EPP GRADUATE FAQ - Our Graduates
We hope to prepare our students for a life of learning and creative contribution in the career of their choice. Our graduates have obtained positions that are fairly equally divided among academia, industry, consulting and think tanks, and government and national labs. Since 1978, 36 students have graduated from our program with an M.S. degree, and just over 190 with a Ph.D. Visit our "People" page to see a list of our alumni and where they are working now.
Of our Ph.D. graduates -
- 40% entered academia;
- 27% work for think tanks, consulting firms, and nongovernmental organizations;
- 17% work for private sector firms;
- 16% work for government and national labs;
We have no special preference for any of these job placements. We like them all. Graduates in academia help diffuse our interdisciplinary, yet rigorous approach to research and education to other institutions and students. Graduates in industry and government help to apply our insights and approach to problem solving in the real world. Graduates in consulting firms and think tanks share in the solution of real-world problems and the development of new methods and discoveries. Employers across the range of sectors recognize that our graduates can be a source of great value, innovation, accomplishment and leadership in their organization.
While there is a large demand for EPP graduates, in some areas, such as academia, the number of available positions is limited. This is true in virtually all areas of science and engineering, where faculty positions are very competitive. Our graduates must plan and prepare well to secure positions in traditional academic departments (ensuring that their traditional, disciplinary skills are solid), but they then can offer additional qualities for the growing number of traditional departments seeking to expand their horizons and policy relevance. Not all academic disciplines are equally accessible to graduates with EPP degrees. Outstanding students with environmental interests can often find positions with mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or civil and environmental engineering departments. However, graduates working in telecommunications policy have not found jobs in traditional electrical engineering departments -- such departments simply don't do such work. Some graduates find positions in the growing (though admittedly still small) number of interdisciplinary programs at the interface between science, engineering and policy, or in business or other professional schools. For some, this has been in programs developing out of related disciplines in business schools, industrial management, public health or risk science. As in other disciplines in the sciences and engineering, a growing number of our graduates interested in academia have found it necessary to pursue and accept a post-doctoral appointment for their first position.
Some years ago our students told us (and our Advisory Board) that they felt they needed more exposure to the real world of policy analysis and decision making and related opportunities for internships. The opening of our EPP Washington Office in 1997, located in the AAAS building six blocks from the White House, has provided such opportunities. EPP undergraduate project courses, managed by our graduate students, have made their final presentations either in Washington or with an audio-video hookup to the office. Students use the office and connections fostered by Korin Sharp, the Director of our Washington office, to meet and work with members of the technical policy community in Washington or as a base for meetings, workshops or individual research. In addition many of our students have participated in extended visits or internships at various research and policy organizations during their studies here. Students benefit the most (and we are most happy) when these visits contribute directly to their research plans and progress. Such visits also help to identify future employment opportunities. For more information on our Washington office, visit our DC Office homepage.
To contact some of our graduates:
The following EPP Ph.D. alumni have agreed to volunteer their time to answer questions and provide further information on their experience at Engineering and Public Policy. Click here for a list of contacts.
