February 2009

ISSUE THREE VOLUME THREE

FEBRUARY , 2009

A GT-BMES STUDENT PUBLICATION FOR THE COMMUNITY OF GT-BME

edge of the library’s resources, Critz plays a vital role in guiding The Person Who Can Help beginning researchers and On Your Next Big stumped students. Her office, Research Project! located on the first floor of the Willa Ni ‘12 east wing, is open for impromptu visits, but individual or group appointments can be made via email or phone if Critz is out of her office. During these sessions with Critz, students can discover The Price Gilbert Memorial Library. Photo by Chun Yong. the mind-blowing Gone is the old. Welmyriad of information, unreachcome the new year, classes, andable by even the most cunning of those projects. Reminisce on online searches, hidden in arthose endless hours of trawling through databases, musty manuchives of our databases to even als, and frenzied last minute Emory University’s eJournals. spurt of Googling. In the new As Critz explains, “most of the year, biomedical engineering information we present through students will find an ally in their our system is called proprietary resident subject librarian, Lori information and it is not out Critz.

With a background in there for free.” These sessions biology and extensive knowlfollow more of a “teach a man to

Profiles in BME:

What’s Inside? ‣

The BME Subject Librarian, Lori Critz

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An Inside Scoop to MedShape Solutions, Inc.

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Interview with Sally Gerrish

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Upcoming Events

Join BMES! ‣

Increase your BME knowledge!

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Connect to the profession!

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Interact with fellow BME students and faculty http://irene.bme. gatech.edu/ bmesab/BMES/index.php

Contribute to this Newsletter! ‣ ‣

Give us your feedback!

Donate some funds!

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Make some comments & suggestions!

Simply send an e-mail to melody_h_keith@yahoo.com or achan3@gatech.edu!

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ISSUE THREE VOLUME THREE BMES Pioneer Editorial Board

Editor in Chief Alice Chan ’10 Melody Keith ‘09 Layout Editors Chun Yong ’12 Features Editor Rebekah Hamrick ’10 Staff Writers Willa Ni ’12 Alysia Rudis ’09 Natalia Cuenca ’12 Rosemary Song ’12 Allaine Dela Cruz ’12 Aileen Li ‘10 Photographers Michael Glatzer ’12 Kiersten Petersen ’10 Development Editors Rohan Trivedi ’10

Be Part of It. ‣

Contact Melody Keith at melody_h_keith@yahoo.com or Alice Chan at achan3@gatech.edu to see what you can do for the BME Pioneer!

fish philosophy” which empowers students to a lifelong habit of healthy searching. Beyond the actual searching process, Critz can also introduce students to helpful software such as LaTex, a “formatting typesetting sort of software system,” and EndNote, a “bibliographic management tool.”

FEBRUARY , 2009

The west commons in the second floor of the library.

Photo by Chun Yong.

For the inevitable presentation stage of the project, Critz provides a critique to group rehearsals in the library’s rehearsal studio or “sound proof booth.” This project-friendly tool available to all students can also record a presentation for later review, but a professional’s objective immediate opinion, such as Critz’s, is also invaluable.

But an interdepartmental schedule or even a change of major does not render the subject librarian useless.

Questions pertaining to each librarian’s concentration are welcome and each librarian can be located online (www.library.gatech.edu/about/st aff.php) or at the information desk.

Beyond the daily grind of deadlines and presentations, the library also offers a variety of resources conducive to such a research-oriented institute. Tuesday Talks, which occur once a month, introduces professors and their research “in terms that you and I could understand” despite

Lori Critz Contact Sheet

Office 1st Floor East, Price Gilbert Memorial Library

Website www.library.gatech.edu/resear ch_help/librarians/critz.html

E-mail lori.critz@library.gatech.edu

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ISSUE THREE VOLUME THREE our varied backgrounds. Students should take advantage of this program, not only to brush up on research occurring at Georgia Tech, but also to participate in a rare professor-student dialogue outside of the lecture hall. Past Tuesday Talks are available online in SmartTech (http://smartech.gatech.edu).

