Testimonial

Samuel Graham

[M.S.M.E. 1995, Ph.D. ME 1999]
Assistant Professor
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia

e-mail: sam.graham@me.gatech.edu

I decided to go the Georgia Tech for graduate school in order to work with and be challenged by one of the best group of Mechanical Engineering faculty. In particular, I was interested in materials testing and reliability, and my advisor was known as one of the top researchers in the field of mechanics of materials. Thus, it was a reward to have a chance to work with him.

The Woodruff School provided me with an excellent educational environment which challenged me to grow technically. This experience has given me the confidence to successfully take on challenging multidisciplinary problems that are typical in today's high-tech environment. Since receiving my degree, I have worked at Sandia National Laboratories as a Sr. Member of Technical staff, performing research on a variety of subjects. These include thin-film mechanical and thermal property evaluation and environmental degradation of EUV optics for Next Generation Lithography. Following this work, I have return to Georgia Tech as an Assistant Professor and am working on microscale heat transfer in thin-films, flexible electronic device manufacturing, thermal management of GaN electronics, and organic semiconductor properties.

I feel that the strength of the graduate program at Georgia Tech is definitely in the people. The program combines world-class professors with very bright students who push you to excel in your educational and research endeavors.

I would rate the graduate program, faculty, and facilities as one of the best that I have seen in the nation. The School really cares about the development and success of its students, and provides excellent facilities to facilitate top-notch education and research in a wide number of areas.