Careers in Engineering Working Smarter, Playing Harder Christopher Rowe Engineering Dean’s Office Dept. of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Vanderbilt University School of Engineering

What is Engineering? What is technology? What is science? Aren’t they the same? Differences in science and technology.

Science vs. Technology Science is the discovery of new concepts and relationships in the natural world. Technology is the application of scientific concepts to better the quality of life for humans.

What does it take to be an Engineer? Good at math & science? Maybe. Strong problem solving skills. Natural inclination for how things work. Lots of curiosity & creativity. Willingness to work VERY hard.

Education 4 yrs. at an accredited engineering school The only 4-year professional degree. Could take the FE exam & PE exam for professional licensure (big $$) Highly desirable to go on for Master’s (more $$ & higher starting rank)

Jobs Design Manufacturing Sales Banking Systems development Management ($$) Teaching Government (FBI, CIA, national labs) Forensics (professional problem solving) Medical School or Law School

Starting Salaries (the “play harder” part) Approx. $34,000 - $70,000 Average = $52,000 EE, CompE, ChemE – highest $/most numerous BME – high/not as numerous ME – med-high/very numerous CivilE/EnvE – low-med/very numerous (going to require Master’s degree soon - $)

Disciplines Great, you’ve showed us the money. Now, what are the choices???

Biomedical Engineering VERY popular with recent biotechnology explosion. Quantifies biological signals and measurements. Applies engineering principles to understanding biological events. Prosthetics, optics, medical imaging, gene therapy, surgical devices, health care procedures & instruments, and laser guided surgery.

Chemical Engineering Applies concepts of chemistry and physics to solve process control problems. ChemE’s deal with mass production (a.k.a. process engineers) as well as development of new products using highly engineered materials. development and production of pharmaceuticals and bio-engineered materials, specialty polymers and high strength composites, semiconductors and microelectronic devices, a wide range of ultra-pure fine chemicals.

Civil Engineering Deals with repairing our nation’s decaying infrastructure, using engineered materials for stronger, lighter, more reliable buildings and bridges. Addresses problems with land-use, increasing population, environmental quality, construction management. Reliability and risk management, infrastructure networks, intelligent transportation systems, soil, air and water contamination, environmental restoration, management of radioactive materials and wastes, industrial eco-compatibility, and life- cycle analysis

Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering/Computer Science Solely responsible for the information age (the discovery of the semi-conductor). Electricity and computers are requirements for our quality of life and the management of these technologies is essential to the health of our economy. Artificial Intelligence, neural networks, computer vision, robotics, medical imaging, semi-conductor development/manufacturing, electronics in space, power electronics, communications.

Mechanical Engineering Design, build, and operate engines, machines and devices. Whereas Civil Engineers work with things that don’t move, or move very little. ME’s manage all aspects of how things move. Applied mechanics and materials research, intelligent mechatronics, ceramics and glass, combustion and propulsion, dynamic systems, encapsulation of living cells, fluid physics, laser diagnostics of combustion, space experimentation, and vibro-acoustics.

Websites of Interest

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