How an Advanced Degree Can Help You Reach Your Career

Goals

Marcella K. VaicikPh.D. Candidate in Biomedical Engineering

Illinois Institute of Technology

My Background•Purdue University (2004)Bachelor of Science

in Chemical Engineering

Full-time Chemical Industry Employment

•University of Illinois at Chicago (2009)

•Thesis: Tooth Enamel Development with Consideration for Enamel Biomimetics

Master of Science in Bioengineering

• Illinois Institute of Technology (expected 2014)

•Thesis: Cell-Matrix Interactions in Adipose Tissue Function

Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering

Vaicik M et al. (2014). Vascularization in Engineered Adipose Tissue. In Vascularization: Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (325-341). CRC Press

Overview

• Advanced Degree Types• Research Options• Length of Programs• How/What you Learn in Graduate School• Transferable Skills Developed in Graduate School• Career Paths• Logistics of attending school• Funding Graduate Degree• Additional Resources

Advanced Degree Types

• Master of Science (Thesis or non-thesis)• Master of Engineering• Master of Science in (Project) Management• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

MastersLevel

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)• Doctor of EngineeringPhD Level

Research Options at Degree Level

Non-Research Based• Masters without Thesis • Course work based Masters

Research Based• Masters

• Smaller 1-2 year Research Experience

• Encouraged for students interested in future PhD

• Useful to experience Research

• PhD• Larger 2-5 year Research Project• Typically publish thesis work

Estimated Time Spent to get Degree

Masters

• 1-2 years full-time• 2-4 years part-time

PhD

• 4-6 years full-time• 6-8 years part-time

7%3%9%

81%

Years

BachelorsMastersPh.D.Career

Graduate School is about Learning

• Formal Course Work Learning• Masters & PhD Typically Require 6-10 Courses• Advanced Level Courses

• Self Directed Learning• Topics for focus• Unique Perspective

• Experiential Learning• Research• Projects

• Graduate School is an Opportunity to explore topics and develop your PASSION!

Skill Development in Graduate School• Critical Reading• Experimental design• Communicating complex

problems to people with various levels of education/expertise

• Inquisitiveness• Follow Through

• Network• Collaboration• Mentoring skills• Creativity• Resourcefulness

Career Paths

• Academia• Tenure track Professor• Community College/Adjunct Professor

• Engineering Technical Leader• Research

• Laboratory Technician • Laboratory Manager• Principal Investigator

• Entrepreneurship• Management• Specific Role Structural Engineer, Financial Analyst, etc.

Logistics of Attending Graduate School• On-campus• Online Degrees• Combination • Company Focused/Sponsored• Interdisciplinary Graduate

Degrees • Certifications

Part-time Full-timeMasters Degree in Engineering (M.S.)

Employer-paid TuitionScholarships (limited)Personal SavingsStudent Loans

ScholarshipsFellowshipsResearch AssistantshipsTeaching AssistantshipsGraduate AssistantshipsEmployer-paid Tuition

Doctoral Degree in Engineering (Ph.D)

Employer-paid TuitionScholarships (limited)Personal SavingsStudent Loans

FellowshipsResearch AssistantshipsTeaching AssistantshipsGraduate AssistantshipsScholarshipsEmployer-paid Tuition

MBA Employer-paid TuitionPersonal SavingsStudent Loans

ScholarshipsPersonal SavingsStudent LoansEmployer-paid Tuition

Funding Options

Summary

• An Advanced Degree provides you with increased Opportunities• The experience is what you make of it• Select a program that fits your interest and needs

Additional Resources

• SWE Webinar Oct 2012: Returning to Graduate School with Industry Experience

• Available for Replay to SWE members

• WE14 ask other attendees many have advanced degrees!• Contact Graduate Programs (Several will be at the WE14 Career Fair)

• Ask where their recent graduates are employed and in what type of roles

• My contact info:• marcella.vaicik@swe.org

• Please fill out session evaluation• SWE Graduate Community Blog: http://swegrad.wordpress.com/

SWE Graduate Student WE14 Selected EventsThursday Sessions

• Graduate School Networking, 11am, LACC Concourse

• How an Advance Degree Can Help You Reach Your Career Goals , 1:30 pm, LACC502A

• Fostering an Inclusive Environment for Graduate Students in a Growing Department – Lightening Talk 1:30 pm, LACC 502A

• Funding Your Graduate Education – Lightening Talk, 1:30 pm LACC, 502B

• Science, Technology, & Public Policy – How policy intersects with engineering and how to get involved – Lightening Talk, 1:30 pm LACC, 502A

• Career Planning with MyIDP – Lightening Talk, 1:30 pm LACC, 502B

• Tips on Finding and Being a Mentor in Graduate School, 4pm, LACC 511A

• Networking in Academic Settings, 4pm LACC 505

Friday Sessions• Fellowship Opportunities for Academic and

Research Projects in Engineering outside of the US, 1:30pm, LACC 505

• Graduate Rapid Fire Session 1, 2:45pm, LACC 505 • Engineers in Informal STEM Education: From

Casual Contributions to Careers 4pm, LACC 501C• Preparing Powerful Application Essays, 4pm, LACC

504 • Graduate Networking Reception – hosted by Owens

Corning, 5pm, LACC 405

Saturday Sessions• Effective Writing for Graduate Funding, 10am, LACC

514• Strategies for Obtaining Your First Academic

Position, 10am, LACC504• Graduate Rapid Fire Session 2, 10am, LACC 502• Tips for Teaching in STEM, 1:30pm, LACC 505• Building Support Networks in Graduate School and

Beyond, 1:30pm, LACC 503• Industry and Academia – You Can Do Both, 1:30pm,

LACC 405• Women in Academia & Grad Student Reception –

2:45pm-4pm, LACC 503SWE Graduate Community Blog: http://swegrad.wordpress.com/