Another hidden jewel of the library, online handbooks, is vastly under-utilized. Not only can these technical manuals aid in research projects, but their description of experimental techniques and equipment can help in actual lab situations.

These can be found via Knovel and Engnetbase (www.library.gatech.edu/referen ce/ehandbooks/).

With such a gold mine of information just awaiting the

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probe of a search-savvy Tech student, why not consult your local subject librarian? Projects should no longer be feared for any lack of information, but rather for the overwhelming resources that apply to any topic.

Good luck with the new semester and see you in the library!

What’s Next After BME? An interview with alumni Erin Griffin, MedShape Solutions Inc. Aileen Li ’10 & Natalia Cuenca ‘12

We interviewed with Ms. Erin Griffin, a recent graduate of the Georgia Tech BME department. She currently works for MedShape Solutions as a Research and Development Engineer. MedShape Solutions is a privately held, early stage, medical device company based in At-

A sample of a shape-memory a"oy that is being tested by applying heat and pressure.This material by MedShape Solutions Inc. has the potential to improve the treatment of human orthopedic conditions in the near future.

lanta, GA. In this interview, Ms. Griffin shares with us her job, what she did to get the job, and her experience with the BME undergraduate program.

Q: What types of jobs were you initially offered?

A: I was actually only offered one job- the one I took [with

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MedShape Solutions]. It was also the only interview I was granted after approximately two semesters of applying to everything out there. At the time I started with the company, I was actually an intern. If I did well, I would be hired full time and if not, I would no longer work there after about one semester.

Q: What does your job entail?

A: Everything! I write FDA documentations and do research on other medical devices. I have to contact doctors about our device, understand pricing information and marketing strategy. I design and conduct mechanical testing to understand different failure modes of designs, interpret results of my own and other people's experiments. I determine design constraints and failure modes, draw designs, work in teams to develop design concepts. In addition, I advise co-op students regarding experimentation testing, set-up, and protocol, conduct weekly meetings for development team, [and] assign tasks to co-op students.

“Take another little piece of my heart now, Baby�

Happy Valentines Day from The BME Pioneer!

Photo by Melody Keith.

Q: What type of job did you expect to do upon graduation and how does that compare to what you're actually doing now?

it's such a small company, I get to do a lot more things. It's actually a great opportunity and I'm glad the scope of my work is slightly broader than I expected.

A: I actually expected to be doing something similar to what I'm doing right now. I guess I assumed that I would be focused more on R&D (Research and Development) efforts, but since

Q: Which of the skills you learned through the BME program have you found the most useful?

I got my current job from a professor I knew at Tech. I did well in his class, but it was more how I talked with him than what I made on his tests.

A: I think the most important thing is be able to understand n e w k n o w l e d g e q u i c k l y.

I may not use the calculations or concepts from all of the BME classes I took (there are quite a few in different areas), but the ability to learn something quickly and reduce it to its basic principles is something I do every single day.

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ISSUE THREE VOLUME THREE Q: I totally understand if you want to keep your GPA private, but how did your GPA influence the types of jobs you had access to?

A: I had a relatively high GPA and still only received one interview. I also did undergraduate research and had an internship and some graduate studies. The job market is tough right now and I don't think many people are hiring. Honestly, I think GPA is not that big of a factor, contacts are! I got my current job from a professor I knew at Tech (I did well in his class, but it was more how I talked with him than what I made on his tests). In fact, he says some of his best graduate students and employees have lower than you might expect GPAs. I'm not sure if that is the same mindset at other companies, but I would say that contacts matter SO much more- you have to get your foot in the door and impress [your employer] once you're there!

Q: Did the fact that you graduated from Tech have any impact on the way employers looked at you as a job candidate?

A: Well, I honestly don't know because I only had the one interview. I would like to say yes, but I haven't had any contact from other employers to gage their perception of a GT graduate student. I do know that my current

company loves people from GT as it was started by a GT professor and many GT grads work here.

