Paper ID #49168Equipping Undergraduate Engineering Students for Professional Success:An Exploration of Multiple Approaches to Career DevelopmentDr. Keilin Jahnke, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Dr. Keilin Jahnke is a Teaching Assistant Professor in Innovation, Leadership and Engineering Entrepreneurship in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.Yaning Cao, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignJoe Bradley, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign Joe Bradley is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Bioengineering, Teaching Assistant Professor at the Carle Illinois College
) skills like being able to lead a team and proficiencyin change management are central to career advancement. This difference in perspective existsbecause entry level engineers are novices while senior engineers are experts. The goal of thisstudy is to identify how the transition from the novice stage to the expert stage can be expedited.To do so, the researchers will be interviewing engineers at six different aerospace companieswith four to twelve years of work experience who fall somewhere between the expert and novicestages. Interview questions will cover what challenges they faced entering the workplace, howthey tackled them, and what made them feel like engineers during this process. Theseinterviewees were chosen because they have graduated
Paper ID #47209Differential graduate student-advisor career mentorship for academic vs. non-academiccareersDr. Gabriella Coloyan Fleming Gabriella Coloyan Fleming is a research scientist in Virginia Tech’s Department of Engineering Education. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. After completing her PhD in the experimental characterization of the thermal properties of nanomaterials, she moved into engineering education as a researcher-practitioner. She has worked as a program manager at the University of
Paper ID #48634Data Analytics for Faculty Success and Career DevelopmentDr. Alyson Grace Eggleston, Pennsylvania State University Alyson Eggleston is an Associate Professor in the Penn State Hershey College of Medicine and Director of Evaluation for the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Her research and teaching background focus on program assessment, STEM technical communication, industry-informed curricula, and educational outcomes veteran and active duty students.Dr. Robert J. Rabb P.E., The Pennsylvania State University Robert Rabb is the associate dean for education in the College of
Paper ID #46121Retrospective Insights in Choosing a Career in EngineeringLily Skau, Austin Peay State University Lily Skau is an undergraduate student at Austin Peay State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics and a minor in Mathematics and Sociology. She plans to graduate with her degree and minors in May of 2026 and enter the industry as a Mechanical Engineer.Emmabeth Parrish Vaughn, Austin Peay State University Dr. Emmabeth Vaughn is an Assistant Professor in the Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy Department at Austin Peay State University. Before join faculty at Austin Peay, she worked in
Engineering Education Research at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include access to opportunities, social networks, and career management of engineering students. Vibha received her B.S. in Engineering from the joint department of Biomedical Engineering at The North Carolina State University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan.Berenice Alejandra Cabrera, University of Michigan Berenice Alex Cabrera (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in Higher Education at the Marsal School of Education at the University of Michigan. She earned a B.A. in Biology and Latinx Studies and a minor in Chemistry from San Francisco State University
can have critical consequences. However, despitetheir capabilities, not many veterans are currently working in STEM fields, leaving their talentslargely untapped [7]. This highlights the necessity for targeted programs that facilitate veterans'transition into hardware security and STEM careers.`In response to the pressing need for skilled hardware security professionals, this projectdeveloped an innovative experiential learning program: Veterans SkillBridge through Industrybased Hardware Security Training and Education (VETS-HASTE). Grounded in cognitiveapprenticeship theory, VETS-HASTE addresses the specific needs of hardware security,emphasizing hands-on engagement, real-world problem-solving, and mentorship fromexperienced professionals
Paper ID #46775Immediate Impacts of Informal Learning Intervention on High School Students’Career Attitude toward Construction by GenderJingyuan Shen, Georgia Institute of Technology Jingyuan Shen PhD student School of Building Construction, College of Design, Georgia Institute of TechnologyJing Wen ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Immediate Impacts of Informal Learning Intervention on High School Students’ Career Attitude toward Construction by GenderAbstractThe construction industry is facing a growing workforce shortage, further exacerbated by theunderrepresentation of women. This
Paper ID #45586Construction Trade Schools Employers Perceptions: Past and PresentMr. Jonathan Robert Gomes, Roger Williams University Jonathan Gomes is a Lecturer at Roger Williams University in Bristol RI. His background is in Heavy Civil and Infrastructure construction primarily focused in the Rhode Island area. Research interests are focused in employability, career and technical education, and utility as-builtsDr. Amine Ghanem, Roger Williams University Amine Ghanem joined the SECCM faculty in Spring of 2013 as an Associate Professor after serving 5.5 years as a faculty member and construction management program
