Cornell Engineering Master of Engineering

Last night’s Cheng Lecture featured Charles "Chaz" Calitri '81, who shared insights on engineering and leadership in the BioPharma industry. In 2020, during the global pandemic, Chaz led Pfizer's Kalamazoo, MI manufacturing site, which scaled up and launched the world's first authorized Covid-19 vaccine. Currently, as Vice President of Operations for Kyowa Kirin NA, a Japanese global specialty biopharmaceutical company, he is overseeing the design and construction of a drug substance biologics manufacturing plant in Sanford, NC, which will accelerate therapies for patients with rare diseases. Chaz discussed the complexities of this project and how lessons in engineering and leadership, learned at Cornell University and throughout his career, drive his current success. In his talk, Chaz emphasized resilience in the face of setbacks, urging students not to let failures limit their potential. “You cannot let failures get in the way. Many people do and end up putting themselves in a box, thinking that’s all they can achieve. That’s why mentoring is so important—mentors can stretch you and feed something in you that is bigger than what you see in yourself." Lastly, he stressed the importance of taking the factor of community into consideration early on when planning a project. He explained, “My main message to you all is that you are part of a community and you have a social responsibility to it. This should be considered when designing and constructing. My focus for me right now is building my team, the right culture, and what we value as a team. What are the norms we are going to follow? We are deliberately establishing that team and culture on this project. You need to be keenly aware of that. I know in your curriculum these values are talked about as well. That is critically important.”?

Check out what some of our M. Eng students have been working on! Our students have been assessing the market viability and performing a techno-economic analysis of a nano-delivery platform developed at Cornell University to realize a one-dose, non-invasive treatment of acute otitis media (AOM). Interested in learning more? Stop by our virtual info session on April 24th for more information on our amazing program! https://lnkd.in/gz5SexRF

We were thrilled to welcome renowned astronomer and engineer Jill Tarter ’65 back to campus today as the keynote speaker for our two-day symposium celebrating 140 years of women in engineering at Cornell. Jill shared her inspiring journey—from being the only woman in her engineering physics class to leading the search for extraterrestrial life as head of the Center for SETI Research. She also gave us a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like working with Jodie Foster, whose character in Contact was inspired by her work. What an incredible way to celebrate this milestone! ???

Tonight is the night! Registration to join is not required. Charles "Chaz" Calitri '81 will share insights on engineering and leadership in the BioPhar-ma industry from his remarkable career journey. In 2020 during the Global Pandemic, Chaz led Pfizer's Kalamazoo MI manufacturing site which enabled, scaled-up and launched Pfizer's Covid-19 Vaccine- the first authorized treatment for Covid-19 in the world. During his nearly two decades at Pfizer, he held the roles of VP of Operations for the US and EU sterile injectables network and VP of Global Engineering, with prior leadership positions in areas including Production Operations, Capital Projects Management, Facilities Management, and Site Engineering. He will delve into the challenges and innovative solutions that were crucial during this unprecedented time.

??? Energy Systems M.Eng. Pathway!??? Join us TOMORROW, Thursday, March 27, from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET for a Systems Engineering Energy M.Eng. Pathway info session! ?? Discover how this program can power your future ??—learn about degree requirements, cutting-edge energy projects, course curriculum, and more! Don’t miss out! ?? Save the date & see you there! ?? Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gaD6NGCh

Spring into Learning with Leyla Desjardin Program: Cornell Engineering Management "I chose distance learning at Cornell University because it made the entire master's program experience feel personal, almost as if I were attending classes in person. Through team projects, study groups, office hours, and the summer residence programs, I was able to connect with both my peers and professors in meaningful ways. These interactions fostered a strong sense of community, even though I was miles away from Ithaca. The program also offered the flexibility I needed to balance my full-time job with my coursework. I was able to work closely with my professors to manage my time effectively, allowing me to advance in my studies while continuing my professional career. My favorite class so far has been Project Management with Professor Robert Newman. This course allowed me to collaborate with both my distance-learning peers and in-person Engineering Management students. It was an invaluable opportunity to develop leadership skills while building lasting connections. The lessons I learned in this course will undoubtedly stay with me throughout my career."

Pioneering Cornellians often make change—but for the first time, you’ll find a Cornellian on your change! Vera Cooper Rubin, MS ’51, a groundbreaking astronomer whose life’s work included procuring the scientific evidence to prove the existence of dark matter, is being featured in the 2025 cohort of the American Women Quarters Program. According to Big Red history expert Corey Ryan Earle ’07, it’s believed to be the first time a Cornellian has ever been depicted on a circulating U.S. coin. “Being featured on a U.S. quarter is a big deal,” says Jay Beeton ’70, BS ’71, former director of the American Numismatic Association’s Money Museum in Colorado Springs, CO. “That’s an honor largely reserved for U.S. presidents, or iconic images.” Rubin, who died in 2016 at age 88, gathered decades of data on the unseen material that binds galaxies and governs their rotation—and which is believed to make up more than 80% of the universe’s mass. In 1985, the body of work she presented to the International Astronomical Union fundamentally shifted scientific conceptions of the universe and opened new directions for research in both astronomy and physics. She went on to win both the U.S. National Medal of Science and the Gold Medal from the U.K.’s Royal Astronomical Society. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gJ5wPp3a.

We had a great time connecting students at Syracuse University last week! They discovered the many benefits of pursuing a Cornell Master of Engineering degree—from cutting-edge professional development opportunities and hands-on project creation to gaining the skills that will propel their careers to new heights! ?????? Ready to take the next step? Visit our website to learn how we can help you reach your goals: https://lnkd.in/eDVpxj3k Up next: We’re heading to Binghamton University on April 2nd! Join us from 12 PM to 4 PM in the Tillman Lobby. Be sure to sign up and get all the details here: https://lnkd.in/gvAQ_MhP See you soon!

Your time at the university was likely most memorable thanks to the companionship of fellow Cornellians. Who was that special person who made your days on the Hill even more unforgettable?

Spring is finally here! What better way to celebrate the start of warmer days than by exploring our beautiful natural areas at Cornell University?