Information Session

Connecting graduate students in science and Connecting graduate students in science and engineering with regional opportunitiesengineering with regional opportunities

1. The Beginning2. The Approach3. The Reality4. The Future

Information Session

Outline

The Beginning

Information Session

: The Beginning

Several MSE PhD Students Interested in Staying

In Pittsburgh/Western PA After Graduation

– Difficult to Identify Companies that Hire PhD’s

– No Mechanism for Looking for Regional Employment at the PhD Level

– Poor Understanding of the Role of MSE PhD’s in Regional Companies

– Are There Suitable Opportunities in this Region?

– Disconnect Between PhD Students and Regional Industry

: The Beginning

Regional Goal to Retain Highly Educated Students

Example…

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl

– Article in CMU Newspaper– One of Main Goals is to Retain CMU Students in

This Region After Graduation

He is not the only one.

: The Beginning

1) CMU MSE PhD Students Interested in Staying in the Region Post-Graduation.

2) Regional Goal to Retain Highly Educated Students.

Perceived Disconnect:

A Number of Students Would Stay in the Region, But Often Find it Difficult or Impossible.

The Pittsburgh / Western PA Region Wants These Students to Stay, But Has Difficulty Retaining Them.

: The Beginning

– PITA (Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Technology Alliance)– ICES (Institute for Complex Engineered Systems)– Alumni Events (Tepper School of Business)

– PTC (Pittsburgh Technology Council)– InnovationWorks– Allegheny Conference

– SMART (Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow)

CMU

Pittsburgh

PA, MD, NJ, DE

One Major Goal: “Retention of Highly-Educated Students”

IDEA… Involve “Highly Educated Students” in These Efforts

Many Groups Exist to Promote and Facilitate Development of the Pittsburgh/Western PA Region

The Approach

Information Session

: The ApproachSeveral Students Decided to Investigate this Further....

Approach: Form a PhD Student Group to Explore and Discuss These Issues.

Initial Goals

1. Attempt to Better Understand Connection Between Regional Development in Areas Related to Our Employment and Science/Engineering Research Through Discussions.

2. Educate Students About Regional Opportunitiesa) Promote Networking Between PhD Students and Regional Industryb) Educate Students about Regional Technical Entrepreneurship Resources

3. Create a “Mechanism” For Looking Into Regional Employment Opportunities.

NOT A GOALConvince MSE PhD Students to Stay in Pittsburgh

: The ApproachMeeting Schedule

Organizational Meetings• Second Friday of Each Month• Review Progress• Deal with Organizational Issues• Suggest Course of Action for Following Month

Discussion Meetings• Last Friday of Each Month• Discuss Relevant Articles• Have Visitors from Regional Industry• Have Visitors from Other Groups with Similar Goals• Eat Pizza!

: The Approach

Eventually… Extend to all of CIT… Not Just MSE

Group Discussions Foster Discourse About

Relevant Topics

Group Gathers and Maintains a Centralized Source of Information for Entrepreneurship and Local Industry

Short Term

Group Publicizes Presence of Students Willing to Stay in Area

Medium Term

Increased Awareness of Regional

Employment and Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Long Term

Presence of Group Allows Access to Perspective of Graduate Students Influencing Local Policy Decisions

Publicity of Presence of Group Attracts Companies Closely Related to University Research

Desired Impacts and Effects of Group

Improved Social Network Between Current Graduate

Students and Regional Industry

: The Approach

• Significant Amount of Work and Time is Required to Maintain this Group

• Responsibilities are Split into Small, Manageable Roles

• Attempt to Minimize Time Burden on Busy Students

• Positions are Ideally “Managerial” in Nature…

• Research and Classes are the Priority…

General Organizational Strategy

The Reality

Information Session

: The RealityAchievements and Accomplishments

– Identified Major Goals of Group

– Wrote a Proposal for PITA (Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Technology Alliance) to Obtain a Budget of About $2600.00 Per Year

– Established An Organizational Framework

– Visitors From 3 Different Companies and a Number of Regional Organizations / Groups

: The Reality

Goals

1) Promote Networking Between CMU Engineering PhD’s and Regional Industry

2) Educate Interested CMU PhD Students about Regional opportunities.

3) Provide a Mechanism for Engineering PhD Students to Search for Regional Opportunities

: The Reality

Goals

4) Publicize the willingness of CMU engineering PhD students to remain in the Pittsburgh / Western Pennsylvania Region after graduation if suitable employment opportunities exist.

5) Interact with existing regional development initiatives to provide the “PhD Student” perspective to make their efforts more effective.

