TANMS Doctoral Fellow, Alexandria Will-Cole, to Represent TANMS at the NSF ERC Perfect Pitch Competition

Post date: Sep 27, 2019 9:25:59 PM

36 postdocs and graduate students from across 6 TANMS institutions competed for the top spot at the 2019 TANMS Perfect Pitch Competition in September.  Most postdoctoral and graduate students are accustomed to presenting their research on a poster at conferences or symposiums; however, it requires a completely different set of skills to "pitch" their research in 90 seconds flat while succinctly addressing three key questions -- What is the real-life problem that their research addresses? How does their research solve the problem in an unique way? What is the impact on society and in achieving the Center's mission? 

Students affiliated with an NSF Engineering Research Center are given opportunities to develop their pitching skills biennially.  Each of the 19 ERCs across the nation hosts their local competitions and the winners represent their centers at the national competition that takes place at the NSF ERC Biennial Conference.  In 2017, TANMS alum, Stephen Sasaki took second place at the national competition.  This year, TANMS Doctoral Fellow, Alexandria Will-Cole of Professor Nian Sun's group at Northeastern University, will represent TANMS at the national competition in October.  

We had some great entries at the TANMS Perfect Pitch Competition and it was not an easy decision for the judges.  In second place is Armin Razavi, Ph.D. Candidate at UCLA and worthy of recognition are our Honorable Mention winners Victor Estrada, John Nance, and Shreya Patel.  

Congratulations to all our winners and we look forward to seeing Alexandria onstage at the NSF ERC Perfect Pitch Competition on October 25 in Washington D.C.!