Undergraduate Student Profiles

Holly McIlwee: A Colorful Background

B.S./M.S. student Holly McIlwee started her research experience early in her student career in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University. In her pre-junior year, she began working in Dr. Caroline Schauer’s lab on colored thin films...

B.S./M.S. Student Joan Burger

MSE students don’t always come to Drexel with a prior interest in materials. In fact, when Joan Burger first arrived at Drexel, she enrolled in mechanical engineering, simply because she liked hands-on work and was talented in math and science. When she took an introductory materials course with Dr. Michel Barsoum, she learned that all engineering and science is rooted in materials...

B.S./M.S. Student Lemoda (Lee) Laim: Taking the lead

MSE students have a reputation for taking the initiative. B.S./M.S. student Lemoda (Lee) Laim first approached his advisor Dr. Jonathan Spanier as a sophomore and requested to work in his research group. Throughout his course of study, Lee exhibited tremendous initiative...

Zakiya Carter: It’s never too late to change your mind

Not everyone recognizes their interest in materials science and engineering at an early age. Zakiya Carter, currently pursuing a B.S. in MSE, worked as a computer programmer for more than five years before she gave even a second thought to a degree in MSE...