Stevens Institute of Technology: Admissions Blog

Undergraduate Research Fosters Innovation

Research has been a core value of the Stevens Institute of Technology education since its founding. From the Scholars Program to Technogenesis to Senior Design, research serves as a critical foundation of the Stevens experience, where undergraduates are engaged in sophisticated research usually reserved for graduate students at other universities. Stevens students look forward to and thrive on hands-on, practical research and its applications, in many instances seeing their work published, reach the patent stage, and/or presented at conferences.

Each year, students participate in a Research Colloquium, where they are able to share their research and outcomes with their peers, faculty, and industry partners. Projects run the gamut, covering topics in each major discipline.

Jennifer Wehof, an environmental engineering major and cooperative education student currently in her fourth year at Stevens, is working on a project entitled “After the Storm: Beach Recovery” as part of the Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering department. Through the Scholars Program, she has worked with Dr. Jon Miller in the Davidson Laboratory since her freshman year. When this research opportunity became available, Jennifer wanted to work on it, but she also knew she wanted to study abroad. Dr. Miller helped her balance both, and Jennifer was able to spend this past summer in the Netherlands while continuing her research. The project has since been submitted for inclusion in the International Conference for Coastal Engineering, which will be held in Spain this coming summer. If chosen, her advisor in Holland will present their work at the conference, where Jenny hopes to join him.

“Research is so important because it helps you be innovative and learn to form your own conclusions and ideas. Instead of relying on other people to tell me what’s next, I can research and figure it out on my own,” Jennifer explains. “Working on this project has opened my mind to other opportunities – I’m now considering a Ph.D. program. I can see myself being a professor and helping students the way my professors have helped me.” Jennifer also credits Study Abroad as a key component of her Stevens experience: “Being able to do research abroad was incredible, but being immersed in another culture while continuing my studies was invaluable.”

Thomas Tritt says he has always been interested in research because his dream is to pursue medical school after graduating from Stevens. Through the Technogenesis Summer Scholars Program, Thomas, a junior biomedical engineering student, has been involved with a project (“Development and Evaluation of a Novel, Real-Time Mobile Telesonography System in Management of Abdominal Trauma”) in conjunction with Hackensack Medical Center, working under Dr. Vikki Hazelwood and Ph.D. student Marissa Gray.

“Last summer, I was developing a protocol and collecting data for the project, but this summer I will be able to go even deeper into the project, helping Marissa publish a paper for her Ph.D.,” Thomas says. “It’s partially funded by the Department of Defense, so I will get to do research and data collection for them as well.” Thomas defines his research experience as allowing him to reach a “higher level of understanding for a particular field.” He hopes to focus on research in medical school and credits Technogenesis with helping him accomplish his goals at Stevens. He is also pursuing an Entrepreneurship minor, which he feels compliments his studies and research by helping provide fundamentals: “Entrepreneurship is the spirit of Technogenesis!” he adds. “Stevens provides an excellent educational background for students and then also affords them the real-life opportunities to do research hands-on,” Thomas asserts.

On another end of the spectrum, Stevens students are also participating in research that combines science and technology with art and music. Nick Catania, who is set to graduate in May, has a double major in physics & engineering physics and music & technology. His project – “Research and Development of an Interactive Learning Display for the Liberty Science Center” – has the potential to go live in the very near future. Nick knew he wanted to do something unique that would increase his knowledge in sound design and recording but also go a step further to really allow him a chance to conduct innovative research. With the help of his advisor David Musial, he met with the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City and the idea for creating a music video production experience for school children was immediately embraced. Though there are many layers in the development of this project, Nick is proud that he has been able to have a hand in them all. His advice to other researchers: Don’t ever be afraid to explore.

“When I first looked at this project, I was not thinking about the computer science part, but I explored and taught myself the programming language,” he explains. “I never thought I’d be where I am today when this started, but I wasn’t afraid to explore. Knowing the potential result continues to drive me.” Hoping to complete the project before graduation, Nick is excited to be able to give back to a younger generation through this music video display. Nick hopes that if it is successful at the Liberty Science Center, it will be replicated at other science centers. “If it has the impact I’m hoping, it will allow children to truly see the transfer of information between science and art. It will give them something to hold onto, and be inspired.”

Another project fusing science and art is “Building Immersive Image-Based Visualization Environments” that Caroline Amaba and Zachary Moy worked on together with advisor Brian Moriarty. Caroline will receive dual degrees in computer science and art & technology when she graduates in May 2012. The project started as a way to explore new ideas for incorporating research into art & technology. Together, they built the foundation for what they’ve nicknamed EVE – Explorable Visual Environs.

