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November 10, 2006 Vol. 77, no.
13F
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COURTESY OF RAFAEL DAVALOS |
Career Corner with ME alum Rafael Davalos
Career Corner features interviews with alumni about their career
choices and their career advice.
Rafael Davalos (M.S.’95, Ph.D.’02 ME) is an assistant professor
in the School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences at Virginia Tech-Wake
Forest University. In his research, he integrates bioengineering, microsystems
and microfluidics to engineer affordable, science-based solutions for
homeland security and biomedical applications. From 1995 until this
year, he was a principal investigator at Sandia National Laboratories
working in the same field.
What do you like about your job?
The interdisciplinary approach required in tackling challenging problems.
The opportunity to work on such problems. Teaching and learning from
students. Creating engineering solutions to important problems in modern
medicine and the independence to focus on those problems.
How did you go about finding your interest/passion?
I started in mechanical engineering and found it exciting to apply
my engineering background to problems in biology through bioengineering.
What do you recommend students do during school to prepare for a career?
You will constantly be drawing on your engineering fundamentals so
you need to have a strong foundation. Take a technical writing course,
practice public speaking and work on a team project.
What’s the secret to landing a job?
Knowing how to communicate effectively with humility yet self-assurance.
Practice interviewing as early and as often as possible. Making and
maintaining contacts is critical. Use your alumni networks.
What helped you make the transition from student to career employee?
Seeking out and listening to mentors, having strong discipline, being
curious and taking initiative.
Have additional questions? Email rvdaval@sandia.gov.
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