Testimonial

Lindsey D. Thornhill

[B.S.M.E. 1984, M.S.M.E. 1986, Ph.D. ME 1996]
Senior Scientist
Science Applications International Corporation
Marietta, Georgia

E-mail: LINDSEY.D.THORNHILL@saic.com

My experience in graduate research at the Woodruff School was ideal preparation for a career in an engineering R&D environment. I was permitted a great deal of latitude in defining and pursuing my research independently with world-class advice available from faculty whenever needed. I enjoyed consulting with, and learning from, professors with expertise in different disciplines to gain insight into the various aspects of a multi-disciplinary piece of research. As one of the key goals of graduate education is learning to do independent research, the Woodruff School is an ideal setting for achieving that goal.

The graduate program at Georgia Tech has many strengths. Key among them is a focus on solid and rigorous instruction in the fundamentals. Both as an alumnus of the Wooodruff School, and as an employer of other graduates from there, I can't over emphasize the importance of having a solid foundation in fundamentals in order to achieve success in industry. Even as I have moved into management roles, I have relied on the fundamentals I learned at the Woodruff School to recognize when a result doesn't quite make sense. I have also noted in other Woodruff School alumni we have hired a mastery of fundamental principles that set them apart. Another key strength of the Woodruff School's graduate program was the intimate access to the world-class faculty. During the course of my studies at the Woodruff School I consulted with faculty, other than my advisor, on a number of topics that directly impacted my research. In each case, these faculty members, despite being busy with their own internationally-recognized research, took the time to help an eager graduate student.

In my work I enjoy the privilege of collaborating with a variety of research universities on various projects. This collaboration often involves travelling to the universities and interacting with the faculty and students. I have not found a university where the faculty, students, and facilities are as consistently good as they are at the Woodruff School. In pursuing new projects, I look for opportunities to collaborate with the Woodruff School whenever possible.

I considered and investigated engaging in graduate studies at several different schools — all of them ranked in the top 5. Some were considerably more expensive than the Woodruff School. The conclusion I reached was that to achieve my goals of a quality graduate education and experience, I could do no better elsewhere, for any amount of money, than I could at the Woodruff School. Many times since, that conclusion has been validated.