“For me, research was learning in a different way. It takes it way further than the classroom; because it is so hands-on, it helps you retain what you’re learning, and I really enjoyed that,” Caroline states. “We had to make our own goals and figure out what needed to be done. That was invaluable.”

In addition, Caroline and Zak co-authored two papers with their advisor that were accepted to two conferences. Professor Moriarty will present the paper Utilizing Explorable Visual Environments for Experiential Applications at the Conference on Systems Engineering Research in St. Louis this summer and Zak presented Implementation of Explorable Visual Environments for Cultural Heritage and Experience Applications at the International Conference & Expo on Emerging Technologies for a Smarter World in Hauppauge, NY last year.

“This project gave me so many new ideas for my art & technology final project as well. It has been an incredible resume boost and is helping to guide me to where I want to go in the future,” Caroline concludes.

The Stevens Summer: Hands-On Programs for High School Students

Stevens Institute of Technology has long been known for its legacy of preparing college students to be leaders and innovators of the future. Did you know that we also prepare pre-college students? 

The Stevens Summer is an ideal way for high school students to gain experience in a particular field, get a feel for campus life, explore New York City, visit Fortune 500 companies in the tri-state area, and interact with peers from around the world. All programs are residential – meaning students live in residence halls on the Stevens campus – are taught by members of our campus academic community and are closely supervised by professional and trained student staff.

Students are immersed in specialized, hands-on programs like the flagship Exploring Career Options in Engineering & Science (ECOES) program, now in its 34^th year.  The program centers around project-based learning exploring many different fields of science and engineering, with students working in teams to accomplish project goals. In addition, they take special trips in and around New York City, all of which are included in the cost of the program.

High school senior Keara Saud was a participant in The Stevens Summer 2011 and said, “ECOES was such a great experience for me on both a social and an academic level. I went into it expecting to gain a better understanding of engineering and left with not only that, but also amazing friends. I don't think I can choose any one thing that I liked most because it was all so great!”

This summer, Stevens is offering three sessions of ECOES to meet growing demand for this highly engaging program: June 17-20, July 8-20, and July 22-August 3.

Last year, Stevens expanded the summer program offerings to provide the same great type of hands-on experience for students interested in careers in business, multimedia production, and computer science. Those programs will be available again this summer.

The Business program is a one-week program that provides an opportunity to develop fundamental business and technical skills and explore interests in business, finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship and get a taste of the real world of business students and professionals. Program participants also get to visit the New York Stock Exchange.

“While I hoped to learn about the different elements of a business curriculum, I didn't expect the program to be as interactive as it was. This made it more valuable and enjoyable,” asserts Stephen Rienzi about the Business Summer Intensive. “I really learned a lot not only from the subjects presented, but from the group project and the feedback we were given.”

Two sessions of the Business program are being offered: July 8-15 and July 22-29.

The Multimedia Production program is a two-week program for students interested in visual and audio arts, learning about audio engineering and videography, and working together with professional equipment in the Stevens Media Arts Center, green screen room, and a nearby recording studio  to create a soundtrack and produce a video.

“Little did I know how hands-on it was going to be,” said Cara Realmuto, who was on-campus last summer for the Multimedia Production program. “It was great to start a project from the very beginning and put it all together for a finished product, with professionals helping you along the way.”

The Multimedia Production program will be held July 8-20.

The Computer Science program is an exciting and engaging one-week program that will give students insight into aspects of computer science that fuel, enable, and protect our information-driven economy. This project-based program teaches fundamental problem-solving skills while providing hands-on experience in many of the most exciting areas of computer science today, such as web technologies, cybersecurity, and system administration, among others. Students also get an insider’s view of the professional world with a visit to a Fortune 500 company.

The Computer Science program will be held July 22- July 29

More information about The Stevens Summer can be found online at www.stevens.edu/precollege. The priority deadline to apply is April 1, but applications will be accepted through May 15.

 

Internships: Each One, a Unique Journey

Every college student has heard of the importance of internships: gaining real-world experience, making valuable professional contacts, putting into practice what you’re studying, all in the hopes of standing out to future employers and landing a dream job at graduation. While all of that is true, students rarely are told that internships can also be exciting and fun, and that the development and growth isn’t only professional - it's personal, too.

