Session Details
9:30 AM Opening Session 1.231 Winokur
10:15 AM Successfully Navigating Your Engineering Ph.D. LL2.224
Panelists
Abriana Stewart-Height, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abriana Stewart-Height is a distinguished postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her research interest lies at the intersection of dynamical systems theory, robot autonomy in extreme environments, human-robot interaction, and environmental restoration. Prior to joining MIT, she completed her Ph.D. in Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, under the direction of Dr. Daniel E. Koditschek. Her doctoral research focused on limb loss recovery in dynamic quadrupedal robots that perform remote operations in challenging environments. In her spare time, she enjoys playing basketball, puzzles, painting, and learning new languages.
Hana Warner, 5th Year Graduate Student, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Hana Warner is a fifth year Ph.D. student in Applied Physics. She began at Harvard after graduating from William & Mary in 2020. Hana studies lithium niobate integrated photonic technologies with a focus towards quantum and classical networking applications. Her primary research focus at Harvard has been developing electro-optic transducers to optically interface with superconducting microwave qubits, and she has performed the first demonstration of coherent optical control of a superconducting qubit with one of these devices. She is a National Science Graduate Research Fellow and Goldwater Scholar.
Jeong Hee "Jenn" Kim, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jeong Hee “Jenn” Kim is a postdoctoral fellow whose research focuses on integrating label-free optical techniques for cell and biomolecule monitoring and characterization for many biomedical applications, including disease diagnostics and treatments. Her research goal is to improve workflows in diverse biomedical settings from research labs to large-scale biopharmaceutical facilities, by providing more informed, reliable, and timely decisions. She received her PhD from Johns Hopkins University, master’s from Seoul National University, and bachelor’s from Georgia Tech, all in mechanical engineering. She previously worked at the mechatronics R&D center of Samsung Electronics, where she assisted in developing wafer and photomask inspection tools.
Panel Description: A Ph.D. in Engineering can be a challenging yet rewarding journey, and this panel brings together current and former Engineering Ph.D. students to discuss their experiences and share advice for successfully navigating a doctoral program while covering topics related to the hidden curriculum of graduate school, fostering good mentoring relationships, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Panelists will discuss how they learned about the unwritten rules, norms, and expectations of graduate school and adapted for success, the strategies to communicate effectively with their advisors to get the guidance and support they needed and address the ongoing challenge of maintaining work-life balance in ways that managed their workload while prioritizing important relationships and self-care.
10:15 AM Academia, Industry, and Nontraditional Career Paths for Engineering Ph.D. Students LL2.229
Panelists
Akil Word Daniel, Ph.D., Microsoft
Akil Word-Daniels is a strategic leader known for his exceptional ability to create frameworks that empower individuals to make challenging decisions. With a diverse background in business, technology, academia, construction and hospitality, Akil has a unique perspective in leadership roles. Currently, he works as a Security Technical Program Manager and Senior Risk Analyst for Microsoft Cyber Defense, where he leads a team responsible for protecting half of Microsoft's datacenter fleet.
Akil's career is marked by contributions across several fields. He has worked in marketing for IBM, conducted research for the Army Research Laboratory, and consulted numerous startups. His passion for serving others and helping them achieve their visions is evident through his service in roles such as a co-chairman for Princeton's Tiger Alumni Career Board (2019-2022) and as an advisory board member for Promenade.AI, a minority-owned startup assisting veterans transitioning to civilian life.
An avid and dynamic mentor, Akil holds a BS in physics from Morehouse College, an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a Ph.D. in both electrical engineering and material science from Princeton University. Notably, he was the first African American male to graduate with a Ph.D. in either field at Princeton. Outside of his professional and volunteer life, Akil resides in Dallas, TX where he enjoys cooking and spending time with his dog, Zoey.
Katie Hixon, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Dartmouth
Dr. Katie Hixon earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Saint Louis University and completed a postdoctoral position in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. Dr. Hixon is currently an Assistant Professor of Engineering and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics at Dartmouth College. She is the principal investigator of The Hixon Lab which is focused on developing innovative treatments to support healing in patients where tissue repair is challenging, particularly large and complex injuries from disease or traumatic injury. The research centers on creating advanced biomaterial scaffolds—frameworks designed to promote tissue regeneration—which act as a foundation for the body to grow new, healthy tissue, particularly focused on bone, muscle, tendon, and skin. Through her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge research, Dr. Hixon is making significant contributions to the fields of engineering and orthopedics.
Matheus Ferreira, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Virginia
Matheus is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Virginia. His research interests include AI, Algorithmic Economics, and Security. He applies artificial intelligence, optimization, and theoretical computer science tools to create secure, transparent, and auditable platforms. For instance, he designs auctions that prevent auctioneers from profiting from manipulations.
Previously he was a Postdoctoral Fellow of Computer Science at Harvard University. He earned his Ph.D. (2022) and M.A. (2018) in Computer Science from Princeton University and his B.S. in Computer Engineering (2016) from the Federal University of Itajubá. Matheus hails from Itabira, the Brazilian capital of poetry.
