Perspectives

Plasma spraying of ceramic onto a material to be protected from high temperatures. Personal Statement from alumnus Dr. Carl J. Czajkowski, Brookhaven National Laboratory I am currently the associate division head of the Environmental and Waste Technology Center at Brookhaven National Laboratory. When asked to write about the Materials Science program at Stony Brook, I wondered what I could possibly tell people coming into the science and technology arena, especially young people. I guess that I am an unusual case since I received my Ph.D. at Stony Brook when I was 48 years old. I could not have accomplished this without the encouragement and support of friends, family, and especially the faculty at Stony Brook. The professors in the Materials Science and Engineering department are more than just teachers; they become your colleagues and friends. I had the opportunity to continue my studies at other institutions, but chose instead to work with the outstanding professionals at Stony Brook - Professors King, Berndt, and Herman are very capable scientists in their own right who have taken it upon themselves to impart knowledge to students interested in the materials area. The Thermal Spray Laboratory in the department is world-class, and provides a fertile environment for learning and student development. All in all, I am very pleased with my experience at Stony Brook while obtaining my degree, and have maintained a connection into the present with proposal submittals, which include partnering with this outstanding department. Doctoral Student Henry J. White The Materials Science and Engineering department at Stony Brook is one of the leading Materials Science Research departments in the country. As a student, I've always felt that I am in the land of opportunity. I was blessed with a fellowship/teaching assistantship during my first semester, and, since then, I've had the pleasure of attending lectures from some of the leading scientists and engineers in their fields; lecturing in undergraduate core curriculum courses each semester; working with scientists using state-of-the-art and leading-edge instrumentation at Brookhaven National Laboratory; and working with a talented group of high-school students who became Westinghouse Science Competition awardees. This is my second re-entry into academia from my 10-year industrial career. My intent was to share (with future engineering professionals) some of my experience as an engineer. Upon graduation, I will be in the enviable position of either pursuing a career in academia or furthering my success in industry.

Alumnus Aron Newman One particular aspect of the program I really appreciated was the opportunity to do my own research. The faculty provided me the access to people, technical meetings, and facilities outside the department to help me complete my research. My first year was very exciting, a whirlwind of knowledge. I did not come from a background in materials science, so I had a lot of catching up to do. Interaction with the students was also very important during this time, especially when it came to selecting my advisor. The openness and friendliness of the students in the program helped me to make my decision. It wasn't just the research that influenced who I picked for my advisor - I also considered the students I would be interacting with for the next five years. During your research, you spend more time with your fellow students than with faculty, learning how to do research. The older students already in the program are very supportive and help you learn the ropes. The diverse backgrounds of the students are one of the department's greatest strengths. The department is very supportive of people who don't have formal training in materials science. They offer a strong emphasis on performing research. The classes teach you the basics; research teaches you the specifics. Through this program I have learned the skills to be a materials scientist, have gained the practical experience with the tools a materials scientist uses, and have learned how to evaluate the merit and quality of my own work and the work of others. I am very critical of what's reported, now that I have the tools to be more discriminating about what's represented in articles. That knowledge comes with experience, and I gained that experience at Stony Brook, doing research and writing papers. The program helped me to become a critical thinker. "They offer a strong emphasis on performing research. The classes teach you the basics; the research teaches you the specifics."

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06/05/99 SC, GBH, AK, and JQ