Nicole (Zirkelback) Martin

[Ph.D. ME 2001]
Senior Aeronautical Engineer
C-5 Modernization Program
Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Corporation
Marietta, Georgia

The Woodruff School has been long credited with having the largest and most reputable tribology programs nationwide. That is what originally drew me to the school. Moreover, it is one of the highest ranked Mechanical Engineering programs in the nation. A degree from Georgia Tech means that I received a high-quality education in a very challenging environment wherever I happen to be.

The Woodruff School encourages every student to compete for national fellowships. Not only do fellowship awards bring great honor to both the student and the school, the fellowship application process gave me experience with key skills I frequently apply to my job, such as strategic thinking, developing a business capture approach, acquiring knowledge about the state of the art, and advancing career networks.

The Woodruff School treats entering graduate students with a great deal of professionalism as they begin their studies by extending students opportunities in a variety of topics both focused both on academic research and with industry partners. Upon entering the program, students are given options of study topics and academic advisors creating the best scenario for all involved.

The Woodruff School's graduate program focuses on developing the whole student by not only encouraging completion of a course curriculum, but by also requiring a teaching internship to give students classroom teaching skills, challenging qualification examinations to reinforce fundamentals, and a research assignment in order to develop project management skills.

The student body is high quality and very diverse, combining domestic students with international students, men and women, to promote a rewarding, yet competitive atmosphere. The Woodruff School's facilities combine a state-of-the-art working environment with an aesthetically pleasing space.