions if multiple solutions exist when implementing an idea. Risk Analysis taught me how to quantify and communicate risk, and how to handle uncertainty when making decisions.

I came to Michigan to pursue my Masters in Systems Engineering, since I was interested to learn more about designing complex products. However, Michigan’s quality of education and resources made available to students overwhelmed me to the extent that I had to pursue a dual degree in Mechanical engineering to make the best out of this opportunity. I got myself involved in various course related and hobby projects in addition to entrepreneurial activities. The courses and resources I had access to, across various schools at Michigan (Ross, CoE, Rackham, Stamps), helped me develop a broader understanding of product design and problem solving. Towards the end of my graduation, I had acquired a unique set of experiences and skills, which helped me land a job from Google.

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

Besides the technical knowledge, I was also able to acquire a lot of soft skills by pursuing a variety of courses. This helped me acquire an end-to-end perspective of problem solving, and helped me stand out in situations where soft skills had a more important role to play.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

My advice to students would be to make the best out of Michigan by getting involved in orgs/clubs or other activities where you are able to test and grow your passion while acquiring real-world experience. Healthy hustle through your college time will set you up for the future!

I aspire to become an exemplary embodiment of the legacy of leaders and best of the University of Michigan’s System Engineering and Design program. My undergraduate internship work at GE Aviation, SpaceX, and Boeing, focused on the engineering design process and the subsequent integration of subsystems. The Master’s program in Systems Engineering and Design has a curriculum that provided deeper educational background to design system architectures, develop and manage specifications, verify and validate systems, and ultimately deliver complex products. I will leverage my degree to transition from engineering design to engineering management, and later to an executive role at an aerospace firm.

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

The experiences that come with graduate school are incomparable. From leading a design team, to teaching a course, to pursuing some of the most difficult projects. Most importantly, a thorough understanding of the “Systems Vee” has helped me see the problems we encounter daily from a broader perspective. 

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

I highly recommend taking an applied programming course. In particular, the Applied Data Science certificate is a great compliment to an ISD degree. Also, don’t miss out on Football Saturdays!