University at Buffalo (UB)
One of my most satisfying days as an engineer was completing our senior design project for the Biomedical Engineering program. We spent all year designing and creating an improved medical device (an endoscopic introducer) to be used to reduce tissue damage during brain surgery. At the end of the year, we ended up testing the device on a human cadaver and it worked as planned!"
What types of work have you performed? What projects have you worked on?
During undergrad, I worked as an intern at Regeneron where I conducted studies and executed experimental designs to implement new technology and improve the drug manufacturing process. Over my two summer breaks from law school I worked as a Summer Associate at law firms in Boston where I used my engineering background to work closely with the intellectual property groups.
As a Summer Associate, I researched and drafted memoranda on various legal issues, read and analyzed patents to provide infringement analysis, and drafted the analysis for office action responses in order to help client’s get their medical device patents accepted by the USPTO.
What have been some favorite aspects of your work?
My favorite aspects from engineeringish work have been problem solving, helping others, and connecting with fellow engineers. Right now, I work as a student attorney at the BU Law Startup Clinic. As a student attorney, I meet with MIT and BU student entrepreneurs (oftentimes engineering students!) to help them take their innovative ideas and start businesses. It has been incredibly rewarding to advise undergrad and graduate students with their ventures, especially when you're interested in/able to understand the technology.
We advise students on matters including entity formation, corporate governance, intellectual property and even financing. By helping students navigate through such a wide range of common startup issues and by bridging the gap between the technology and the business/legal aspects of the business, you end up becoming an integral part of the team and share in the excitement.
What was one of your most satisfying days as an engineer?
One of my most satisfying days as an engineer was completing our senior design project for the Biomedical Engineering program. We spent all year designing and creating an improved medical device (an endoscopic introducer) to be used to reduce tissue damage during brain surgery. At the end of the year, we ended up testing the device on a human cadaver and it worked as planned!
Was it worth it? What has your engineering background made possible for you? What value has it added to your overall life?
Engineering was absolutely worth it. I don't think that any other major could have possibly prepared me better for a legal career (or any career for that matter). Because of engineering, I am comfortable being handed tough problems and legal issues. It surprised me to find out that in law there typically isn't a "correct" answer, or really any answer at all.
My engineering background (and the skills that we started to develop in EAS140) prepared me to tackle and analyze tough problems lacking an easy or clear solution. No matter what job you end up taking post-graduation you will end up learning on-the-job and problem-solving every single day. Engineering is a beneficial major that serves you well wherever your career path leads.
What would you say to the first-year students currently sitting in your shoes?
Thinking that I didn’t even know what engineering was or why I chose engineering as a major! But, trust the process (including Small Groups) and hang in there because you will figure out which area of engineering interests you the most and all of your hard work will be worth it!