Stevens is extremely successful in connecting students to summer internships with many of the world's leading companies. The Office of Career Development has relationships with hundreds of companies who recruit Stevens students precisely because of our students' track record for helping companies achieve their corporate goals.

Daniel Schaffer completed his first internship after his freshman year at Stevens. A Computer Science major set to graduate in 2014, he attended a Career Fair hosted by the Office of Career Development with the intention of securing an opportunity with an investment bank working in technology. He approached the representative from UBS and during the conversation mentioned his background in creating applications for iPhones. Though UBS typically doesn’t take interns earlier than students in their junior year, they hired Dan, who became their youngest intern ever.

“I work hard but I also got a bit lucky with my background,” Dan states. “It’s hot right now – everyone wants iPhone apps.”

UBS was no exception. While there, Dan was one of the only interns to have very specific tasks for the summer. He wrote several iPhone apps for them, including a Mobile Directory of the entire organization that he was able to demo in front of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), two of the top executives in the company.

“At the end of the summer, there was an intern commencement ceremony, and about 1,000 interns from around the country were gathered together via conference,” Dan says. “When the CIO spoke, she called me out directly to thank me for my help with the app project and said publicly that she hopes I’ll come back and work for them again. It was such a great experience!”

Needless to say, when UBS offered Dan an internship for this coming summer, he jumped at the chance.

Some internships develop even further and eventually become full-time career opportunities.

“I’ve been working at the Macquarie Group for three years,” says Alex Hieronymi. “I started as an intern the summer after freshman year, stayed on part-time during the school years and went back full-time in the summers. Now they’ve offered me a job, so I will join the company as a full-time employee after graduation.”

Alex, a Cybersecurity major who will graduate in May this year, originally found out about this opportunity through the Cooperative Education program. His first internship required him to work on a website that calculated financial predictions, and the project was still going when the summer ended. They asked him to stay on to complete the project, and he has been part of Macquarie ever since.

“I’ve worked on two teams: the Desktop Support Team and the Service, Design & Development Team,” Alex states. “I’ve traveled to Boston, Philladelphia and Miami, helping to fix problems and integrate desktops.”

What he’s accomplished has paid off, and in May, Alex will continue to be a key member of the teams he works with. He credits his Cybersecurity background with allowing him to take everything a step further by keeping security in mind during his day-to-day tasks.

Sara Pacella, a Mechanical Engineering major who will also graduate in 2012, had a different experience during her internship at Hamilton Sundstrand. Though she values what she learned while there, it helped to validate what she really wants to do after graduation.

“I worked in mergers & acquisitions doing research on potential companies, their products, potential synergies and what contracts were already in place,” she explains. “It was a very positive experience but more on the business side. I definitely want a career where I can use my Mechanical Engineering background.”

She was introduced to this opportunity by a colleague at her part-time job who connected her with a Stevens alum employed by Hamilton Sundstrand. Sara values networking and does take away some additional lessons from her internship experience:

“There was a lot of teamwork and meetings in my group. I got to work on projects that were very meaningful to the organization. It was really interesting to witness firsthand how people in the real world work on teams and come together to get a job done.”

Sometimes internships allow students to fuse together more than one interest. For senior Kelsey Reynolds, her experience at Integra LifeSciences did just that.

“I am very interested in Marketing, but also Science. That’s why I love the Business & Technology program at Stevens – I get the best of both worlds!” Kelsey asserts.

She discovered the internship at Integra while looking for marketing/business opportunities in the medical devices and pharmaceutical industries. During the interview process, she was asked to put together a thorough business analysis and present it, and she credits the business and research background she’s received in Dr. George Calhoun’s classes with helping her land the job. 

Working in the Orthobiologics department, Kelsey says she learned a lot about the company’s products, what marketing claims were being made, how to investigate competitors and how to help the sales force. She was able to use her business education in this role and liked that she was exposed to all aspects of the process – she says she felt like much more than an intern.

This internship, which she completed in the summer of 2011, led to her current internship, where she’s working with a small start-up medical devices firm on investor presentations and website development. Kelsey isn’t sure where she’ll be after graduation this May but is investigating opportunities with both Integra and her current firm.

“What I do know is that I want to stay in the medical devices industry, hopefully becoming a product manager,” Kelsey says. “I really love promoting and growing product offerings in the healthcare industry.”

Every internship experience is different, but each holds its own value and lessons. Whether it’s helping to secure a full-time job down the road, emphasizing what you really love (or reminding you what you don’t!), or just adding another key work experience to a resume, internships help students learn and grow… and many times enjoy themselves in the process.

