Megan D.
Where did you go to undergraduate school and what was your major?
After attending four different high schools in three different states, I attended the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando for college. I graduated with both my Bachelor and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (2019, 2022) specialized in Electromagnetics and Optics (EO).
What aspects did you enjoy while completing your undergraduate degree?
While attending UCF, I thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on learning and connections with the defense industry. Growing up with parents in the military, I always knew that I wanted to work in the defense industry. UCF’s faculty were very encouraging and the laboratories are impressive which made undergraduate research even more enjoyable. Through UCF’s College Work Experience Program (CWEP), I was able to work part-time at Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) throughout my undergraduate career. I gained the knowledge and experience to establish a woman-owned small business focused on defense consulting during my junior and senior year. The community fostered my love for STEM and reinforced my commitment to advocating for women in this field.
What led you to apply and choose PRIME?
After graduating from UCF with my undergraduate degree, I have been working full-time for the Navy since May 2019. In my current role, I work as the Head of the Devices, Sensors, and Materials Research and Development Branch at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, RI and manage 30 employees. The branch conducts pioneering research in lasers, fiber optics, materials science, and chemistry crucial to advancing defense capabilities. I am continuously looking for ways to learn and grow especially related to combining my technical expertise with strategic leadership towards technology development. I began looking for programs that could help me extend my technical knowledge to technology transition, which is when I found the PRIME program. As I learned more about the program, it became evident that PRIME was exactly what I was looking for.
What are you most looking forward to in PRIME?
As we begin to wrap up the second semester at PRIME, I am shocked that I have been able to apply aspects of every class taken so far to my everyday profession. I was very much looking forward to the coursework and it has not disappointed. Even just this week, my newfound knowledge of patents has resulted in a stronger patent application coming from my branch thanks to the PRIME coursework. I am also very excited for the PRIME@Work trip to interact with and learn from other companies.
Do you plan to join any clubs at Brown? If so, which ones?
I have not currently joined any clubs at Brown. Between working full-time, volunteering roles, and going to school, I have not had the opportunity to join any clubs… yet. However, I have been bonding with several students over volunteering opportunities through our ENGN2160 project. I appreciate that PRIME is scheduling one-off social events because it gives those in situations like myself the opportunity to attend. I look forward to seeing you all on November 8th!
What advice would you have for new PRIME students and PRIME graduates?
For students interested in applying for the PRIME program, I would highly suggest it. I cannot emphasize enough the impact that the courses have had on me professionally. Additionally, I would like to highlight that it is difficult working full-time and going to school, which was one of my concerns before I applied to the program. However, since I joined PRIME, all of the professors and program faculty have been very understanding and willing to work with me. If you have any concerns about whether the PRIME program is right for you, I highly recommend reaching out to the program faculty, professors, previous graduates, or even myself to discuss your concerns.
For new PRIME students, I recommend that you take the time to think about how to apply the course lessons to your current life and/ or your future professional career. Take advantage of the opportunities to apply what you are learning to grow in your abilities. Take time to network with your classmates, TAs, and faculty because you never know what opportunities may come of it. For PRIME graduates, my advice is to never stop learning and growing. Continue to refresh on the course lessons and continue to build upon it. Stay in touch with the network you have created throughout this experience.