First students in online Doctor of Engineering program say it is boosting their careers
Program bridges academic-industry gap with flexible, interdisciplinary, real-world learning and research
Students in the first cohort for Purdue Engineering’s first 100% online Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.) program already are seeing its benefits since they began their studies in January.
“I want to ensure that as an engineering leader, I bring state-of-the-art thinking, tools and techniques to bear on the technology development projects for which I am responsible,” said Andrew Walz, senior director of research and development program management for global eyecare provider Alcon Research, who has spent most of his 19-year career at the forefront of bioengineering, specializing in medical devices.
“Purdue’s D.Eng. is uniquely attractive because it sits at exactly the intersection of academia and industry, providing an opportunity to continue learning and improving as I advance my career,” Walz said.
Walz said he transferred to the Purdue program from another leading institution’s online D.Eng. program because Purdue “offers a broader selection of coursework for the distance learner and places more emphasis on applied research.”
His comments and those of other students attest that the D.Eng. program is tangibly and conveniently helping them grow professionally and contribute to society.
A step toward becoming top producer of engineering talent
“We developed the D.Eng. program for the many individuals who want to earn a doctoral degree while continuing in jobs they are passionate about,” said Milind Kulkarni, the Michael and Katherine Birck Head and professor in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as well as academic lead for the Robert H. Buckman College of Engineering Online Education Program.
“Our online doctoral program enables working professionals to take their careers to the next level and contribute to impactful innovations by gaining a higher credential and pursuing cutting-edge applied research in the context of their current work,” Kulkarni said. “In this way, the D.Eng. program is propelling Purdue Engineering toward becoming the nation’s top producer of engineering talent.”
Tamara Kinzer-Ursem, the Marta E. Gross Professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and associate dean of graduate and professional education in Purdue’s College of Engineering, said: “Our vision is to empower engineering professionals by providing a flexible, interdisciplinary online doctoral program that fosters innovation, technical expertise, and leadership, enabling them to drive significant advancements in their fields and achieve their career aspirations.
“The online Doctor of Engineering program is a highly customizable degree that integrates advanced research methodologies, technical depth, and professional skills development to bridge the gap between academic research and industry practice. Unlike traditional PhD programs that focus on theoretical research, the D.Eng. emphasizes applied research, hands-on projects, and collaboration with industry partners, along with partner support.”
High marks from students
Inaugural class members gave the Purdue D.Eng. program high marks.
Walz, who holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, a Master of Science (MS) in mechanical engineering and graduate certificates in bioengineering fields from Stanford, and an MS in engineering and management from MIT, said Purdue’s D.Eng. program is enabling him to pursue his goals.
Aiming to “have a positive impact on others’ lives by developing innovative new medical technologies and successfully bring them to market,” Walz said the program is helping him expand his skill set and gain domain expertise.
Another student who switched to Purdue’s D.Eng. program from another leading university’s D.Eng. program is Benjamin Fouch, who works in the field of private equity as a vice president focused on portfolio company operations. After beginning his career as an entrepreneur building and selling a business, Fouch moved on to mergers and acquisitions and private equity operations. He currently supports the portfolio companies of Lacy Diversified Industries (LDI), an Indianapolis-based family office that focuses on buying and building middle-market companies.
Fouch came to the Purdue D.Eng. program with a finance degree from the University of Notre Dame, as well as both a master’s in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech and a master’s in computer information technology from the University of Pennsylvania.
“I was attracted to the Purdue program due to its focus on industry and interdisciplinary research,” Fouch said. “So many problems we face in industry are interdisciplinary, requiring technical knowledge from multiple domains. Purdue’s D.Eng. program emphasizes integrating knowledge from different domains in a novel way. It provides an opportunity to learn more frameworks and then apply them in research to create solutions to problems I face every day in my career.
“The program is helping me add value as a leader in my company. I firmly believe that recent advances in tools like generative AI will lead us to an ‘age of the integrator,’ in which those with broad knowledge will thrive. The D.Eng. program at Purdue is an excellent training ground for that new paradigm.”
The “industry-facing” nature of Purdue’s program has wowed Fouch. “I have had multiple faculty out on the plant floors of our portfolio companies to pilot new technologies or give advice,” he said. In one situation, a professor drove two hours to an LDI portfolio company’s site to walk through and provide feedback on a project Fouch proposed.
Ability to put Purdue D.Eng. coursework into action on the job is a key plus for Frank Pulciano, currently a nuclear packaging engineer at the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) and formerly a U.S. Navy engineering laboratory technician on the USS Providence (SSN 719).
“Having completed my bachelor’s degree online while on active military duty, I can attest to the value of immediately applying classroom learning to real-world problems in industry,” said Pulciano, who also appreciates the flexibility to study online while maintaining his professional responsibilities.
Pulciano earned a BS degree in nuclear engineering technology from Excelsior University. In addition, he holds master’s degrees in data analytics from University of La Verne and in mechanical engineering from University of Nevada, Reno, where he now is pursuing two graduate certificates.
“My class research at Purdue directly impacts my work at the Nevada National Security Sites by advancing the development and implementation of material monitoring at radiological facilities,” the 10-year working professional said. “In addition to becoming an effective decision-maker in my field, I aim to refine my research skills to tackle complex challenges within the enterprise. Already, the wide range of Purdue D.Eng. courses, including applied professional offerings, has broadened my perspective on problem-solving and enabled me to develop unique solutions.”
Moreover, Pulciano said his industry partnership with a laboratory mentor “has significantly increased my visibility with the national labs,” and connecting with other Purdue D.Eng. cohort members has provided valuable networking opportunities.
Like Pulciano, Thomas McNamara, a biomedical engineer and team lead at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was no stranger to online learning when he applied to Purdue’s D.Eng. program.
McNamara was familiar with Purdue’s College of Engineering and its online offerings based on earning a BS in biomedical engineering and an MS in interdisciplinary engineering with a concentration in biomedical engineering. “Having two previous Purdue degrees, including an online master’s, I had seen firsthand the value of a Purdue degree,” he said.
“Pursuing a D.Eng. at Purdue is strengthening my technical skills while helping me prepare to advance in my career,” said McNamara, who has been in the workforce 12 years.
“What I find particularly exciting about the program is being able to design a plan of study that fits my interests, including classes across a variety of engineering disciplines. By working full time while studying, I am able to apply what I’m learning to the work I do, which helps reinforce the learning.”
Accomplished mid-career professionals in inaugural D.Eng. cohort
Purdue’s D.Eng. program has attracted a first cohort with impressive talent and experience.
Number of cohort members: 13
Average industry experience: 13 years
Previous credentials: All hold at least one master’s degree (in many cases, more) in engineering or a related field.
Employers include: Alcon Research, The Boeing Company, Cummins, ECS Limited (Kenya), General Motors, Google, Lacy Diversified Industries (LDI), Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS), Northrup Grumman, Square, Tata Technologies, UC Davis, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Areas of interest include: AI/machine learning, computer science, quantum computing, telecommunications, robotics and automation, industrial engineering and optimization, biomedical engineering, nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering
Common current industries include: Manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, biomedicine, national security