Career Focus at Stevens

Stevens' Career Fair last week attracted more than 100 companies and 700 students to the eagerly awaited, and historically successful, event held in the Schaefer Center each fall for seniors. 

The fair presented an opportunity for both sides - the Class of 2012 and potential employers - to connect and standout. From the overwhelming turnout and high level of preparedness, to the outstanding career outcomes Stevens publishes each year, it's clear that Stevens students make excellent use of their time in front of some of the nation's top companies and agencies that recruit talent here. Impressive career placement figures for the Class of 2011 include an average starting salary of $63,200, which is 9% above the national average. In addition, 85% of Stevens' Class of 2011 obtained job placement within three months of graduating, and 35% entertained more than one job offer.

"I received great, positive feedback from those who participated in the Career Fair, and I am delighted that the event generated a lot of excitement from everyone involved," said Lynn Insley, Director of Career Development at Stevens. "I'm especially pleased about the wide variety of employers represented this year."

Employer representation ran the gamut across industries, expertise, and types of jobs, which provided students from every discipline ample access to career networking and placement. Amid the economic stress of today, the diversity and breadth of commercial and government representation at this year's fall Career Fair is especially encouraging.  Some companies return to Stevens after years of maintaining relationships here, and some have a more recent presence.  NBC Universal, for example, made its first appearance last year. 

A representative from LGS Bell Labs Innovations summed up what his company sees in Stevens graduates this way: "The Stevens graduates we've worked with are well-prepared and they transition very well to high-end work with little stress and time. They adapt quickly and make positive contributions to sophisticated problems and projects right away. They're also team-oriented, which is  very beneficial." 

LGS Bell Labs delivers communications and R&D-based technology solutions to the U.S. government community and is looking to Stevens for computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and physics majors to fill various full-time roles as well as internships. The representative added, "It's nearly impossible to predict where technology will be five years from now. We all know how quickly it evolves and changes. So we're not only looking for folks with excellent knowledge and experience, but also those who like to learn and who adapt while we all 'follow the technology', so to speak." 

At a pre-fair luncheon for employers and students, Stevens presented Johnson & Johnson with its Employer of the Year Award for going "above and beyond" the typical recruitment relationship. In addition to internships, co-op placements, and full-time employment, especially distinct is the company's role in providing student workshops in leadership and networking as well as Johnson & Johnson's sponsoring of Stevens senior design projects. 

Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP), Barclays Capital, Becton Dickinson & Company (BD), Deloitte Services, Ernst & Young, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Hamilton Sundstrand, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Morgan Stanley, L'Oreal USA, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Pepsi Bottling Group, Risk Management Solutions Inc.,  UBS, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Verizon were a few among the many companies represented.

 

Affordable Education

Stevens is committed to making a quality education as affordable as possible. About 90% of our students receive some form of Stevens aid. Information about financing your education at Stevens is available by Clicking Here, and our admissions staff is available to answer any and all of your questions.

We are proud to offer a wide range of scholarships to our incoming students. You may want to consider applying for the DeBaun Performing Arts scholarship, the FIRST (Robotics Competition or Tech Challenge team) scholarship, or the Science and Technology Center Volunteer scholarship.

A college education is an investment. Stevens has a notable history of preparing students for challenges in engineering, the sciences, business, and the arts. Consider all that Stevens offers, and you will see your investment as a springboard to future successes.

ATTENTION: Our Admissions Application deadline is February 1^st.  You can Apply Online today!

If you have applied, be sure to submit any missing documents and complete your interview if you have not already done so. The deadline for submitting your supporting documents is March 15!

 

Summer Research for Stevens Scholars

This past summer, nearly 80 students conducted research at Stevens and abroad as part of the Stevens Scholars Program, and each had a chance to showcase and discuss their work on Wednesday, October 13, in the Babbio Center at a poster exhibit and reception to celebrate their accomplishments. 

Scholars Program summer research projects are diverse in topic and scope. Commonly, though, all the projects allow students to apply their engineering and scientific training to design and research, an attractive challenge to students eager for experience beyond the classroom.  Sophomores Jackson Kelly and Chris Federici were among the scholars presenting their work at the exhibit.  Their study, "Investigation of Secure Human Identification Protocols with Random Noise," was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Antonio Nicolosi and, in layman's terms, involves designing the code and interface for a more secure way of utilizing usernames and passwords - while still maintaining ease of use for consumers.  Both Chris and Jackson are pursuing degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics and said they appreciate the opportunity to conduct hands-on, cutting edge research.  "The coursework is one thing," Jackson said. "But it's this kind of research opportunitiy that allows us to explore new territories - to take part in real-world problem solving."

