M.Eng. Newsletter

Fall 2024

connected to the Cornell M.Eng. experience!

Cornell Welcomes New M.Eng. Class

Prior to the start of classes in August, Cornell Engineering hosted a lively M.Eng. Orientation to welcome over 980 new students -- the largest M.Eng. cohort to-date. Joining via Zoom were new distance learning students from Engineering Management, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Systems Engineering.

The event featured an animated alumni panel, moderated by Biomedical Engineering M.Eng. Director Newton de Faria. Panelists shared personal experiences and valuable advice for how students can make the most of their M.Eng. experience. The orientation concluded with a networking dinner reception in Duffield Hall.

M.Eng. Orientation Panelists

(left to right):

Nikko Mitrano Schaff, CS '20, Director, Innovation Disaster Tech.
Gilburt Chiang, ECE '13, Director, Business Development, Palantir Tech.
Kintu Early, M.Eng. Director, Materials Science and Engineering
Jaan Nashin Singh, Eng Mgmt '23, Tech. Product Manager, Toyota
Devyani Dinesh, Eng Mgmt '23, Management Consultant, Synpulse
Ning Li, ORIE '22, Senior Data Analyst, Cayuga Health Partners

New Tang Hall Fuels BME M.Eng.

Growth and Advancement

The Biomedical Engineering Design Complex at Tang Hall is the culmination of nearly a decade of planning and innovation, creating an environment that immerses Biomedical M.Eng. students in a "simulated start-up organization." According to Newton de Faria, M.Eng. Director of Biomedical Engineering, "This state-of-the-art facility enables students to navigate the full spectrum of medical innovation—from ideation and concept design to rigorous testing of industry and clinically sponsored unmet needs."

The design space is thoughtfully divided into distinct environments, each tailored to specific activities and mindsets to enhance productivity as well as creativity. As reported by the Cornell Chronicle, benefactor Martin Tang views this innovative space as a way to uphold Cornell Engineering's value of academic excellence and to support students for future generations, "As a Cornell student myself many years ago, it was the university’s outstanding faculty, facilities, and opportunities for hands-on learning that defined my own experience. Margaret and I are deeply gratified that Tang Hall will be home to leading faculty who will continue to advance Cornell Engineering’s teaching excellence and profound, impact-driven experiences for generations of students to come."

M.Eng. Program Launches Platform to Connect Current and Prospective Students

Cornell Engineering has partnered with Unibuddy to give prospective students authentic insights into the M.Eng. experience. Through candid exchanges with M.Eng. students and alumni ambassadors, those interested in pursuing the M.Eng. degree gain a deeper understanding of coursework, projects, professional development, and more.

Want to become an alumni ambassador and stay connected with the Cornell community? Contact a program representative to learn more and get involved!

Fall Event Highlights

M.Eng. Course hosts Cheng Distinguished Lecture

Bob Boehringer, Vice President, Process Management Services at Orion Development Group

In early October, the M.Eng. professional development course ENGRG 5350: Career Search and Exploration for Engineers, hosted guest speaker Bob Boehringer (MechE ’82) as part of the Cheng Distinguished Lecture series.

Boehringer, a seasoned consultant and self-described “process guy,” led an engaging and interactive session that illustrated the many ways in which humans recognize patterns, solve problems, and make career choices.

ENGRG 5350 is specifically designed to equip M.Eng. students with essential skills and knowledge to enhance their job search. Several class sessions include opportunities to connect with alumni as guest speakers and as part of panel discussions. “We were delighted to have a Cheng Distinguished Lecturer in ENGRG 5350,” said course coordinator Heidi Morton. “Bob’s energy and experience made him a fantastic fit to engage with our M.Eng. audience.”

Halloween Study Break!

Over 150 M.Eng. students, staff, and faculty enjoyed sweet treats, raffles and decorating pumpkins together. A great time was had by all!

M.Eng. Program Headlines Engineering College Council Meeting

Panel Moderator:

Newton de Faria, BME M.Eng. Director

Panelists from left to right:

IIya Getsin '16, M.Eng. BME; Gabe Rodriguez '17, M.Eng. MechE; and Lihong Xie '15, M.Eng. ORIE

Cornell’s Master of Engineering program headlined the agenda at the Engineering College Council’s semiannual meeting on November 7- 8. Key discussion topics included broadening access to the Cornell M.Eng. degree and ensuring our students have the best possible academic experiences and career outcomes.

