The Engineering Experience

Assistant Professor of Nuclear and Materials Engineering Words of wisdom Take advantage of every opportunity you are presented with, even if you feel you aren’t ready – you will rise to the occasion. You are your own best champion, so if you don’t have the confidence to conquer an opportunity, you can’t expect anyone else to have confidence in you . More about Professor Wharry . . . What are you passionate about? Traveling, Bordeaux wines, and antique French cookware. It’s important for my work-life balance and stress management to maintain a life and interests that are totally separated from work. What advice do you have for female engineers? It can be in regards to being a female, engineering, school, finding a job, life, etc. Take advantage of every opportunity you are presented with, even if you feel you aren’t ready – you will rise to the occasion. You are your own best champion, so if you don’t have the confidence to conquer an opportunity, you can’t expect

Yating Fang, Industrial Engineering 2018 What is your favorite part about engineering? My favorite part about engineering is all of the knowledge that there is to learn. I love challenging myself to learn new things.  What is the best thing about Purdue and/or why? The academic environment at Purdue is the best. The fast pace courses push me to learn and advance in my education. The technical skills I have learned at Purdue will lead me to success. I also enjoy the large number of students (the perfect opportunity to make plenty of friends). Tell us about a funny memory of your time at Purdue! I live in the Stewart co-operative house. Living in the co-op has been so fun because it is a small community that I have really grown close to. We manage the whole house by ourselves which I really like because it allows me to learn new things that I normally would not have (for example, cooking). Why do you love Purdue? I am originally from China and Purdue w

It's Thanksgiving season, where everyone takes the time to sit back from the craziness of college and remind themselves what they are thankful for.  Purdue is something that I am so thankful for! From hanging out with friends to taking exams, I know that everything at Purdue is going to help us out so much in the long run and shouldn't be taken for granted.  Here's some top reasons why I'm thankful for Purdue: 1. Top-Ranked Engineering Program Of course, academics takes the top.  The entire Purdue community is centered around academics and even more so in the College of Engineering.  As I pursue my degree in Mechanical Engineering, I realize more and more everyday how applicable my studies are to real-life careers.  Although maybe challenging at times, the College of Engineering will prepare me for anything the world has to throw at me, and I couldn't be more thankful.   2. All of the Unique Student Organizations There are so many student organizat

Basil S. Turner Professor of Engineering, Schools of Materials Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering Advice for future engineers: “Never limit your capabilities. You never know what your ultimate path will be, so don’t limit yourself. Open your eyes and look very broadly. There’s a lot of possibilities for what you can do, you never know.  You entered a very rich and difficult field.” More about Professor Wang: What are you passionate about? Materials science Educating young people Getting people knowledgeable about what I am doing/ the things I am interested in Helping students discover what excites them about their future- there are so many possibilities What advice do you have for female engineers?   Never limit your capabilities Take advantage of your strengths Be rich in your foundation of knowledge Know your studies, but also have interpersonal skills Compete with yourself instead of others Find a mentor or role

The lessons we learn in college don’t always come from our classes and professors; oftentimes it’s the people we meet and the organizations we partake in that shape the way we think and act after college. Katie Hubert, a 2005 Industrial Engineering graduate, proves not only that there is no “typical” engineer, but also that furthering the causes taken to heart during college don’t end when a diploma is received. As the author of oneSTEMforall.com, Katie writes about the subtle and not-so-subtle nuisances found in the engineering workforce. Her articles range from topics dealing with being a woman engineer in a male-dominated career, why mentorships can go sour, imposter syndrome, and more. But it’s more than just in her online life that she exhibits traits separate from the “typical engineering mold”. When asked what makes her unique in her field, Katie wrote “I would say what might make me not a typical engineer is that I love meeting new people and working with people. I

Taking your first college class may seem overwhelming and even scary; but I am here to give you a sneak peek into what your freshmen year classes may look like. Since you come into Purdue as an undeclared engineering major, your first semester classes are going to be a lot about figuring out what major is right for you. So here is a little bit about the main classes you’ll take as a freshmen: LT Megan during her first week of classes freshmen year Engineering 131 Unless you are in EPICS or the honors college, this will be the first engineering class all Purdue Engineers take. This class operates with a flipped classroom approach, meaning you watch lectures and take notes outside of class, so that class time can be spent working in teams. From the start of the semester, you will be placed in a 4-person engineering team, whom you will sit with and complete the majority of your projects with. These projects vary from excel based to hands-on, all following the multi-step eng

PROFESSORS OF PURDUE: Kerrie Douglas Assistant Professor of Engineering Education Favorite advice from college: Do what you love. Professor Douglas was told that if there are classes that you do not like, look at why you don’t like it. And if you don’t like it because of the content, then you shouldn’t pursue it. Favorite aspect of her job: Getting to work with students and see when they figure out new things. Teaching an introductory course allows her to see students as they grow and get their first glimpse into engineering and the thought process that goes with it. More about Kerrie . . . What are you passionate about? Workwise-related to help people have good education opportunities What advice do you have for female engineers?  It can be in regards to being a female, engineering, school, finding a job, life, etc. Be comfortable with your feelings and instincts. If you feel like you might be treated differently, build your self awareness of when it migh

It's fall, a time when friends come together to watch football, pick pumpkins and sip hot chocolate.  Fall is a great time on campus for students, faculty and staff alike.  Over my two years at Purdue, I've fallen in love with my school many times, and I hope you do the same.  Here are five times that I've FALLen in love with Purdue: 1) The Campus During the Fall When arriving to campus at the beginning of the semester, it's pretty hot and time spent outside is minimal.  But once mid-September comes around, the scenery changes -- and in a good way. The leaves are a beautiful, the temperature is mild and everyone has a smile on their face.  My first fall is a time that I fell in love with Purdue.  2) B1G Basketball Champions One of my most favorite moments of Purdue is watching Purdue Basketball clinch the B1G championship on senior night. I personally am an avid sports fan, and going to all of the games throughout the season with my friends were the high