Incoming freshmen were invited to attend the showcase, which, for them, is a chance to be inspired by and consider participation in such student-driven research as quantum cryptography, bone regeneration, neural tissue engineering, a novel approach to overcome the drug resistance of cancer cells, understanding social networks psychology of movement in video games, indoor geolocation technology, passive solar house technology, applications of energy harvesting for micro/nano robotics, and more. 

"The Stevens Scholars Program provides our best students the opportunity to conduct research within a wide range of topics during the summer," said Dr. Edward Whittaker, professor of physics and engineering physics in the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr School of Engineering & Science and director of the Stevens Scholars Program. "Students work closely with a faculty member and present their research not only at annual poster sessions but also in leading research journals."

Stevens Scholars are typically high-acieving students with strong interest in and dedication to their areas of study.  Strong candidates are invited by faculty to apply for the program. And once admitted, student scholars must maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA at Stevens. In addition to summer research - or additional summer coursework - Stevens scholars can earn a combined B.E/M.E, B.E./M.S., or B.S./M.S. degree in just four years and accelerate their programs of study to earn B.A., B.E. or B.S. degrees in three years. Over a dozen students from the Class of 2010 graduated with dual degrees earned through participation in the Scholars Program, Dr. Whittaker said.

Aiming High at Stevens

Last week the Babbio Center had more than sun and a stunning view of Manhattan illuminating its beautiful atrium.  Undergraduate students in the Technogenesis™ Summer Scholars Research Program held their season-concluding poster exhibition there – an event that showcased 42 student researchers in a well-deserved, collective spotlight.

The scholars were recognized for the research they did over the 10-week span of the program this summer. They also had the opportunity to discuss their projects with many observers who were curious about their work – if not in complete awe.  For those who missed the opportunity that afternoon to observe the new technologies and innovations produced and in active development by these students, this video is a great way to learn something new about the culture of technology and entrepreneurship at Stevens.  Or, it may simply validate what you already know!

Taking advantage of ample opportunities to work closely with faculty on cutting-edge research, as well as directly in industry even before graduation, is nothing new or unusual for many Stevens students.  However, programs like the Technogenesis™ Summer Scholars Research Program distinguish especially high-achieving studentsamong their peers.    

Mechanical Engineering major Christina Alecci’s project, “Design of an Introcular Pressure (IOP) Sensor” was facilitated in Stevens’ MicroDevice Laboratory under the advisement of professor E.H. Yang.

Another student, Ben Choe, advanced research in Social Networking in Urban Healthcare. "I wanted to participate in this student reasearch program because I'm interested in learning by doing," Ben said.  "I am intrigued by the particular research I did and its application in a specific industry that needs it.  But thinking ahead, I'm also interested in exploring how the research and process can be applied for other purposes."

In its 10th year of existence, the Summers Scholars Research Program admitted its largest class of students, and from its largest pool of applicants, said David Peacock, Director of Intellectual Property Management at Stevens.  Peacock addressed the students at a certificate and recognition ceremony after the exhibition.  Joining Christos Christodoulatos, Associate Provost for Academic Entrepreneurship, and Malcolm Kahn, Vice President of Enterprise Development and Licensing, he reminded the scholars of their distinct place in what he calls a family of students who've gone through the program. 

Start Here!

Want to learn more about Engineering, Science, Computer Science, Business or the Humanities at Stevens? Visit our newly launched academic pages for in-depth details on each discipline, including student and faculty profiles, the latest in research, descriptions of each major and more.

Check them out: http://www.stevens.edu/sit/admissions/academics/index.cfm

President Raveché on Port Security

From Solutions for our Future:

Stevens Institute of Technology was awarded the responsibility of leading research and education in port security. This honor was the result of the impressive strength of Stevens and its university and industry partners, which include MIT, Rutgers University, the University of Miami, the University of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Monmouth University, and Lockheed Martin Corporation. The focus areas of the center's research include maritime domain awareness; space-based wide area surveillance; vessel detection, tracking, and monitoring; High Frequency Frequency radar for multiple applications; search and rescue; environmental monitoring; human and organizational factors influencing Marine Transportation System (MTS) security and coastal safety; resiliency; and MTS recovery and continuity of operations.

Click to continue article >>

Video: Stevens is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research