Q: Did you co-op/intern during your years at Tech? If so, did it help with your job now, and when applying for this job, how much did your employer value your work experience?

A: Yes, I did an internship at Solvay Pharmaceuticals in Marietta. It helped me in that it provided me something to talk about during the interview for my current job. I actually ended up talking a lot more about my senior design project, though, as

Most students will get internship positions alone, without help. it was more relevant to the job I was applying for. I did different work for Solvay than I do for MedShape, but each requires the general skills of breaking down a problem into its components and communicating well with a team to solve problems. If someone were considering whether or not to get an internship, I would say that it definitely provided me with confirmation that I was getting the right degree, which was even more valuable than the money I made during that term!

FEBRUARY , 2009 Q: What are your future plans?

A: I believe I will end up receiving another degree, but I haven't decided whether it will be a graduate degree or an MBA. Since I'm at a small company and get to see so many different jobs, I am hoping to feel out where my true passions and strengths lie before pursuing further education. I pursued a Masters in chemical engineering before starting at MedShape, and realized that grad school is a lot of difficult work and, to get through it, you should be passionate about it and see what the degree will get you in the end.

How Can Sally Gerrish Help You? An interview with the director of student, alumni and industrial relations Allaine Dela Cruz ‘12

Like most students, Allaine Dela Cruz was curious about what he wanted to do with his life after Tech, so he sat down with Wallace Coulter Dept. of Biomedical Engineering's own Sally Gerrish. Gerrish stays updated with post-BME graduates and links the department to hiring companies hiring companies.

As you could imagine, she holds key information to getting ahead in the marketplace, whether

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ISSUE THREE VOLUME THREE through graduate full-time opportunities or mid-college internships.

Q: What’s the first step a student should take towards getting a co-op for summer?

A: Students wishing to co-op should work with the co-op office or on their own. Most students will get internship positions alone, without help.

[However,] check career services, DOPP, and my emails, [while doing] research on your own. Use semester breaks, like the [spring] break, to contact people and to start networking.

Hospitals, clinics, suppliers to device industries are all included in the field of biomedical engineering. Look at companies that you don’t even know existed in your hometown. Also, search for different major openings like EE, ME, and CE. Build skills that make you appear more attractive to employers. [Examples include] experience in report writing and working within a management team.

Give 110% to get references and learn more skills, both [very helpful] as you mature occupationally.

Q: Should we give you copies of our resumes or always go straight to DOPP? A: Do both. Get several people to look over it. See me and Kim Paige for resume editing. DOPP

and Career services will [initially] see what an employer looks for, [a great starting point].

When it becomes major specific Kim and I can help [you identify] skills you have learned in your biomed classes.

Q: What type of buzzwords or key words will employers be looking for in those resumes?

A: From what industry is telling us an important “buzzword” is work[ing] in teams. Give examples of your accomplishments.

Teamwork, good communication, and problem-solving are the three vital terms to include in a

Teamwork, good communication, and problemsolving are the three vital terms to include in a resume. resume. These are clichés, so [also, defend them with an explanation of your experience].

Look at what [the companies] are asking for and see how you can meet those requirements, which means tweaking your resume to fit the position. Diversity, leadership skills, and team management play crucial roles as

FEBRUARY , 2009 well. Have you been responsible for a task in an organization?

What was the result of that? Pull buzzwords from your organizations and clubs, how you’re able to manage time.

Q: In general which would be an easier position to attain?

Working as an intern or doing co-op work?

A: Internship because there are more of them offered. Sometimes, students in biomedical engineering must travel far to the job location. Georgia is very good with smaller to middle size companies but the number of opportunities are more concentrated on the east and west coast, Boston, Minneapolis, and other major cities. You’ll be competing with everybody trying to stay in Atlanta.

