ENGR 5410: Scientific Communication

When: Fall Semester, every Wednesday 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Who: All second through fifth-year Engineering Graduate Students are eligible to take the course
Why: By the end of the course, students will be able to create effective presentations of their research, write dissertation briefs and posters, and gain experience in public speaking.

Course Description

The goal of this course is to formalize the practice and improve professional development skills related to communicating scientific data and research related topics. Topics include: (i) developing the skill to build a story with relevant information to communicate scientific data; (ii) developing the art of public speaking and communicating scientific ideas to the research community and the general public; (iii) creating proper template for presentations, talks or posters; (iv) assessments and feedback for continuous improvement and (v) developing dissertation briefs. The course will also include invited talks and feedback from guest speakers in the field of communication.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants should be able to learn and practice presentation skills to communicate scientific data.

• Identify relevant information to build a story around the topic of research
• Work individually and with peers, instructors, and guest lecturers to develop presentations/talks/posters for a scientific community and the general audience
• Practice the art of public speaking to communicate scientific ideas
• Form a cohort/network/community/peer group within the class to support and mentor each other for success and to enhance active participation and build team work.
• Create an effective dissertation brief
• Create an impressive presentation/talk/poster

Facilitators:  

Fayekah Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UConn

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ENGR 5420: Engineering Internships and Careers in Industry

When: Fall Semester, every Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Who: All third, fourth, and fifth-year Engineering Graduate Students are eligible to take the course.
Why: By the end of the course, students will be able to identify 2-4 internship or fellowship opportunities for the following summer to apply. They will learn about personal branding, resumes, cover letters, visas, and work permits.

Course Description

Supercharge your engineering career! This hands-on course will help you spot high-value opportunities, craft a standout personal brand, and ace networking and interview situations. You’ll discover internships and fellowships in industry, start-ups, and national labs — and walk away ready to apply with confidence, clarity, and a competitive edge.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, you will:

• Identify and target 2–4 internships/job opportunities.
• Create and refine a high-impact resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile.
• Master and practice networking and interview strategies.
• Build and leverage a supportive peer network.
• Navigate and understand visa and work permit processes for international roles.

Facilitator:  

Fayekah Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UConn     

Aida Ghiaei, Director, Graduate Outreach & Diversity, Vergnano Institute for Inclusion

Jodie LaRosa/span>, Program Assistant, Engineering Graduate Programs

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ENGR 5300-012: Special Topics in Scientific Writing

When: Fall Semester

Who: Second- or third-year graduate students, and those with sufficient experimental data for manuscript figures

Why: Essential for graduate students who are transitioning from research to publication.

Course Description:

This course is designed for graduate students engaged in experimental research who are ready to draft a scientific manuscript. The focus is on enhancing scientific writing skills and establishing productive writing habits. Participants will work towards completing a manuscript draft by the end of the semester. The course offers a structured environment to support the writing process and improve the clarity and impact of scientific communication.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

1. Draft a scientific manuscript based on their research.
2. Enhance their scientific writing abilities.
3. Develop and maintain effective writing habits.

Facilitator:

Fayekah Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UConn

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ENGR 5430: Teaching Engineering-Communications and Pedagogy

When: Spring Semester, every Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Who: All third, fourth, and fifth-year Engineering Graduate Students are eligible to take the course
Why: By the end of the course, students will learn how to design and develop an engineering course, teaching philosophy, learning objectives, and syllabus. This course also counts as an elective toward the Graduate Certificate of College Instructions (GCCI).

Course Description

The goal of this course is to formalize the practice of professional development skills related to “teaching” (i.e., communication and pedagogy) in settings typically encountered by graduate students in engineering utilizing the foundations of course design, and effective communication strategies.. Topics include: (i) Education Theory, (ii)Teaching Philosophy and Diversity in the classroom, (iii) Instruction Design, (iv) Learning Objectives, (v) Motivating others to learn; (vi) Assessments Basics and (vii) Developing an effective instructional strategy, including methods, modules and assessments to effectively execute instructional learning.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

• Identify effective education theories
• Create an effective engineering teaching philosophy
• Formulate goals and learning objectives for multidisciplinary engineering courses
• Design assessments and evaluation rubrics
• Create a motivational teaching practice to enhance student engagement
• Examine current competencies communication and teaching
• Create and execute a plan for facilitated learning and design a course from the basics that include:
  • Establishing course objective(s).
  • Motivating audience/students.
  • Effective teaching strategies including designing and planning modules.
  • Execute activities and course content.
  • Plan assessment for the course with real-life scientific problem solving.

Facilitators:

Fayekah Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UConn

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ENGR 5300-008: Special Topics in Engineering Practicum

When: Fall Semester

Who: Second - or third-year graduate students

Why: Essential for graduate students aiming to enhance their teaching skills and gain practical experience in academia.

Course Description:

The Engineering Practicum course offers graduate students a unique opportunity to engage in the practical aspects of teaching engineering courses. Students will participate in activities that focus on instructional design and educational research within the engineering field. This experience is invaluable for those looking to pursue careers in academia or educational roles within industry settings.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

1. Design and implement engineering course curricula.
2. Engage in educational research and instructional design.
3. Mentor undergraduate students effectively.

Facilitator:

Fayekah Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UConn

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