The UC Engineering Graduate Student Experience Andrew St. George 15 August 2013

Welcome to Grad School

Higher Expectations Middle School Graduate School carries with it a sharp rise in responsibility and freedom

Higher Expectations Middle School High School Graduate School carries with it a sharp rise in responsibility and freedom

Higher Expectations Middle School High School Undergrad Graduate School carries with it a sharp rise in responsibility and freedom

Higher Expectations Middle School High School Undergrad Graduate School Workplace Graduate School carries with it a sharp rise in responsibility and freedom The expectations are comparable to any full-time job in the workplace

Higher Expectations Middle School High School Undergrad Graduate School Workplace Graduate School carries with it a sharp rise in responsibility and freedom The expectations are comparable to any full-time job in the workplace It is NOT simply an extension of undergraduate studies

What are classes like? Higher workload, difficult projects and exams As a result, one should only focus on 2 – 3 classes per term Vast majority of work is done outside of class Large amounts of reading and independent study become necessary for success Long-term preparation for a cumulative Qualifying Exam (for PhD students)

Your advisor, your research… These are the two most critical decisions you will make in graduate school These two things will define your graduate school experience Try not to rush into either decision without considering whether or not an advisor and research area is right for you (“shop around” and talk to older students)

Choosing an Advisor Relationship with your advisor will dictate your area of study and research experience Some will allow you a great deal of independence, while others like to be more involved in the details The ideal advisor should be invested in your success, provide guidance, give you credit for your work, and help you graduate Well-respected advisors with many connections can more easily procure funding and carry weight on publications as co-authors

Choosing a Research Topic Your research topic will become the basis for your thesis/dissertation: choose early, finish early You’ll be spending the next several years working on it, so be sure to pick something of INTEREST to you AND the research community (relevant research improves job prospects) It helps to go after a project with funding — this will make affording graduate school less of a challenge Make sure you can publish on the research — it does you no good whatsoever to waste your time on a project if you cannot use it in your thesis/dissertation Biomedical Chemical AerospaceMaterials

Death and taxes… and rising tuition! GAS/GIA (Graduate Assistant Scholarship/Graduate Incentive Award) Teaching Assistant (TA) -Ideal starting position for a graduate student -Great practice in fundamentals for the Qualifying Exam Research Assistant (RA) -Best for later in graduate school when you’ve already started your research Fellowships: Apply early for as many as possible Internships -Real world experience

Forms for everything… …key requests, adding/dropping classes, travel reimbursements, plans of study, transcripts, annual reviews, etc. An overview of important places/sites: OneStop/University Pavilion (Onestop.uc.edu) UC Blackboard (blackboard.uc.edu) Graduate Student Association (683 Steger) Your Department Office Office of Graduate Studies (Baldwin 665) The Edwards Center Complex

“Organization is the key to effective laziness” Remember that you’re responsible for developing (and following) a long-term schedule If your studies and research aren’t rigorously organized within your first year, be prepared to live among large piles of poorly sorted papers for the next several years As research projects grow in scope, they become harder to manage if not properly organized You can fall behind very quickly without proper organization

Connect yourself with the Research Community Join a professional organization (ASME, AIAA, etc.) Attend conferences relevant to your field Network with your peers and the leading members of your research field Submit your research to journals

Find a Hobby, Stay Social Graduate School can be taxing and stressful at times, so it’s important to have hobbies and take breaks There are numerous clubs, club sports, and campus activities available to graduate students Explore the campus and the city, and try to make friends outside your lab

An exciting time for Cincinnati Between sports teams, museums, parks, a world renowned zoo, thriving restaurants and entertainment districts, a theme park, and a multitude of city festivals, Cincinnati has a lot to offer

Questions *Courtesy of William Stoddard, PhD Graduate Student

An Overview of my Research

Sustained Shock Crossover System

Detonation-Driven Axial Flow Turbine

Rotating Detonation Engine (Shank RDE Design, Courtesy of DeBarmore et al. 2013)