Tristan Wolfe, from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, joins us for this episode to talk about biologically inspired design (owls!), plasma flow, and pathways to knowledge from internships into a career of lifelong learning.  For more information on the programs he describes, check out: https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NSWC-Philadelphia/Partnerships/STEM-Programs/. 

Philip Wilkerson, Tim Diggins, and I checked in with each other to reflect on the 2023-2024 academic year, and discuss how both the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Career Services are gearing up to support our students this coming academic year. If you're looking for more information on the DEEP program that Philip Wilkerson mentions, details are here: https://careers.gmu.edu/deep-employers, with the application at: https://careers.gmu.edu/deep.

In this episode I interview members of four capstone design teams, plus one sponsor, during capstone day 2024. Learn all about the amazing design-build activities of our students to get a glimpse into a day in the life as a Mason Mechanical Engineer. To read about these projects, check out: https://mechanical.gmu.edu/hands/senior-design-capstone, and the interview with Maureen Foley mentioned in this episode can be found here.

In this episode of the Mason Mechanical Engineer, Jacqueline Johanas shares insights from leveraging her mechanical engineering background in her career pathway with the US Patent and Trademark Office. To apply for the jobs she describes, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/.

While the scientists developing cures for disease get much of the publicity, behind the scenes, teams of critical facilities engineers keep the biosafety labs those scientists work in operational. In this conversation with Cecelia Wright Brown and Brian Vickery from the National Institutes of Health, we learn more about the engineering involved in this type of critical facilities engineering.

For the 20th episode of The Mason Mechanical Engineer, we are thrilled to share our first video episode, an interview with Dr. Andre Marshall, Mason’s Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Development.  Listen or watch to learn about Dr. Marshall’s holistic vision for technology in society, drawing off his experiences in industry, government, and academia.

Phil and I sat down with Career Services GOAT (listen in to hear why Phil calls her that) Zakeyah Frazier. She wowed us with her insights tying theory to practice in how she mentors STEM students to find their dream jobs.

Podcast co-host Philip Wilkerson bumped into recent alum Jensen Schram recruiting for her employer M.C. Dean at Mason's Fall Career Fair, and a quick conversation led him to conclude we had to have her on the podcast! In this episode Jensen talks us through being on both sides of the recruitment table and has powerful lessons learned on self-advocacy in academia and the workforce.

We had a fantastic time today chatting with Dr. Shweta Kumar, Managing Member and Technical Director of RGBSI Aerospace and Defense. With Dr. Kumar's depth of technical knowledge and leadership experience, she provides fascinating commentary on the engineering industry in this era of rapid innovation.  From her day-to-day at the interface of developing technology solutions for defense industry customers while managing with business and personnel savvy, Dr. Kumar has terrific insights for engineers at all stages in their careers. 

Student leaders Kevin and Morgan Rose join me in this episode to talk about how their academic paths have been shaped by involvement in professional societies like the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). If you're a current Mason student, learn more at: https://mason360.gmu.edu/home_login.