What was a highlight or favourite moment from your time at SFU?
When I received the Excellent Trainee Award at the 2019 IEEE International Flexible Electronics Technology Conference; it was an acknowledgment of my doctoral research at SFU. This also encouraged me to continue my path as a researcher. Another highlight included my first time skiing on Cypress Mountain with my friends since I came to SFU as there is no snow in the place where I lived before. The feeling when I skied down the hill was so special that it encouraged me to challenge myself in my daily life and when I face difficulty in my research.

How has your experience at SFU prepared you for your career path?
Firstly, I have learned research-related skills under the supervisor of Dr. Woo Soo Kim, such as academic writing (manuscript, proposal, thesis), presentation, as well as the way to treat students equally and generously. He has given me a lot of help and guidance. These skills are the fundamental requirement for a researcher. Secondly, I have obtained fundamental knowledge in 3D printing and bio-inspired devices, which would be good support for my future research fields and form my future research topics. 

What advice would you like to share to students in their first year?
My suggestion is to establish an interest in research, especially in the research field you will carry out. That is also the reason why I came to SFU for pursuing a PhD study instead of continuously working in the industry. That will make the work of research more interesting, instead of boring.

What are your current plans?
My dream is to make a contribution to the world by developing new or improved and accessible working devices. Therefore, my current plan is to explore deeper into my research fields and collaborate with well-known research groups in top universities and industrial companies around the globe. My final career plan is to be a faculty member and continue my academic research. 

Read more about Chao Bao here >>

What was a highlight or favourite moment from your time at SFU?
From my time at SFU, my favourite moments happened in Women in Clean Tech (WiCT), the club I helped co-found, and was the Vice-President and the Design Team Lead. Through this experience, I saw the community on campus, which focuses on sustainability and equality, flourish.

How has your experience at SFU prepared you for your career path?
Apart from my year-long co-op experience with Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada, my capstone project gave me the best collaboration and project management skills that I will carry with me throughout my career. My team successfully designed and prototyped an innovative wind turbine that uses vibration to create clean energy.

What advice would you like to share to students in their first year?
The advice I would like to share with first year students is to be kind to yourself throughout your learning journey. There are times when it will be challenging. Continue to push forward, for in the end it will be worth all the long nights.

What are your current plans?
I am currently working at Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada in the telecommunication regulatory standards team, where we uphold Canadians’ safety and break down barriers of trade and innovation. I will become a certified engineer and hope to continue my academic studies by undertaking a master’s and PhD degree.

What was a highlight or favourite moment from your time at SFU?
Being a part of the MSE student society (MSESS) helped accelerate my growth as a person: personally, academically and professionally. I used to be extremely shy when I first entered university, but I did not want this to define me forever. So, I forced myself into uncomfortable positions and joined the MSESS as a first-year representative and later as VP Internal Relations, which allowed me to practice speaking in front of classes, meet new peers in my program, participate in fun and exciting engineering events and conferences, and help be a voice for my classmates. This experience left me with great memories during my time here at SFU and helped open up a career path for management I never even dreamed possible as a shy first-year student.  

How has your experience at SFU prepared you for your career path?
The MSE program is a diverse and versatile field. For this exact same reason, it was difficult to decide a career path after graduation! The co-op program allowed me to explore multiple avenues of internships, giving me great insight into what I wanted to pursue. Purposely, I chose internships that were wildly different than the last to gain experience and to hone into what I liked and disliked, and what I could see myself potentially do after graduation!  

What advice would you like to share to students in their first year?
I have truly learnt so much in my journey through higher education, but the lessons I learnt for my own mental health were paramount. Something I forgot for a while was that "education is a tool for greatness and not the definition of it” - nor is it the definition of you and your worth. Remember why you are truly learning something and that it is ok not to graduate in four years. Be kind to yourself and prioritize your mental health; put worth and effort into the person you are becoming! Also, don’t be afraid of failures. Failures along my career path truly outweighed the successes, yet each failure helped me learn more than any of my successes ever have or will. Finally, for women who doubt whether they should be in the field of STEM or not, I simply leave with you that you do belong - own it!

What are your current plans?
After finishing my courses, a difficult visa process and relocating to the United States, I am honored to say that I was welcomed back at Tesla as a full-time technical program manager for the vehicle software team! My duties include being a project and program manager for all firmware-affecting New Product Introductions affecting Models 3, Y, S and X in the Fremont Factory! I have become someone my younger self would be truly proud of and admire as a woman pursuing a career in STEM! I am grateful for this dream coming true everyday.

Read more about Rachel George here >>