UB - University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Kimberly got her B.S. at Oklahoma State before coming to UB to pursue graduate work in ISE. She chose UB because of the impressive research opportunities in human factors. Why HF? The subdiscipline is "more in tune with the human elements of the world. Other disciplines focus on creating a machine to do a job. We look at it from the other direction: examine first the human capabilities and goals, then create the process to achieve them." One of the aspects she likes best about UB ISE is that there is "a lot of cross-collaboration. That's what's given me a breadth of knowledge. My fear in getting a Ph.D. was that I'd be pigeonholed; but my range of experience here has been so broad." She continues, "the ability to get both breadth and depth in education is a real strength of this department."

The faculty is another strength: "they're so open to new ideas…even if you're not someone's student, they'll talk to you about your research and if they can help they will." That openness extends to UB administration, she adds; as president of the ISE GSA, Kimberly met with the dean of the SEAS. "I've never heard of anyone at another school who had that opportunity; they take you seriously here. There's a lot of opportunity to grow here, outside of your research as well."

Kimberly would like to work as a consultant in industry, but eventually would like to join academia as well. She feels her education at UB is preparing her for anything she sets her mind to. "We're one of the top departments in my field," she says. "We're a valued and respected institution."