Monroe Kennedy III, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
Monroe Kennedy is an assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering and by courtesy, Computer Science at Stanford University. Monroe is the recipient of the NSF Faculty Early Career Award. He directs the Assistive Robotics and Manipulation Laboratory (ARMLab), where the focus is on developing collaborative, autonomous robots capable of performing dexterous, complex tasks with human and robotic teammates. Monroe received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics and master’s in Robotics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Panel Description: This panel will explore the wide range of career opportunities available to Engineering Ph.Ds. The panel will feature early and mid-career professionals from diverse backgrounds who will share their experiences in navigating the job search processes. The discussion will include careers in academia, industry, government, and non-profits from individuals who have successfully pursued these paths. Topics will include crafting the application, balancing priorities, and dealing with setbacks. The goal of this session is to help Ph.D. students uncover new possibilities and gain practical advice for launching impactful careers.
11:30 PM Distinguished Lecture Series Keynote Address 1.231 Winokur
Paula Therese Hammond, Institute Professor and Vice Provost for Faculty, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Professor Paula T. Hammond is Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. She is the Vice Provost for Faculty at MIT as of January 2024. She served as the Head of the Chemical Engineering Department at MIT from 2015 to 2023.
The core of Prof. Hammond’s work is the use of electrostatics and other complementary interactions to generate functional materials with highly controlled architecture. Her research in nanomedicine encompasses the development of new biomaterials to enable drug delivery from surfaces with spatio-temporal control. She also investigates novel responsive polymer architectures for targeted nanoparticle drug and gene delivery. The newest developments from her lab offer a promising approach to the delivery of proteins, siRNA and mRNA using electrostatic assembly as a means of modifying surfaces, nanoparticles and lipid complexes for targeted systemic delivery, opening potential for vaccines and immunotherapies. Professor Paula Hammond was elected into the National Academy of Science in 2019, the National Academy of Engineering in 2017, the National Academy of Medicine in 2016, and the 2013 Class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is also a member of the National Academy of Inventors (2021). She received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Margaret H. Rousseau Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement by a Woman Chemical Engineer in 2019 and gave the Materials Research Society (MRS) David Turnbull Lectureship, 2019. Professor Hammond has published over 330 papers, and over 20 patent applications. She is the co-founder and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of LayerBio, Inc., a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Moderna Therapeutics and a member of the Board of Alector Therapeutics and the Board of Sail Biomedicines, a Flagship company. In 2021, Professor Hammond was selected to become a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
In terms of educational background, Prof. Hammond is from Detroit, Michigan, and received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT, then worked for two years in industry, moved to Atlanta to get an M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech, before returning to MIT for her PhD. She held the Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, and on completing her PhD, was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard University Chemistry Department before returning to MIT as a faculty member.
12: 15 PM Lunch Main/West Atrium
2:00 PM Poster Session Main Atrium
The Symposium will host an inter-institutional poster presentation session. Senior PhD students and those with significant research results are encouraged to share their work through a poster display. Participants should submit a title and abstract by October 4th and bring a 48x36-inch poster to the session. In addition to networking with peers, presenters will receive feedback from faculty and administrators from multiple universities. Posters will be displayed during the session, and posterboards and adhesives will be provided. This is an excellent opportunity for students to engage with others and get feedback on their work from an audience of colleagues and academic leaders.
3:00 PM Three-Minute Thesis Competition 1.231 Winokur
The three-minute thesis competition challenges Engineering PhD students to clearly and concisely communicate the significance of their research to a general audience in just three minutes. Students will distill their thesis down to its core and deliver an engaging presentation without notes, aided by only one static visual. They will be evaluated on their ability to tell a compelling story that begins and ends with the why - the problem to be solved highlighting the importance and motivation behind their work. Presenters must put their scientific findings into context and take the audience on a journey that explains the real-world impact of their discovery. Judging will be done by science writers who regularly describe complex research to non-expert readers and can evaluate each student's skill at effective science communication to audiences beyond their field.
4 PM Optimizing Your Academic CV for Future Success 1.231 Winokur
David Ramirez, Ph.D, DOCOMO Innovations
Earned a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rice University in 2016. Currently a Senior Research Engineer at DOCOMO Innovations Inc. where he works to optimize wireless networks in Japan. David's interests are in wireless networks, communication theory, community building, and mentoring.
Session Description: This workshop will provide guidance on developing an effective academic curriculum vitae. A curriculum vitae, or CV, is a core element of applying for academic jobs, grants, and fellowships. Attendees will learn best practices for organizing sections, highlighting accomplishments, and tailoring their CVs for different purposes and career stages. The session aims to help students make the most of their graduate school experiences and position themselves for future success. It will conclude the Ivy Collective for Inclusion in Engineering Ph.D. symposium on a high note, with awards celebrating the top presenters in the three-minute thesis competition and poster presentation.