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For the week of 27 March 2009
Welcome back from Spring Break! It seems that spring has finally sprung.
This week's @COE features plenty of faculty and student announcements, as well as important information from Advising and Career Services.
Check back with us next week for more exciting happenings in the College of Engineering!
Faculty News
Dr. Bruce MacLennan, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, gave an invited talk, "A Model of Embodied Computation Oriented Toward Artificial Morphogenesis," at a conference on "The Science and Philosophy of Unconventional Computing," held March 23-25, 2009 at Cambridge University. More information is available online here.
Dr. Igor Alexeff, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, presented a paper, "DC Steady State Plasma Sterilizer", at The 2nd International Conference on Plasma Medicine in San Antonio, TX on Monday, March 16, 2009. More information is available online here.
Dr. Michael Berry (pictured to the far right), Professor and Associate Department Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, hosted Math Jeopardy! at the annual MAA-SE meeting at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. over the weekend of March 13-14. A record twenty-two schools competed with Austin Peay State University coming out on top. Additional results and more photographs can be found online here.
Engineering Outreach News
Engineering Outreach is pleased to announce that a supplemental College of Engineering Fellowship in the amount of $1500 for the Spring semester, 2009, has been awarded to the following COE graduate students in recognition of their high potential for success.
- James Vincent Price, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- David McCarthy, Material Science and Engineering
- Ercan Cakmak, Materials Science and Engineering
- Will Brookshear, Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering
- Henian Xia, Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering
- Daye Xu, Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering
- Jie Zhao, Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering
- Huang Huang, Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering
- Catherine Bryant, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Aashish Sharma, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Yang Gao, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Nathan Mills, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Congratulations!
IEEE News
Rui Bo (pictured on the left), a Ph.D. candidate in electrical engineering (advisor: Dr. Fran Li, pictured on the right), received the 2nd Place Prize (and $300 cash!) of Student Poster Contest at the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Power Systems Conference and Exposition (PSCE) 2009, held in Seattle, Wash. during March 15-18, 2009. His poster presentation was based on his paper with Dr. Fran Li, "Probabilistic LMP Forecasting Considering Load Uncertainty," which has been recently accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, the leading journal in the area of electric power systems.
Advising Announcements
Undergraduate Students
- Last day to drop 2nd session courses with "W" is March 27
- Last day to drop with WP/WF grade for Full term classes is March 31. WP/WF forms available in the Advising Office, room 202 Estabrook Hall.
Graduate Students
- Last day to schedule defense of dissertation is March 27
- Tentative deadline to purchase cap/gown and Order Hood is March 30
- Last Day to Register for Graduate Hooding Ceremony March 30. Graduate Hooding ceremony details are available online here.
Sarah "Brooke" Schwahn has been hired as the new Administrative Specialist III in the Advising Office effective Monday, March 23. Welcome aboard, Brooke!
Office of Professional Practice Spotlight
Daniel Singleton is a senior civil engineering student who is currently on assignment with Messer Construction Company.
“I am now in my fifth week with Messer Construction, and the decision to pursue a co-op position was a good one,” Daniel said. “I cannot say I learn something new every day—that would be an understatement. Daily, I am learning valuable information that a classroom cannot offer, which helps even more to prepare me for my profession in engineering.
“Here are a few of the numerous jobs that I have had an opportunity to do: I have helped shoot in important locations with the total station, find strategic elevations, prepare and file important documentation of the construction process, read important drawings and deal with important paperwork, such as RFI, daily reports, concrete breaks, etc.
“The learning experience could only be compared to a class that I have to take to prepare myself for my future goals.”
Daniel is pictured on the Messer jobsite in Maryville, Tenn.
For information on engineering co-op and internship assignments, contact the Office of Professional Practice at coop@utk.edu or 865-974-5323.
Upcoming Events
OPP spring event dates have been set. Students are encouraged to mark their calendars now so they don’t miss out on these opportunities!