declines. The decrease in student population, which consequentlyresults in more intense competition among institutions to attract students, motivates academicadministrators to find ways to increase enrollment. This study explores factors that influencedBCS students to choose the program despite strong regional competition. A quantitative approachwas employed to collect data on various aspects, including drivers, obstacles, expectations, andfuture career paths. All first, second, and third-year BCS students participated in the survey.Results indicated that family-inspired factors, job opportunities, and the nature of the programwere among the important influencers, while social perceptions, work situations, and lack ofaccurate advising were
Paper ID #46034Exploring the Influence of Gender and Prior Experience on Career Perceptionsin Remotely Operated Vehicle Operations: A Social Cognitive Career TheoryPerspectiveDr. Kent J. Crippen, University of Florida Kent Crippen is a Professor of STEM education in the School of Teaching and Learning at the University of Florida.Minji Yun, University of Florida Minji Yun is a graduate student in science education in the School of Teaching and Learning at the University of Florida. Her research centers on STEM workforce development and pre-service science teacher education, particularly emphasizing integrating computational
Paper ID #46010Pilot Study: From Curiosity to Career- The Influence of a Summer Camp onHigh School Students’ Interest in Transportation and STEM CareersDr. Tejal Mulay, Florida A&M University - Florida State University Dr. Tejal Mulay is an Assistant Professor in Electronic Engineering Technology under the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology (SAET) at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). Dr. Mulay’s primary research area is speech signal processing, including but not limited to acoustic emotion recognition, digital signal processing, autonomous vehicles, and blockchain technology and its
Paper ID #47608Designing Futures: ECE Graduate Students’ Experience with a ProfessionalDevelopment and Career Planning ModuleProf. Pamela Bhatti, Georgia Institute of Technology Pamela Bhatti is a Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Bhatti received her B.S. in bioengineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1989 and her Ph.D. in electricaDr. Jacqueline Rohde, Georgia Institute of Technology Jacqueline (Jacki) Rohde is the Assessment Coordinator in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her
approachcultivates not only technical expertise but also crucial communication, teamwork, and projectmanagement skills, all essential for success in the modern engineering landscape [11], [12]. Theinclusion of elective courses in emerging and high-demand areas like artificial intelligence (AI)and Robotics ensures that graduates are well-versed in the latest technologies and prepared forroles in cutting-edge industries.Moreover, the program’s structure allows for flexible learning pathways, ensuring students canspecialize in areas aligned with their career aspirations. Whether focusing on renewable energy,advanced robotics, or embedded systems, the curriculum fosters depth and breadth of knowledge[12], [13]. To complement formal coursework, the program
personal andprofessional settings. Another example is the ‘Professional Continual Learning’ module in ECEGR 3710, a spring quarter course forstudents in their junior year. It is at this point that many students begin thinking about post-graduation pathways and exploringopportunities to strengthen their career preparedness. Finally, ECEGR 4870, the first course in a three-quarter senior design (capstone)sequence and a key touchpoint before students enter the workforce, seemed well-suited for the ‘Social Responsibility’ and ‘Bias andMicroaggression’ modules.Table 1: Pilot Implementation Plan for AY 2024-25. An overview of the modules highlighted is included in this paper.Course Course Title Quarter Program Curricular Outcome
the need for innovative discoveries increases in the US, there is a concomitant increased needfor postdoctoral researchers to contribute to advancing STEM [1, 2]. Postdoctoral scholarappointments have increasingly been considered informal requirements for research careers inthe industry, government, and non-profit sectors [3,4]. Further, many tenure-track faculty inSTEM fields were previously postdoctoral researchers [5]. Postdoctoral positions are commonlyviewed in academic and non-academic research-focused areas as an ideal environment forprofessional research training, skill development, and mentorship in preparation for a researchcareer. While the National Science Foundation-funded projects provided 90% of STEM postdocsin 2009, there was
nationaland international universities, including the Texas A and M University - USA, University of Florida -USA, and Forman Christian College University - Pakistan. She also received outstanding teacher awardsin 2013 and 2006. Also, she received the ”President of Pakistan Merit and Talent Scholarship” for herundergraduate studies. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025Validating Scales to Measure Undergraduate Students’ Interest and Career Aspirations in Geoscience and SedimentologyAbstractThis full paper in the empirical research paper category presents the validity of scales tomeasure students’ interest and career aspirations in geoscience and sedimentology (GS). Highattrition rates are an ongoing
Paper ID #45578Industry Mentorship Program Brings Increases in BME Internships, Co-Ops,and Career Placement for Undergraduate StudentsLindsay Tolchin, The Ohio State University Lindsay Tolchin is a Senior Academic Advisor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at The Ohio State University. She created and manages the Industry Mentorship Program for the department to connect undergraduate students with professionals working in industry.Dr. Rachel C Childers, The Ohio State University Dr. Childers is an Associate Professor of Practice at the Ohio State University and Director of Undergraduate Education in Biomedical
