Natural Sciences & Engineering at Rochester

NATURAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING

EXPLORE ROCHESTER t this point in your high school career, a lot is happening, and your interests are subject to change. They may even be all over the map. And that can be a great thing! This is merely a glimpse into the opportunities you have to define and embrace your Rochester experience.

From day one, you create and explore your own curriculum. You’ll create clusters of courses outside your major, conduct collaborative research projects, and maybe even study abroad. All without spending time in classes chosen for you or spending money on credits you’re not interested in.

By the time you start applying to schools, you might have discovered new areas of learning and experiences. If so, stay in touch with us.

Let us know what you want to accomplish here.

AREAS OF STUDY*

RESEARCH AND RESOURCES Is there a problem you want to solve, a question you want answered? As one of the nation’s top-tier research universities, Rochester is an ideal place for undergraduate research. In fact, many students start research their first year. You can start an independent project with a faculty mentor or collaborate with faculty and peers. Pursue any field and any combination of fields and take advantage of our various labs, libraries, and classrooms.

A team of undergraduates created a virtual reality project that aims to foster empathy for the deaf and hard of hearing community. The project, “clEAR,” was the brainchild of seniors Kelly Thornton, Zhewen Guan, AJ Brown, and David Backer. Using a 360-degree camera, the team incorporated Oculus technology to create an interactive storyline for users to go through that would put them in real life scenarios for the deaf and hard of hearing. Their goal is to put people in the shoes of a person who is hard of hearing to gain a new perspective.

INTERNSHIPS Rochester students secure internships with local and national companies, corporations, and non-profit organizations. The benefits are limitless—professional networking, college credits, advancing technical skills, and in some instances, they’re paid opportunities. Rochester even has a career center to help you focus your career goals and find an internship that can help you get there.

Wendy Snyder, a mechanical engineering major, was on Ballard’s Nautilus, an ocean exploration vessel off the California coast. Her job was to pilot one of two Roving Operations Vehicles (ROV) sent unmanned to the ocean floor. As an ROV engineering intern, she helped conduct a detailed inspection of all systems and parts of the vehicle to ensure everything was working properly.

STUDY ABROAD Yes, even natural sciences students can study abroad. Rochester’s programs in natural sciences and engineering are designed to accommodate study abroad if a student wishes to explore international perspectives on topics like alternative energy, optics, and sound design.

AFTER ROCHESTER We enroll capable and satisfied students, making our retention and graduation rates amongthe highest in the country. 95% of the Class of 2018 reported a positive career outcome aftergraduation. Over half are employed, and 42% are continuing their education. In particular, Rochester graduates in the natural sciences go on to be leaders and forward thinkers in their fields, setting an example for their peers as creative problem solvers who make the world better.

Kharimat Alatise, Class of 2019, majored in biomedical engineering and is a first-generation student from Hartford, Connecticut. She joined the National Society of Black Engineers and Ma’Frisah West African dance group, became president of the Pi Beta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and served as a chemistry teaching assistant. This fall, Kharimat will head to Clemson University to pursue her master’s and doctorate degrees in biomedical engineering. She will be a “scientist in training,” conducting research with the goal of becoming a professor.

I want to mentor students like myself. I’ve had many great professors, but none that look like me. I want to be a role model to first-generation and minority students.