Talia Helman (right) conducts research in Assistant Professor Joe Baio’s lab (photo by Mitch Lea).
Oregon State University sophomore Talia Helman received a Johnson Scholarship Fund that enabled her to work on cutting-edge research with bioengineering faculty member Joe Baio. Her experience was made possible by Peter Johnson, ’55 ChE, and his wife Rosalie, who donated $2.4 million to the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering (CBEE) to endow the Peter and Rosalie Johnson Scholarship Fund. Thanks to their generosity, more than 200 CBEE students have benefited from this unique scholarship–internship program, including Talia. Read more about her time as a Johnson Intern and how the experience shaped her career goals in medicine. Continue reading →
Kristina Milaj in Kenya as part of an Engineers Without Borders project to bring clean water to a rural community.
Kristina Milaj, a fourth-year student at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, Ore., was recently named as one of 10 New Faces of Civil Engineering – College Edition by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). This recognition program promotes the achievement of young civil engineers by highlighting their academic success, volunteerism, and dedication to making a positive impact on society through their chosen profession. Continue reading →
Students and aircraft aficionados recently gathered for a distinguished lecture featuring Paul Bevilaqua, the former chief engineer in Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works. Hosted by the OSU chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the lectured featured Bevilaqua’s in-depth discussion of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, developed to meet the multirole fighter requirements of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allies. Bevilaqua spoke about the challenges involved in developing aircraft and how it has become an international program, with many engineers developing a single replacement aircraft for multiple aircraft types.
What new student isn’t feeling a bit lost when trying to adjust to college life? To help with the transition, the College of Engineering Information Technology (COE IT) team organizes an annual group seminar for first-year and transfer students to get their computers ready for the school year.
Volunteer Shanna Myers assists Chris Haines during the IT orientation.
At the start of fall term, roughly 180 students gathered every hour to learn about computer security, installing essential programs, and even scheduling first-year advising appointments.
“Our COE IT team looks forward every fall to helping our first-year and transfer students get their laptops configured and attached to the OSU wifi network,” said Todd Shechter, the college’s director of information technology. “This is a unique opportunity for them to be prepared for the start of classes.”
Since each engineering student is required to have a laptop, security is a critical component to the college’s IT efforts. Dozens of student volunteers assisted to ensure all 1,386 incoming students met security requirements for the 2013-2014 school year.
Speaking of the school year, the IT team helps with that as well! In addition to providing valuable technology resources, the team stresses the importance of staying organized by subscribing to the Engineering Events Calendar, which alerts students of important upcoming dates.
By attending the seminar at the beginning of every year, students get specialized, hands-on assistance and build a solid foundation for the rest of their time at Oregon State. And they might not feel so lost after all.
New graduate program provides hands-on industry experience
Andrew Bluett is one of the first students in the Graduate Fellowship Program through the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering.
The School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering has launched a new collaborative graduate program that brings together classroom and industry experience. Now in its second year, the Graduate Fellowship Program has students spend a portion of their time at Intel to develop hands-on skills and relevant experience within the private sector before graduating with a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering.
For each year in the program, students take two terms of coursework at Oregon State before spending their second two terms at Intel. Starting with coursework ensures students integrate classroom concepts into their internship.
John Parmigiani, research assistant professor of mechanical engineering and director of industry research and outreach, was integral to forming the collaborative program. He hopes the partnership provides insights into future career options. “If students choose to go into industry, they know the expectations, contacts, and what they need to do to be successful,” he said. On the other hand, if students choose to become a professor, their experience with industry will help tremendously when advising students, he added.
Andrew Bluett is a second-year student and one of the first to participate in the Graduate Fellowship Program. He said the combination of traditional classroom skills and valuable time with a prominent software company was appealing.
“I decided to participate because it seemed like a great opportunity to get real-world experience with one of the most highly regarded electronics companies in the world,” he said. “During my first internship, I was able to contribute to one of Intel’s newest groups, the Mobile and Communications Group, which focuses on the newest technology for smartphones and tablets.”
In the future, Parmigiani hopes to increase enrollment and partner with additional companies. While students are currently participating in internships independently, broadening the program will help professors match students with companies best suited for their talents and area of study, while also creating more professional networking opportunities.
Parmigiani stressed the program’s unique approach to delivering a relevant education is a strong selling point. “Providing professional experience while working side-by-side in the industry, all while writing a thesis and attending school, is not something you get at every graduate school,” he said.
Applications are being accepted in January 2014, and all interested students are highly encouraged to apply.