[As an intern], you [will] be able to build up from those opportunities and skills, even if its not exactly what you want. You won't be new anymore to the field, [so] this will help you the next year. Attitude is important always. When you’re in an internship and you really show effort, then that manager or supervisor will work with you as a resource to get a better job. Remember though: YOUR FIRST JOB ISN’T GOING TO BE YOUR IDEAL JOB SO GET THAT OUT OF YOUR HEAD!

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ISSUE THREE VOLUME THREE Q: Are the travel opportunities in internship as wide as those in co-op? Can someone intern/ co-op in another country as easily?

A: Yes because there are internships all over the nation. Just research the opportunity well. A formal internship program [may] assist with housing. If it’s on your own, [then be concerned about this]. Sometimes [opportunities] are so phenomenal that you [might be] willing to stick your foot down the hole, so to speak. Do your research to make [it's] a good decision.

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Q: As an intern do you have to commit yourself to just that one company each summer?

Q: What is the difference between an internship and co-op position?

A: No that’s co-op. Internship[s occur once] and finish when summer ends. If you did a good job then you could be asked to come back the next summer. A co-op is committing for at least the 3-time work assignment period, and each time you come back, you’re at a higher job responsibility, so you might like it.

A: In “theory” internships are generally interested in the upperclassmen. Co-op, you need to start as an underclassman and go on until you are an upperclassman. If you have more classroom knowledge or experience then you’ll be able to train and be up to speed with the internship company. This is key due to

February 2009 Tuesday

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Friday

Saturday

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BMEs Networking Event, 4:30-6:30

Progress Reports Due!

Groundhog Day

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Housing Applications for Fall 2009 begins!

CRC - Rec of Love Week

Black History Month: Douglas A. Blackmon 16 Presidents Day

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Adegboyega Oyelere -

24 BMEs Cryolife Speaker, Whitaker 1103

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Robert E. Guldberg Enabling Biotechnologies for Muscoskeletal Tissue Regeneration

Bio-inspired Approaches for Targeted Delivery of Gold Nanoparticles 22

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BMEs and Alpha Tau Beta E-week Fair, Skiles Walkway, 11-4

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Michael Chorost - Confessions of a Reluctant Cyborg

Last day to drop classes with a “W”

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the short time you’ll be there, summer break.

dustries, or helpful links, like gabiology, for example.

Q: What are Biomedical Engineering students generally interested in as a co-op or to intern? Do you have names of any specific companies?

Q: How are salaries and payments in co-op configured?

Can you get paid doing internship as well?

A: It changes all the time. Keep your eye on companies that come to career services and to DOPP to give you an idea. Go to the Georgia BIO site www.gabio.org, [which has] biotech companies [dealing] with different aspects of biotech from construction, to law, to medicine - a great beginning.

Start using the biomed website.

It has academic programs, career resources, associations and in-

A: DOPP sets a minimum wage that a company can pay. Information maybe online. With coop, your representative for BME is Mr. Rob Rogers. For internships, go to Ann Blasick. Just [visit] the DOPP website, [or even better], physically, the DOPP building.

Q: How early do you recommend students start looking and applying for co-op and internship positions

Personal Testimonies

BMES Treasurer David Kim (right) says about the newsletter: “I love the BMES Newsletter. I read it with all my friends. Sometimes we have crossword competitions to see who can finish first. It’s also one of my favorite reads during bathroom breaks.”

A: October. At the minimum I would start at the semester break because companies take a while to find. Industries don’t start till late to find people. Full time recruiting starts in September. Industry internship fairs start January 13th, right after the break.

Go to career services website to find dates on internship fairs.

The fairs are fair game, so come in business attire, resume-ready, and approach the tables. [The] DOPP site has co-op company recruiting seasons and internships. They might prescreen in which case you will have to sign up in your own.

In summary, Georgia Tech offers many resources, but a biomedical engineering student needs to keep all of the opportunities and options open. There is no one best place to look!

BMES President Rafeed Chaudhury (middle) exclaims: “I get really excited about the BMES Newsletter. I recommend that everyone read it because it will enrich your life and make you a better person.”

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