6) Encourage student consideration of potential career opportunities throughout their time in graduate school

: The ApproachCrossLink May 2008 - May 2009 Approved Operating Budget

Category Expense Description Monthly Annually Additional Notes/Comments

Beverages $10.00 $120.00

Lunch Food $65.00 $780.00

Speaker Honorarium N/A $100.00

Discussion Meeting Books/Articles N/A $0.00

Totals $75.00 $1,000.00

Miscellaneous Purchases $20.00 $240.00

Totals $20.00 $240.00

Networking Nights N/A $0.00

Local Company Tours N/A $200.00

Student Fees for Networking Events N/A $100.00

Student Business Cards N/A $300.00

Entrepeneurship Competition N/A $0.00

Totals N/A $600.00

Totals $1,840.00

Bi-Monthly Meetings

These costs assume about 10-20 students attend the meetings regularly and that lunch is served at every

other bi-monthly meeting. Speaker honorarium is used to give all external guests a small gift to thank them for

their volunteered time.

Operating ExpensesThis covers purchases that must be made by the group to ensure it is run properly. (Website Upkeep, Agenda

Copies and Marketing Materials, etc)

These items are expenses for annual or semi-annual expenses which could be run and organized by the

group. Business cards and student fees for networking events for 10 students are also included.

Events

: The Reality

CrossLink Organizational Structure

External CommunicationsAlysha Grenko

Internal Communications &Group Sustainability

Nick Jones/Nick Rock

MarketingDhishan Kande

FinanceKelsey Miller

WebsiteLisa Chan

General Members

Faculty AdvisorProf. Robert Heard

ASM Liason Vincent Sokalski

: The RealitySponsors and Affiliates

Sponsors Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES) Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Technology Alliance (PITA) CMU Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Affiliates/Previous Meeting Visitors ASM International Project Olympus Pittsburgh Technology Council (PTC) Seagate Research ANH Refractories Innovation Works PPG Industries

: The RealityAchievements and Accomplishments

– Created a Name and Logo

– Designed / Ordered Business Cards for Student Members

– Group Website Developed and Launched

– Several Presentations/Interviews Have Been Given

– Students Involved Have Learned a Lot…

: The Reality

Connecting graduate students in science and Connecting graduate students in science and engineering with regional opportunitiesengineering with regional opportunities

Name / Logo / Tagline

: The RealityPromotional Materials

Pic of mug

: The RealityGroup Website

www.ices.cmu.edu/CrossLink

: The RealityWe Have Learned A Great Deal

– There Are Many Efforts at Promoting Regional Development in Technical Areas Including MSE

– Pittsburgh is a Great Place for Someone Who Wants to Start a Business

– Group Works Best By Integrating with Existing Initiatives and Groups and Making Recommendations

• Example: ASM Golden Triangle Chapter

– Just the Presence and Advertising of Group Has Positive Impact on the Situation

: The RealityWe Have Learned A Great Deal

– Representatives From Companies are Willing to Speak with Students if Invited

– A Faculty Advisor Needs to Be Involved for Continuity and Sustainability of Group

– Group Will Be Difficult to Reproduce in Other Departments Without Faculty Involvement

– The Ability to Invite Visitors From Industry is Beneficial to All MSE PhD Students Interested in an Industrial Career Path

– Organizing this Group is Actually Fun!

: The RealityMeetings

Organizational Meetings• Intend to Reduce in Number Once Group is “Running” Properly• Perhaps Once Every Other Month• Critical to Hold Regular Meetings to “Keep Things Moving”

Discussion Meetings• Mechanism for Students to Invite Visitors From Companies

They Choose• Ability to Ask Questions Directly to MSE PhD’s Working in

Industry• Opportunity for Students to Gain More Perspective• Format is Very Informal

: The Reality

Group Discussions Foster Discourse About

Relevant Topics

Group Gathers and Maintains a Centralized Source of Information for Entrepreneurship and Local Industry

Short Term

Group Publicizes Presence of Students Willing to Stay in Area

Medium Term

Increased Awareness of Regional

Employment and Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Long Term

Presence of Group Allows Access to Perspective of Graduate Students Influencing Local Policy Decisions

Publicity of Presence of Group Attracts Companies Closely Related to University Research

Desired Impacts and Effects of Group

All of These are Still Possible in Principle, Hopefully the Website Can Play a Large Role in This…

Improved Social Network Between Current Graduate

Students and Regional Industry

The Future

Information Session

: The Future• Continuous Recruitment of New Students• Increased Faculty Involvement• Promote Formation of Similar Groups in Other

Departments• Strong Emphasis on Group Discussion Meetings and

Industrial Visitors• Integration with Existing Organizations Such as ASM

Golden Triangle Chapter• Use of Website to Help With Group Organization,

Advertising, and Discussion Meetings

: The FutureCrossLink has a Great Potential, BUT…

Organization and Discipline is Required to Keep it Going to Fulfill that Potential

Focus of Group Must Be Continuously Reevaluated and Sharpened

Integration of Group with MSE and CIT Through Faculty Involvement is Critical

Recruitment of New Students Must Be Done on an Annual or Semi-Annual Basis