Jose Hurtdao

[MSME 1998, Ph.D. ME 2001]
Senior Product Engineer
Siemens Energy and Automation
Arlington, Texas

One reason for choosing the Woodruff School was its excellent reputation in industry and academia. The school consistently ranks within the top programs and its reputation reaches out internationally as well. Two of my professors in my undergraduate school in Venezuela went to Georgia Tech. They were among the most respected faculty in my undergraduate school. The large research funding from government and industry allows students to access assistantships and learning opportunities that I never thought possible. I had the opportunity to work at the Precision Machining Research Consortium, a state-of-the-art lab facility where industry sponsors, faculty and students meet to run challenging multidisciplinary research projects in high-precision machining and controls.

I arrived in 1996 with the plan of getting a Master's degree and going back to my previous job in my home country. But one opportunity leads to another at the Woodruff School. I was offered the option of pursuing a Ph.D. degree funded by one of my professor's industry sponsors. I graduated from the doctoral program in 2001 and was hired on campus by a well-known energy company. My graduate education provided me with advanced tools, research skills, academic rigor, project experience and an extensive network. The quality of the graduate program has allowed me to succeed in my engineering career at leading companies by addressing challenging problems and leading global teams. I have noticed that the Woodruff School is highly regarded by employers, colleagues and professional organizations.

I believe that the most important strength of the graduate program is the quality of the faculty and their commitment to enrich the learning experience of students. The faculty is composed of world-recognized leaders in all fields of engineering. I was impressed by the dedication of professors and the caliber of students. Staff and faculty, particularly my academic advisor Professor Melkote, were always very accessible and eager to help me succeed in my program.

I have no doubt that the research and teaching facilities at the Woodruff school are among the best in the nation. I have visited several industrial and academic R&D facilities, but I have not seen any at the same level of Georgia Tech's. Excellent students enroll every year from every state and every country. They carry out challenging research projects and have the opportunity to publish and present their work in prestigious journals and conferences. Most graduates start rewarding careers with employers who prefer hiring from Georgia Tech.