Paper ID #46514The Influence on Engineering Industry Career Paths of Specific UndergraduateStudent Experiences and ActivitiesD’andre Jermaine Wilson-Ihejirika P.Eng., University of Toronto D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto within the Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education & Practice (ISTEP). Prior to that she worked for many years as an engineer and project manager in the Oil & Gas industry. She is originally from Nassau, Bahamas, and completed her B.Eng in Chemical Engineering at McGill University and her MASc. from the Centre for
Paper ID #45419CAMINO—Career Advancement, Mentorship, Inspiration, and Opportunities:A STEM K-12 Outreach Initiative.Dr. Hector A. Pulgar, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hector Pulgar-Painemal (Senior Member, IEEE) was born in Los Angeles, Chile. He received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Concepcion, Chile, in 2001 and 2003, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, USA, in 2010. He held academic positions with Federico Santa Maria Technical University, Chile, from 2001 to 2014. He is currently an
Paper ID #45853BOARD # 338: CAREER: Responsive Support Structures for MarginalizedStudents in Engineering - Insights from Year 5Dr. Walter C. Lee, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Dr. Walter Lee is an associate professor in the Department of Engineering Education and the director for research at the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED), both at Virginia Tech.Malini Josiam, Virginia Tech Department of Engineering Education Malini Josiam is a Ph.D. candidate in Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. She has a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech (2023) and a B.S. in Mechanical
Paper ID #45505BOARD # 452: S-STEM: Enhancing Career Readiness of S-STEM ScholarsThrough Co-ops and InternshipsDr. Wei Zhang, University of Louisville Dr. Wei Zhang is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Louisville. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 2003. Dr. Zhang served as an assistant/associate professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) from 2003 to 2010 and as an associate and full professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) from
Paper ID #45403BOARD # 336: CAREER: Engineering Identity in a Makerspace SupportedMulti-disciplinary CourseDr. Audrey Boklage, University of Texas at Austin Audrey Boklage is research assistant in the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025CAREER: Advancing Engineering Identity Development Through MultidisciplinaryCourses and Makerspace IntegrationAudrey Boklage, The University of Texas at AustinAbstractThis study examines how undergraduate students develop an engineering identity within amultidisciplinary course incorporating an
Paper ID #49250The Shift Towards Inclusion and Accessibility: The Impact of Inclusive Designon UX Career PreparationMs. Taylor Mone Smith, University of Texas at Austin Taylor M Smith is a PhD student in the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin.Dr. Earl W. Huff Jr., University of Texas at AustinHansika Murugu, University of Maryland, College Park Hansika Murugu is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction at the College of Information at University of Maryland, College Park. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 The Shift Towards
Paper ID #47919Understanding How Skill Development During Graduate School Can PrepareStudents for Engineering Industry Career PathwaysParker Boggs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityDr. David B Knight, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University David Knight is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech and also serves as Chief of Strategy in the College of Engineering and Special Assistant to the Provost. His research tends to be at the macro-scale, focused on a systems-level perspective of how engineering education can become more effective, efficient, and inclusive, and
current issues in technology,environmental sustainability, and human resources, a holistic approach is essential – beginningwith early student engagement and education before college. K-12 outreach programs led byuniversities are designed to introduce students to various fields and career options. Nevertheless,there is a lack of comprehensive discussion and documentation on their benefits and results,particularly in transportation engineering. This paper presents a DOT-funded summer camphosted by a university aimed at increasing the number and diversity of students pursuing highereducation and careers in transportation-related fields. The camp curriculum comprised lecturesby senior transportation professionals, student-led projects, field trips
general education program.Jennifer Gutzman, University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeLoren G Peterson, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Implementation of an I-Corps Inspired 3-Day Bootcamp for Graduate Students to Plan their Academic CareersAbstractA Customer/Career Discovery Bootcamp was designed and delivered to graduate (PhD andmasters) students at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. It was then adapted and deployedat Michigan Technological University. The innovative 1½ - 3 day bootcamp consisted of three3-4 hour sessions plus time to conduct discovery interviews for the graduate students. TheBootcamp content incorporates proven curricula from