The Biomedical Engineering (BME) program held its fourth annual career fair at the UConn-Storrs campus on February 5, 2009. Approximately 150 students attended the fair, according to Angela Gilbert (BME ’09), president of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) student chapter. Attendees from UConn, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, City College of New York, Stony Brook University, SUNY Stony Brook, the University of Hartford and even the University of Texas at Arlington made the trek to campus to speak with representatives from 10 exhibiting companies, graduate school programs and medical schools.
The exhibitors were interested in candidates for the full spectrum of positions, from full-time employment to internships and co-ops. Among the employers were Covidien (formerly Tyco Healthcare), Metrum Research Group, Philips Respironics, the Veterans Health Administration, National Instruments, the Hartford Hospital Department of Biomedical Engineering, 454 Life Sciences, Tufts Medical Center, the Boston Veterans Administration and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. The employers received a CD containing the resumes of all attending students.
In addition to the usual displays and one-on-one meetings, the event also featured a round-table discussion that Ms. Gilbert said many students found particularly informative. Representatives from the exhibiting organizations discussed the educational and career choices they made that led them to where they are today. Dr. Joseph Bronzino, the Vernon Roosa Professor of Applied Science at Trinity College and executive director of BEACON – the Biomedical Engineering Alliance & Consortium – presented an overview of his background and hosted the panel. During the Q&A period, student attendees quizzed panel members about their choices and inquired about the qualities they should look for in a prospective employer as well as what qualities distinguish an attractive potential employee.
The fair was hosted by the UConn Student Branch Chapter of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBS) and the BMES student chapter. In addition to Ms. Gilbert, the BMES student chapter officers are vice president Emily Jacobs (BME ’09), secretary Caitlin Martin (BME ’09), treasurer Kristin Ohanian (BME ’09), career fair coordinator Honorio Valdes Espinosa de los Monteros (BME ’11), and program coordinators Maria Rodriguez (BME ’09) and Christina Natale (BME ’11).
BEACON and the Biomedical Engineering Career Alliance sponsored the fair. Dr. John Enderle, a professor of Biomedical Engineering with a background in Electrical & Computer Engineering, is Director of the Biomedical Engineering program at UConn and the BMES student chapter Advisor.
