How an Advanced Degree Can Help You Reach Your Career Goals Marcella K. Vaicik Ph.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 ( ). 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) Masters Level Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Doctor of Engineering PhD 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

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 PASSION! 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-timeFull-time Masters Degree in Engineering (M.S.) Employer-paid Tuition Scholarships (limited) Personal Savings Student Loans Scholarships Fellowships Research Assistantships Teaching Assistantships Graduate Assistantships Employer-paid Tuition Doctoral Degree in Engineering (Ph.D) Employer-paid Tuition Scholarships (limited) Personal Savings Student Loans Fellowships Research Assistantships Teaching Assistantships Graduate Assistantships Scholarships Employer-paid Tuition MBAEmployer-paid Tuition Personal Savings Student Loans Scholarships Personal Savings Student Loans Employer-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: Please fill out session evaluation SWE Graduate Community Blog:

SWE Graduate Student WE14 Selected Events Thursday 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 503 SWE Graduate Community Blog: