November 19, 2018

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

Aaron Swerdlow-Freed ‘15 says the insights he received from a Real Reader as a computer science student were critical to his subsequent career. Lisa Bobich ‘04 wishes she could have benefited from a similar experience as a biomedical engineering undergrad. Both are now Real Readers themselves. In a recent issue we mentioned that Hajim alumni Real Reader volunteers are needed next spring to provide “real world” feedback to engineering students as part of the WRT273 class they are required to take. The class teaches students how to more effectively communicate their professional identities through resumes, cover letters, application essays, and interview skills as they apply for internships and jobs. Click here to read more about the WRT273 classes and why Real Readers are such a key component.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Hajim School Wells Award, which recognizes students who excel in both engineering and the humanities.

Andrew Howard ’19, an optics major, is also completing a minor in Italian, which, he says, offers a different type of challenge than his physics and math classes. “Italian just seemed to scratch an itch in a completely different part of the brain,” Andrew says. He’s been doing research projects at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics since his second semester here, and is applying to various physics and optics PhD programs across the country.
Oliver Xu ’20, is majoring in both applied music and computer science through the Dual Degree with Eastman program. The two fields, he has found, “complement each other in some interesting ways. The creativity and open-mindedness that I have cultivated through music has been very helpful in my experience solving problems in coursework and in the professional world as a software engineering intern. On the other hand, the logical thinking and detail-oriented attitude that is essential for success in computer science has also been invaluable in my experience as a musician.” Xu plans to continue his training in percussion performance in graduate school.
Yiting Zhang ’19 came to Rochester because it gave her a chance to major in audio and music engineering (AME), in addition to pursuing minors in math and music. The AME major was a “perfect fit” for her because of her interests in both music — she’s played piano since age 7 and enjoys singing — and applied science. She plans to continue studying electrical and computer engineering, with an emphasis on audio, in graduate school. “I want to do more research about the interdisciplinary area between audio/music, signal processing, and machine learning,” Zhang says.

Read more here.

The Diversity Committee of WiC (Women in Computing) spent all of last semester interviewing and producing two videos that discuss why a student should pursue Computer Science at the University of Rochester and also what it’s like to be a woman in the field of computing.

The members of the Diversity Committee (Maisha Idris ’19, who is also public relations chair of WiC; Claudia Sofia Carrillo Vazquez ’19, Yuqi Su ’19, Yeonwoo Lee ’18, Carolina Lion He ’21, Xueqian Li ’21, Muskaan Mendiratta ’21, and Marlie Augustin ’21) spent countless hours speaking with undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, and alumni about their experiences, all of whom are featured in these videos. Their hard work was certainly worth it. These videos are well worth watching. You can also go to WiC’s Facebook page to see the videos and learn more about the group.

Several Hajim School students were among 11 members of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers who attended the SASE National Conference and STEM Career Fair last month in Chicago. The Rochester chapter, only two years old, won honorable mention as an Outstanding New Chapter. UPTICK, a student entrepreneurial venture that is building a network of students who are looking to buy and sell used items from their dorm rooms, made the finals of a business pitch competition. And all the students appreciated the opportunity to attend workshops and hone their networking and interview skills. “I was nervous when it comes to job hunting and career exploration,” explains Wenyi Chu ’19 of computer science, who says she was acutely aware of the barriers that confront women, and Asian and international students in general. Wenyi says she was “inspired” after meeting women recruiters at the conference who had overcome many of those same barriers, and also after meeting peers working hard to make an impact. The Hajim School provided $2,000 to help make this trip possible.

The WISER (Women in Science and Engineering at Rochester) group at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics will hold an interactive workshop on developing communication, professional, and negotiation skills at LLE from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on December 3. All women faculty, postdocs, and graduate students in the Hajim School are encouraged to attend. The workshop will be led by Carolyn Kuranz, research associate professor and project director at the Center for Laser Experimental Astrophysical Research at the University of Michigan. RSVP by November 29 to raka@lle.rochester.edu with the subject “WISER workshop at LLE.” Lunch will be provided.

Still basking in the glow of the recent Nobel Prize awarded for research done at our Institute of Optics? Be sure to read the Rochester Review article by Lindsey Valich, chronicling how Donna Strickland ’89 PhD, a self-described “laser jock,” connected with her mentor, Gerard Mourou, to develop “chirped pulse amplification.” Their research earned them a share of this year’s prize in physics.

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman