15-Minute Drop-Ins

During the academic year our Peer Career Coaches conduct quick 15-minute drop-in meetings with first, second, and third-year students and our Graduate Administrative Associate meets with seniors and graduate students on the following topics:  

  • Developing a strong Resume 
  • Writing Cover Letters and other job search Correspondence 
  • Creating a powerful LinkedIn profile 
  • Making meaningful Connections with employers and alumni 
  • Navigating the ins and outs of Handshake for the job search 
  • Preparing for the Career Fair and developing an Elevator Pitch 
  • Nailing an upcoming in-person, phone, or virtual Interview 
  • Professional Headshots for LinkedIn or Handshake Profile

Meet the Peer Coaches

Sam Duckworth
Sam Duckworth

Hey! My name is Sam Duckworth, and I am a third-year biomedical engineering major with a minor in human anatomy. Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, IL, I came to Ohio State searching for unique opportunities to gain real-life, hands-on experience – and that I found! I volunteered as a Research Assistant in Dr. Matthew Reilly’s Ocular Aging and Trauma Lab at Ohio State during my sophomore year. Additionally, I completed a full-year co-op in the Karp Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital - Harvard Medical School, where I worked as a Biomaterials Research Trainee. I led multiple research projects involving oral drug delivery and non-compressible torso hemorrhage, gaining priceless knowledge about chemical processes and biological assays. The research the team and I completed culminated in a manuscript, which is still in the editing process for submission to a high-impact journal. Throughout these experiences, I discovered my true passions, which helped me shape my pathway.

Aside from academics, I am involved in multiple organizations on campus: member of Biomedical Engineering Society, former Fundraising Chair/current member of Men’s Club Volleyball, and former External Vice President/current brother of Triangle Fraternity. I love to stay active, so in my free time you can find my playing recreational sports, working out, or hiking/biking around campus.

I became a Peer Career Coach to share my professional experiences and help others find the perfect opportunity for them. Given my personal experience with undergraduate research and internship hunting, I can be a great resource for students unsure about their next steps. The best advice I could give is to be relentlessly resilient because you will inevitably encounter failure in your journey, but how you respond is what matters most.


DD Kanu
Didi Kanu

Hey! My name is Didi and I am a 4th year Chemical Engineering student from Cincinnati, OH. The summer after my freshman year, I participated in the Biomedical Research Internship for Minority Students (BRIMS Program), where I did research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Then, the summer of 2022, I was a Process Analytical Technology INROADS Intern with Sanofi at their Framingham, Massachusetts site. Most recently, during Summer 2023, I was a Pharmaceutical Development & Formulation Intern with AbbVie at their South San Francisco, California location. 

Outside of classes, I am a founder of the Minority Collegiate Outreach & Support Team, which is an OSU organization whose mission is to provide 9th-12th grade racial and ethnic minority students in Columbus with collegiate mentors to guide and support them throughout high school and the transition to higher education. Additionally, I am a 3-year executive board member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). I am also a member of OUAB, I participate in research in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, I’m an LSAMP Scholar, and am a member of Undergraduate Student Government’s Black Caucus. In my free time, I love to travel, attend concerts, hang out with friends, and play basketball. 

I became an ECS Peer Career Coach because I am always looking for ways to pay it forward and be an inspiration for those coming behind me. Every success and every failure has been a teaching moment; I am constantly learning new things as I go through my undergraduate career, so I would love to pass that knowledge on to anyone who is willing to learn. The best advice I would share with a new engineering student is to join organizations like NSBE, SASE, SWE, AIChE, etc. so you can build relationships with people like you who also have a rigorous curriculum, while being exposed to a valuable professional network. Having a community and/or friends with similar goals there to support your endeavors throughout college is one key to success. 


Sam Golick
Sam Golik 

Hi everyone! My name is Sam and I am a third-year student majoring in Computer Science & Engineering with a minor in math. My first internship was summer 2023, where I worked with Huntington Bank as a Mobile Development Intern.  For those of you who use the Huntington Bank app, that’s what I was working on! I also worked on a summer-long innovation project revolving around new technology the bank can use to drive their business.  

Outside of school and work, I am an avid musician. I’ve played violin for 10 years, and also enjoy playing cello and piano. I continue to play at OSU with our Symphony Orchestra. I am also in the Honors and Scholars programs, and currently serve as a peer mentor the Engineering Scholars program. I’m also a College of Engineering Ambassador, where I give tours to prospective engineering students and answer any questions they have. 

I became an ECS Peer Career Coach to inspire the next generation of OSU engineering students to help reach their career goals. ECS has helped me immensely in my own journey and I’d like to pay it forward. It’s never too early to start thinking about career development! If there’s one piece of advice I could share with a new engineering student, it would be to not be daunted by what you might hear about engineering. It is a challenging field of study, but there are resources to help you through. Engineering is a collaborative environment and finding a dedicated study group will serve you very well throughout your education. Your fellow engineers are here to support you! 


 Meet our Graduate Advisor

Cecilia Groves
Cecilia Groves

Hi! My name is Cecilia Groves and I’m from Westborough, MA. I graduated with my BS in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Economics last spring and will graduate with my MS in Biomedical Engineering this spring! I’m currently working on my master’s degree through a Combined Degree (BS/MS) Program with a focus on Medical Product Development. I have completed summer internships at 3 different companies. In 2021, I virtually worked at the FDA’s Office of Orthopedic Devices. In 2022, I had a hybrid work schedule at Medline in Northfield, IL where I worked as a product management intern in the advanced wound care division. Most recently, I spent summer 2023 with Thermo Fisher Scientific in Carlsbad, CA as a cell and gene therapy intern.  

I am excited about being the ECS GAA because I get to help others with their professional development and empower them in finding employment opportunities. This is especially rewarding because the job search process is difficult, complex, and often frustrating. I also love to share the ECS resources that contributed to my early professional successes. My best advice for engineering students is to ask for help when you need it! The best way to grow and succeed personally, academically, and professionally is to go out of your comfort zone.  

I have gained leadership experience through my involvement in Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Within BMES, I served as the Secretary and first-ever Diversity & Inclusion Chair. I was also SWE’s Career Success Chair for 2 years. I enjoy reading, coloring, practicing yoga/meditation, playing volleyball, eating (but not cooking), playing the sims, and trying new things! 

 

Spring 2024 Drop-in Hours

Drop-ins take place in the ECS office.  There will be no drop-ins during university breaks. 

January 8- April 22

Drop-In Hours:

Undergraduates
(1st, 2nd and 3rd year students)

Monday: 1:00pm-3:00pm

Tuesday: 1:00pm-3:00pm

Wednesday: N/A

Thursday: 9:30am- 11:30am

Seniors & Graduate Students

Monday: N/A

Tuesday: 9:30am-11:30am

Wednesday: 12:30pm-2:30pm

Thursday: N/A

 

  • You must be registered with ECS to attend drop-ins.
  • Please bring a printed copy of your resume to drop-ins if wanting a resume review.