1 AE 681, Fall 2014 Career Paths and Professional Development in Aerospace Engineering Profs. Hyland, Kinra, and Mortari

Introduction We are reorganizing 681 into four sections: 1. Career Profiles (681A) – Hyland 2. Research Communication (681.B) – Kinra 3. Career Preparation (681.C) – Hyland 4. Professional Interactions (681.D) – Mortari This course is designed to inform graduate students in aerospace engineering of the wide variety of career paths available in Aerospace and the “trade secrets” of successful graduate studies, and professional development leading to a productive and fulfilling career in the field. The course is divided into four sections: Career Profiles, Research Communication, Career Preparation, and Professional Interactions (labelled 681.A, 681.B, 681.C, and 681.D, respectively).

Career Profiles, 681.A (Officially ) 3 Instructors: Hyland Where and when: Tuesday, HRBB 131, 4:00-5:00 This section features talks by TAMU faculty and outside professionals that describe their experiences in a variety of career paths open in Aerospace engineering. What is it like to work for a government lab? - for a corporation (large or small)? - for a university? - or even all three? What is it like to start your own company? In each of the career paths described, the driving motives, and the rewards and challenges will be explored. Basically, we wish to inform students about the possibilities that are out there in the “outside world”, and arm them with the knowledge they may need in a changing world. This section is primarily intended for entering graduate students but might also be useful for soon-to-matriculate students.

Research Communication, 681.B (Officially ) 4 Instructor: Kinra Where and when: Tuesday, ReedMcD 202, 4:00-5:00 This section gives mid-level graduate students experience (before friendly audiences) in oral communication of scientific and technical subjects. This is not to be confused with oratory or public speaking, per se, because modern technical presentation with its mix of oral and visual elements and its highly trained audiences is perhaps a unique mode of exposition. Student presentations will fall into two categories: conference style (20 minutes for presentation, 5 minutes for questions), and poster style (10 minutes for presentation, and 2 minutes for questions). Topics can be any scientific or technical subject that the student speaker is interested in and has knowledge of, including the student’s current research activity. In addition to the student presentations, there will be talks by faculty and outside speakers on how to choose a research topic, how to structure a plan for a successful research project and how to anticipate future research developments.

Career Preparation, 681.C (Officially ) 5 Instructor: Hyland Where and when: Thursday, HRBB 131, 4:00-5:00 In this section, we give the relatively mature graduate students (Masters and Doctoral candidates) a variety of trade secrets for professional development. Topics include: How to write a strong resume/CV, How to conduct oneself in employment interviews (industry), How to master the interview process for academic positions, Writing, submitting, and defending journal papers, The secrets of research sponsor cultivation, Writing formal research proposals, Students will be expected to compose and keep updating a career portfolio that includes resumes/CVs, contacts made, action plans and status reports. Besides discussing the above topics, the Instructor will counsel individual students on their career development plans and on-going activities. It is our intention to empower each and every student to achieve their professional goals.

Professional Interactions, 681.D (Officially ) 6 Instructor : Mortari Where and when: Thursday, ReedMcD 202, 4:00 -5:00 This section offers experienced Ph.D. candidates opportunities to foster the essential professional networks and relationships across the aerospace academic community needed for continuing professional development. The primary approach consists in preparations and participation in formal and informal meetings with speakers in the Department’s Aerospace Engineering Speaker Series (AESS). For participating students, attendance at the AESS seminars is mandatory.

Qualifications of Instructor of 681.A and 681.C 7 14 yrs. in a government lab (MIT Lincoln Lab), 13 yrs. in industry (Harris Corp.), 18 yrs. in academia. 17 years experience in managing advanced technology groups in Government labs and industry 9 years experience in academic administration at the University of Michigan and TAMU. Participated in hundreds of interviews, promotion and tenure decisions, government program reviews and source selection (NSF ERCs, etc.) activities. The organization of Section 681.A follows his very successful Aerospace Seminar class at the University of Michigan.

Let’s Sign Up! 8 Please indicate on the attendance sheet which section you registered for. Then check to see if you comply with the following guidelines. If not you will need to change your registration: 681.A - Mainly for new graduate students. 681.B - Mid-level students 681.C - Soon-to-matriculate students (this is job search tutorial) 681.D - Doctoral candidates who are soon-to-defend, or have already taken 3 semesters of 681 Further recommendations: Doctoral candidates take all four sections in A, B, C, D sequence. Masters candidates might take 681.A the first semester and either B or C for the second semester.

For 681.A ( ) students… At Michigan, I (DCH) contacted and made arrangements for all the speakers. Here, I will arrange for the first three speakers. (Dave Kanipe will speak at the Sept.9 class) You will be assigned to teams. Each team will be responsible for contacting and enlisting at least one outside speaker. The process is: – Go to aeweb.tamu.edu/aero489, open the folder “681-14” and see “Temperment sorter”. Fill out the questionnaire and it to me by Friday, Sept.5. – I will assign you to a team by Sept. 7. – Each team will then work to contact a prospective speaker. When you have found a likely prospect, inform me of the identity, background, and availability of the proposed speaker. – Following my approval, I will arrange funding for the speaking engagement

For 681.C ( ) students… I (DCH) will review the plan for this section at our first meeting on Thursday, Sept. 4 at Reed McDonald. I will be out of town at two conferences from Sept. 7 through 11, so cannot be present at the Sept. 11 class. In the meantime, your assignment is to compile a portfolio (due Sept. 18) comprising: 1. Resume(s) 2. Statement of the type of employment sought and why 3. List of contacts 4. Outline of an action plan for post-graduate employment  Tutorial lectures will focus on the distinct characteristics of the Culture of the professional environment.