April 13, First Timers meeting, 416 Dougherty, 5 to 6 p.m.
Designed for students who have an engineering co-op or internship secured for summer or fall, as well as those who think they will have a position for summer or fall. Attendees will learn what to expect while on assignment and how to make their co-op / internship experience a success. Ambassadors and experienced co-op and intern students are invited to attend, but must RSVP to address the amount of pizza ordered.
For more information on workshops, co-op and internship opportunities or to RSVP for the First Timers meeting, contact the Office of Professional Practice at coop@utk.edu or 974-5323.
Career Services Announcements
Spring Career Services Dates for Engineering
March Workshops
- March 31 – Graduate Admissions 101 –
4 - 5 p.m. – 100 Dunford Hal
Basic overview of the graduate admissions process. Ideal for sophomores or juniors who are planning to attend graduate school. Topics covered include: types of degrees, timelines, ways to learn about programs, elements of the application, required tests, preparing a strong candidacy and more!
April Workshops
- April 8 – Selling Your Study Abroad Experience – 5:30 p.m. – 100 Dunford Hall
Planning to study abroad or done so already? Studying abroad is a life-changing experience in and of itself. However, some experiences can be more powerful than others when it comes to impacting your future career. Gain insight into how to make the most of this experience. Get advice from an employer on how to effectively use it as a marketing tool in your job or internship search.
Interested in working abroad in the future? Learn some of the basics!
Presented by: Dayna Blevins, Regional Recruiting Supervisor for Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Jeannine Wirth of UT Career Services - April 9 – Answer the Call to Serve: Red, White & Blue Jobs – 4 p.m. – 100 Dunford Hall
Learn about finding open positions, the application process, and the “Federal Resume and KSAs” because the Federal government is hiring!
Visit MakingtheDifference.org for more information; search USAJOBS; register your search agents; build resumes – and have them ready; read announcements carefully; determine your qualifications; know the compentencies and apply now!
The sooner you apply the better! Don’t wait until graduation, as the hiring process can take between 4-6 months. Also, consider student jobs and internships with the Federal government as a great way to get your foot in the door.
EF 301 – Career Services for Engineers
Planning your class schedule for Fall 2009? Worried about the economy and the job market when you graduate? Don’t forget to register for EF301 – Engineering Career Planning and Placement!
Remember the Fall Job Fair will take place on September 30, 2009 – make sure you are READY! The majority of engineering recruitment for full-time positions for both December and May graduates takes place in the fall semester.
This class is offered each Fall and Spring semester and is taught at Career Services, 100 Dunford Hall on Mondays, 1:25 – 2:15 pm. This class is a perfect fit for all Engineering Juniors and Seniors and will equip students with the right tools to land that great job. In today’s economy, more students are competing for fewer jobs. Be sure you have the best tools in place to market your unique skills, education and experience to prospective employers.
The class is offered on a 1-hour Satisfactory/No Credit basis and is taught by Career Services Consultant for the College of Engineering, Leslie Fox. Expect visits from company representatives, tips and tricks from HR recruiters, advice on resumes, cover letters, interviewing and salary negotiation and learn the ways you can stand out and get noticed at the job fairs.
Here’s what students are saying about the class:
- “This is the most useful non-engineering class I have ever taken. It gave me insider information about what employers are looking for during interviews and I have a resume that I feel great about!”
- “I felt that I knew exactly what the companies were looking for at the Job Fair and on my interviews. The tips we got in class really helped me feel comfortable talking to the employers.”
- “This class exceeded all my expectations – it really works!”
Don’t wait to sign up as space is limited!
To schedule an appointment for resume review, interview and job fair preparation or the job search process, call 974-5435 and ask to make an appointment with Leslie Fox, Engineering Career Consultant. Career Services if located in 100 Dunford Hall on Volunteer Boulevard.
If you have submissions for @COE, the college's electronic newsletter, please send them to L. Ashley Susong at lsusong@utk.edu by 12:00 noon on Thursdays.