The Bridge - Issue 3, 2019 - 10

Special Section: Graduate Education

Special Section: Graduate Education

George D. Sworo

Jayant Apte

Ji Wang

Jie Ren

Lambda (MSc)
Beta Alpha (PhD)

Data Scientist,
HPV Precision Analytics

Beta Alpha

Beta Alpha

Machine Learning Engineer,
Essenlix Corporation

Senior Engineer, Huawei
Technologies

Senior Software
Engineer, Intel
Education
* University of Pennsylvania (BS and MS)
* Drexel University (PhD)
Why did you go to graduate school?
I was very interested in expanding my knowledge
in the field of wireless communications and building
on the basics I had learned in the master's program.
I felt that a rigorous PhD program would satiate that
desire and passion.
Did you begin your graduate studies immediately
after graduating with a bachelor's degree?
I was privileged to benefit from the University of
Pennsylvania's sub-matriculation program that offered
me the chance to graduate with both a bachelor's and
master's degree in five years. This really helped me in
making the right decision on the area of research
I wanted to pursue during my doctoral studies.
How did you fund your graduate study?

Education

Education

Education

* Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, India (B.Sc,
Electronics & Telecoms Engineering)
* Drexel University (PhD)

*D
 rexel University (PhD, Electrical Engineering)

* T singua University, China
(B.Sc, Electrical & Electronics Engineering)
*D
 rexel University (PhD)

Why did you go to graduate school?
I always wanted to be a scientist, so going to graduate
school was a natural step.
Did you begin your graduate studies immediately
after graduating with a bachelor's degree?
Yes.
How did you fund your graduate study?
For the first six months of graduate school, I was in the
MS program and funded through my parents' savings.
During those six months I joined my eventual PhD
advisor's laboratory as a volunteer. After working with my
advisor for six months and excelling in courses taught
by my advisor, I was offered a PhD position, which was
funded through research and teaching assistantships. For
one summer I was funded through an internship.

I was blessed to be offered research and teaching
assistantships throughout my graduate studies.
What advice do you have for students considering or
Additionally, I was able to gain some industry experience beginning graduate study?
during this period though summer internships.
1. When choosing a research problem, try understanding
the broad vision that makes solving that problem
What advice do you have for students considering or
important, along with some sense of the market
beginning graduate study?
impact it can have in the industry.
Have an idea of what you are passionate about and
2.
When approaching potential advisors, learn to write
search for advisors whose research interests align with
good emails that maximize the probability of getting a
that passion. And of course ask about their research and
response - this includes using good English and doing
work styles to make sure they are compatible with you.
background research.
3. Have a good idea what you intend to pursue as career
In hindsight, what do you wish you had done
after graduate school.
differently during graduate school?
Networked more during conferences.

Why did you go to graduate school?
I believed that undergraduate study alone was not
enough for finding a job I would want. I also wanted
to learn more theory and applications than I had as an
undergraduate.
Did you begin your graduate studies immediately
after graduating with a bachelor's degree?
Yes.
What advice do you have for students considering or
beginning graduate study?

Why did you go to graduate school?
I wanted to better understand myself, identify my
talents, and learn how to have a successful career.
Undergraduate studies alone can't fully answer
those questions.
Did you begin your graduate studies immediately
after graduating with a bachelor's degree?
Yes. I guess I was not ready to work at that moment.

Choose your adviser and research carefully. This will
influence not only your five years of study, but also your
future work.

How did you fund your graduate study?

In hindsight, what do you wish you had done
differently during graduate school?

What advice do you have for students considering
or beginning graduate study?

I wish I had published more papers.

Graduate study is like tuning a generative adversarial
network, let it run for some time; don't give up
too early.

Mostly through research assistantships, as well as some
teaching assistantships.

In hindsight, what do you wish you had done
differently during graduate school?
Read more papers, spent less time on League of
Legends.

In hindsight, what do you wish you had done
differently during graduate school?
I wish I had paid more attention to lifestyle choices and
work-life balance. I also wish I had engaged more with
peer researchers at conferences.

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The Bridge - Issue 3, 2019

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