Held in the beautiful Autodesk headquarters building in San Francisco, CA, the event included interactive sessions led by Kathryn Caggiano, Associate Dean for M.Eng. Programs; Newton de Faria, Director of the Biomedical Engineering M.Eng. Program; Jennifer Micale, Director of M.Eng. Programs Support Services; and Jennifer Mimno, Director of M.Eng. Admissions and Recruitment.

A panel of Bay Area M.Eng. alumni — Ilya Getsin, M.Eng. ’16, Sr. R&D Engineer at Pulse Biosciences; Gabe Rodriguez, M.Eng. ’17, Sr. Performance Engineer at Chef Robotics; and Lihong Xie, M.Eng. ’15, Demand Planning Manager at Amazon Lab126 — was the highlight of the meeting. They shared how the M.Eng. program experience helped shape and transform the trajectories of their careers, serving as a powerful testament to the lasting value of the Cornell M.Eng. degree.

Featured December Graduate

What would it take to heat Cornell’s 745-acre campus sustainably with renewable energy, even on the coldest of days?

That’s the question, Leah Zhao ‘24, investigated for her capstone project as an M.Eng. student in the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The project was divided into two main sections, one investigating geothermal baseload heating options and the other exploring biomass peak heating options to provide a techno-economic analysis of a combined heating system. Zhao's focus was on comparing different versions of geothermal systems, including ground source heat pumps and Earth Source Heat - Cornell’s name for a unique, deep geothermal system.

Earth Source Heat incorporates the direct use of heat at depths underground of around 10,000 feet. Here, wells would be used to circulate water deep underground, extracting the Earth’s thermal energy, which is then transferred to the campus. Ground source heat pumps are at much shallower depths (1,000 feet) and involve the drilling of thousands of shallow boreholes underneath the campus to extract heat. Both options offer a more sustainable, less emission-intensive alternative compared to the current natural gas-fired combined cycle cogeneration system, but their feasibility and financial considerations require careful consideration.

Zhao's work involved modeling the performance of the geothermal systems under various scenarios to meet a baseload demand. From the modeling, she was able to develop capital and operational costs, ultimately providing recommendations on the most optimal system from technical, economic, and environmental standpoints.

Reflecting on the project’s progress, Zhao notes, “While this project is far from finished, Cornell is still actively discovering new information about the ground beneath us and what it takes to be able to use it for heating. I have now helped to lay the foundation of work to evaluate and hopefully design a carbon-neutral heating source for the Ithaca campus."

Beyond this research, Zhao also highlights how the M.Eng. program has been instrumental in her academic and professional development. "The curriculum offers both breadth and flexibility. It enables me to pursue my interests across a variety of disciplines, both within and outside of chemical and biomolecular engineering," she explains. "Also, the support and mentorship I received from the faculty were invaluable. Professors have provided guidance in and out of the classroom, helping me make key decisions about the next steps in my career."

Zhao will receive her M.Eng. degree later this month and is already preparing for the next chapter in her career as a research and development engineer at PepsiCo, where she hopes to make an impact with the technical expertise and professional skills gained during her time as an M.Eng. student.

Alumni: Where Are They Now?

Aishwarya Bhaskaran, '23 M.Eng. Engineering Management

Product Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise

"The skills I honed at Cornell allowed me to make an immediate impact, and I continue to draw from that well of knowledge daily."

Vy Huynh, '24 M.Eng. Aerospace Engineering

Mechanical Engineer at Kaman Air Vehicles

"My M.Eng. project involved modeling pollution over Anaheim, California using Ansys Fluent. The expertise I gained in CFD (computational fluid dynamics) was precisely what Kaman needed. Now, I get to spend my days examining rotor blade fractures while sitting in helicopters—talk about taking my talents to new heights!"

Clara Sant'Anna Melo de Oliveira, '18 M.Eng. Biomedical Engineering

Senior Engineering Supervisor at Medtronic

“My experience at Cornell helped me by developing my product development and innovation skills, while also improving my ability to manage projects and present in professional settings.”