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Engineering for everyone — this phrase defines a graduate education at The Ohio State University College of Engineering. “Every day, we are building a culture of collaboration and inclusion for our students, faculty, and alumni,” says College of Engineering Dean Ayanna Howard.
US News & World Report ranks Ohio State #8 in Biological and Agricultural Engineering; #24 in Computer Science and Engineering; and #14 in Materials Science and Engineering. The university was awarded 4.5 stars and named one of America’s Best Colleges by Money magazine.
Beyond these impressive accolades is a goal to support students as they become key contributors to society through their technological, professional, and personal skills. “I’m of the belief that it takes a village to drive inclusive excellence, and my goal is to fully support students and the Ohio State College of Engineering in that effort,” Howard says.
Buckeye students like Rebeccah O. Akintade can attest to this. In her first week, the Lagos-born student was excited to see many students from different countries and ethnicities. “My advisor and friends were very welcoming and supportive; it made my transition easier,” shares the Aerospace Engineering doctorate student, who completed her bachelor’s degree in Nigeria and master’s degree in China.
Major campus events, like Welcome Week and Homecoming, are among the most dynamic and exciting aspects of life outside the classroom at Ohio State. Source: Ohio State University.
Moving abroad took some getting used to. During her first few weeks, Akintade had to adjust to the American education and transport system. “I was definitely not accustomed to the American way of having weekly/biweekly assignments and quizzes, while working 20 hours a week as a graduate teaching assistant, and needing to have a car,” she says.
“However, my advisor advised me to make the best use of resources provided to students (office hours, communicating with other teaching assistants, Ohio State’s free Campus Area Bus Service, unlimited access to Central Ohio Transit Authority’s entire bus system, discounted Lyft rides, and more) as well as support from my lab mates and seniors.”
At Ohio State, Akintade never has to face her problem alone. She can always approach her academic advisor Dr. Giorgio Rizzoni for help. “He’s patient, understanding and a good listener with a passion for teaching,” she shares. When Akintade was feeling overwhelmed towards the end of one semester, Rizzoni listened with care and compassion. “He told me I needed to do three things every day – do something that’s good for my body, do something that’s good for my mind, and do something that’s good for my soul,” she says. “He told me that he does it and it helps him have a more balanced lifestyle because work-life balance as a grad student is very important.”
Endless opportunities to create impact
At the College of Engineering, Buckeyes have plenty of opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Akintade, for example, has written proposals, worked as a graduate teaching assistant, conducted research, and organised a symposium on advanced air mobility — despite only studying at the university for over a year.
“Being part of the organising team, I got to experience hands-on what it takes to organise an event with over 200 participants with industry experts, federal agents, and students included,” she says. “It allowed me to practise teamwork and to network, which are very important as an engineer and graduate student.”
Faculty members are not only at the forefront of research but also patient educators. While classes can be challenging and demanding, Akintade shares that the professors are “very supportive, have a good sense of humour, and try their best to show us the importance of each concept and how they can be applied.”
These are top minds in their respective fields conducting impactful research. Four Integrated Systems Engineering faculty members were named among the top 2% of scientists worldwide. In 2022, the college had more than US$162 million in research funding. The record amount included significant investments in artificial intelligence, mobility, manufacturing, biomedical innovation and more. And since 2016, the engineering faculty has launched 26 companies which are developing technologies with the potential to change the world.
The Ohio State University College of Engineering’s four research focus areas (or the four M’s) are medicine, mobility, manufacturing and materials. Source: Ohio State University
This ecosystem of research prowess not only leads to groundbreaking discoveries but also enables crucial partnerships with industry. The college houses more National Science Foundation Industry University Collaborative Research Centres than any other school in the US, boasts a long-standing research and scholarship partnership with Honda and has an evolving and dynamic partnership with Intel.
Columbus, the best big city in the Midwest where the college is located, is also home to organisations like Battelle, Chemical Abstracts and the IBM Client Center: Analytics Solutions Lab, as well as rising startups — offering more professional opportunities to college graduates.
So, are you ready to become a Buckeye and make your mark in engineering? Learn more about the graduate programs at The Ohio State University College of Engineering
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