Name: Sophia Poirier
Class: Senior
Hometown: Ashland, Massachusetts
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Why did you apply to be a student ambassador?
I applied to be a student ambassador to showcase everything the College of Engineering (CoE) has to offer. Since transferring here to finish my undergrad and continuing with my graduate studies, I have gotten so many opportunities I didn’t even know were available. I hope to share my experiences with prospective students to make them aware of everything they can take advantage of.
What advice would you offer to new engineering students?
Advocate for yourself. You know what you are capable of and should challenge yourself with difficult coursework and extracurriculars. If you believe that you should take an extra class, push to take it. My best semesters have been when I’ve taken the most and hardest classes. This teaches you time management and decision making skills, which I have used in my internships.
What do you feel is unique about being a student at UM College of Engineering?
One thing that has stood out to me the most being in the CoE is all the research opportunities for undergraduate students. I think we are in a unique position where we can email or talk to our professors directly about research and they are more than willing to let us join their labs.
Describe what you are doing in this position.
I am meeting with prospective students and helping at engineering events wherever help is needed. Now that I have a much more open schedule; I felt like this was a great position to highlight the CoE. I have the perspective as an undergraduate and graduate student.
What did you learn at CoE that has helped you in your position?
I’ve learned to take advantage of the resources CoE has for students. For example, I was nervous about internships because I hadn’t yet had one and felt I was behind. I reached out to the director of career services about my concerns and she had just gotten off the phone with a former PhD student looking for a Biomedical Engineering (BME) pre-med student to intern for the year. As I was a BME pre-med, she sent my resume to who is now my boss and got an incredible school year internship at a medical device manufacturer. Had I not reached out in the first place, I would have never had the chance to work at the company.
Which College student organization stands out to you and why?
Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is one organization that stands out to me because I’ve learned firsthand how underrepresented women in engineering is. SWE gives me an opportunity to bond with other like-minded women. We do community outreach events to get middle and high schools girls immersed in STEM to hopefully grow the field. I never had this in high school and see how important it is to show younger girls how cool engineering is.
What do you feel you are getting out of this position?
I feel as though I am gaining leadership skills as well as learning how to relay information to younger students. They are at a critical point in their lives, deciding the academic move and where they want to spend the next four years. Seeing the life of an actual engineering student is so important because there is so much more than just the program and taking classes. It’s about getting involved in research, no matter what department you’re in, and joining engineering organizations, and making connections with professors and peers that will enhance your college experience.
What did you do during your summer 2019 break?
This summer, I had the opportunity to work for Smith & Nephew, a medical device manufacturer. I was in Regulatory Affairs, where I got exposure to submission pathways for international registration and new product development and design control processes. I was also able to participate in Bioskills labs where faculty surgeons train other physicians on S+N products.
