Student Testimonials

Middle Tennessee State University, Master of Science in Professional Science

“One of the main attractions to the MS-PS program was my desire to eventually move from performing “bench” tests into a supervising role. I found the combination of business/professional education along with opportunity for advanced scientific course work to be ideal for my aspirations.

The internship, which I completed during the summer of 2008 at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in the Serology/DNA discipline, was a critical step that allowed me to encounter experiences and gain additional significant knowledge in the field of forensic science. Due to my educational background and my “hands-on” internship position, I accepted a position with the Santa Clara Crime Laboratory in San Jose, California as a Criminalist II in the Forensic Biology division.”

Ashley Elliott
2008 Graduate
Employed as a Criminalist II in the Forensic Biology division at the Santa Clara Crime Laboratory

“I was interested in this program because it provided a unique opportunity to combine business and science in one degree. My internship work with the Medical Informatics area at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee piqued my interest in learning more about data and how it can be used to improve healthcare and ultimately the lives of people. Since graduation I continue to work at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee as a Sr. Project Manager. I found the MSPS program to fit both my academic and personal ambitions.”

Lori A. Foster
2008 Graduate
Employed as Senior Project Manager at BlueCross BlueShield

“I was waiting for something different. I was waiting for something more technical, more scientific that would integrate business courses into a more scientific program. I chose the Biostatistics concentration specifically because I was searching for a career path into the field of Biostatistics. The concentration is a good fit since I am interested in conducting research that improves the outcomes, quality, access to, and cost and utilization of health care services. I am currently employed by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.”

Tiffany Johnson
2008 Graduate
Employed at BlueCross BlueShield

“Wanting to combine all aspects of my academic background, I decided that I wanted an internship within the program to involve my passion for animals and the new skills and knowledge in biological research gained through the MSPS program. The MSPS internship gave me the awareness and practice I needed to be successful in the medical research industry. Once the internship had come to an end Vanderbilt offered me a full time position within the lab.”

Emily Joan Vest
2008 Graduate

Pennsylvania State University, Applied Statistics Program

“I chose this program, originally, to prepare me for a PhD Finance program. What the MAS program did so well was train graduates to think in applied settings through the course work and consulting practicum without making the theory the end-all of study. Part of what I learned from the program was that it was not the Finance I enjoyed but the applied quantitative problem solving.

The statistical reasoning and SAS coding emphasis allowed me to immediately contribute to my professional setting at Ernst & Young’s Quantitative Economics and Statistics department where I work on employee sampling and estimation methods to government and tax related issues and at times the development of variance estimators for sampling methods. Penn State’s MAS program is solid training for applied-quantitative-thinking meant for any scientific and business endeavor.”

Zachary Rhyne
2005 Graduate
Employed as Senior Statistician at Ernst & Young QUEST

“The MAS program at Penn State was just what I was looking for. I had an undergraduate degree in economics and had been working in health research for several years. I knew that in order to move up in my company and get the job that I wanted, I needed a master's degree in statistics. However, I never liked academics just as an exercise; I would much rather be solving real problems. The MAS degree caught my eye because of the focus on application. Throughout the degree, the focus was on how to use the techniques and tools that we were learning about. The culminating consulting work was invaluable to me. I worked as the statistician for PhD students working on their dissertations and clients from outside the university. I faced many challenges that I would later encounter again now that I am out in the real world.”

Ellen Humphrey
2005 graduate
Employed as Statistician at Phoenix Marketing International

Pennsylvania State University, Biotechnology Program

"Completing the Master of Biotech program at Penn State was the best decision I have made in my academic/professional career. The program provides not only the opportunity for extensive, cutting edge scientific training, but also the opportunity to examine the legal, social, and economical sides of biotech. My experience in the program has given me a well-rounded knowledge of the scientific world, as well as marketable skills that are invaluable to anyone entering the field of biotech. I would highly recommend this program to anyone, including non-science majors, thinking of a career in the field of biotechnology."

Christopher Babic
2004 Graduate
Employed by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

"The accelerated program at Pennsylvania State included extensive laboratory training as well as colloquium about the industry itself which allowed me to learn not only the current research techniques, but also the current trends and issues involving pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The program also allowed for a variety of elective courses and laboratory rotations where I experienced a broad spectrum of subjects within the biological sciences and many new technologies currently used in the industry. These experiences, along with the opportunity to take MBA courses within the degree program, have given me the skills I needed to excel at my current position as a molecular biologist and inspired me to explore new opportunities in the business side of the biotechnology field."

Katie Kitsopolous
2004 Graduate
Employed by Research Triangle Institute

Rice University, Environmental Analysis and Decision Making Program

“The quality of the professors at Rice has exceeded my expectations; they have been amazingly enthusiastic and helpful. The seminar as well as the corporate reception provided ways to network with corporate representatives. I think that the internship, the interdisciplinary coursework, the length of the program, and the flexibility to tailor coursework to individual career paths are great assets for this program.”

Myriam McChargue
2007 Graduate
Intern at ERM

University of Connecticut, Applied Genomics Program

“I completely enjoyed our visit and am very interested in becoming a student in your program. The curriculum is so creative and current, and has been conceived to remain so with every passing semester, that it is hard to imagine a more progressive manner in which to gain my master's degree.”

Sandra Canosa
2007 Graduate

“This Masters of Science in Applied Genomics program, in my opinion, is fantastic. It allows students, like me, the opportunity to combine professional industrial experience with an academic curriculum while allowing for the flexibility of choosing classes tailored to my future career profession. I had the opportunity to taken classes such as Immunotoxicology, Molecular Immunology, and Aspects of Molecular Genetics, all of which have proven useful in my summer internship which evolved into part time employment during the school year. Upon completion of my Masters I had numerous interesting employment prospects in sales, research and manufacturing. I feel that the success I have had in my employment search directly reflects the opportunities that I have received at the University of Connecticut, in particular in the Professional Masters Program.”

Theresa Furey
2007 Graduate
Biotechnology Manufacturing Associate, Immune Response Corporation