Six ECE Graduate Students Selected as Future Faculty Fellows

Six Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate students were selected to participate in the 2014 Future Faculty Program.

Those selected were:

Sahar Akram, a graduate student in the Neural Systems Laboratory is advised by Professor Shihab Shamma (ECE/ISR). Her research investigates underlying mechanisms of sound streaming in the brain and searches for neural correlates of this phenomena using Magnetoencephalography (MEG) techniques in humans.

James Ferlez, a graduate student in Thermal, Fluid, and Energy Sciences advised by Professor Steve Marcus (ECE/ISR)

Devanarayanan Perinthatta Ettisserry, a graduate student in Electronic Products and Systems advised by Associate Professor Patrick McCluskey (CALCE/Mechanical Engineering)

Sowmya Subramanian, a graduate student in the MEMS Laboratory advised by Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE/ISR)

Ryan Suess, a graduate student in the Photonics Research Laboratory advised by Professor Thomas Murphy (ECE/IREAP)

Diameng Zhang, a graduate student in nano-materials advised by Professor Steven Anlage (Physics/ECE)

"The Future Faculty Program is an excellent opportunity for doctoral students to prepare for the academic job market," said Melanie Prange, director of graduate studies and recruitment in Electrical and Computer Engineering. "The newest Future Faculty Fellows all have outstanding academic records and show great promise to obtain faculty positions."

Before starting the program, Suess said, “The Future Faculty Program provides an opportunity for graduate students to learn about leadership, professionalism, and pedagogy — skills that are valuable to success as a graduate student and an academic career, but are not explicitly emphasized through regular research activities or the standard technical curriculum. Likewise, the teaching practicum is an experience I would not have otherwise encountered in my doctoral studies. I believe these elements of the program will add to my overall educational experience at UMD.”

The Future Faculty Program was created in 2007 to increase the number of teachers the Clark School produces by providing students with guidance and support for success in academia. Students enroll in three different one-credit seminars that teach them the skills necessary to become a faculty member, including techniques to engage students, and how to conduct research as a professor.

Through the program, students also obtain hands-on experience by co-teaching a course under the supervision of their faculty advisor. Associate Dean Peter Kofinas, who oversees the program, said that the students gain more from this teaching experience than they would as a teaching assistant. All Future Faculty Fellows will receive $3,000 for travel expenses to present their own research at conferences and to not only network with participants, but to become more confident in presenting research at a professional level.

For more information about the Future Faculty Program, including how to apply, visit the program's website.

Published January 30, 2014