Project Customer Service

Location:

Boston, MA

Posted:

January 19, 2013

Contact this candidate

Resume:

A Model For

University-Industry Collaboration:

The Center for Analog and Mixed Signal

Integrated Circuit Design at WPI

John McNeill

Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

*******@***.***.***

http://ece.wpi.edu/analog

Presentation Overview

Background

Industry-University Partnership

Center Overview

Operational Details

Advice

Conclusion

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 2

Background: Personal

1979-1983 A.B. Engineering, Dartmouth College

1983-1986 Design Engineer, Analogic Corp.

1986-1990 Design Engineer / Engineering Manager,

Adaptive Optics Associates (AOA)

1990-1991 MSEE, University of Rochester

1991-1994 PhD, Boston University

1994-2004 Assistant / Associate Professor, WPI

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 3

Background: WPI

Founded 1865

USA's 3rd-oldest technological university

Located in Worcester, Massachusetts

1 hour from Boston

Full-time enrollment:

~ 2700 Undergrad, ~ 500 Grad (~220 FT Faculty)

Small size allows close faculty interaction

University with core focus on science, engineering,

and management of technology

Grants bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees

in 30+ disciplines

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 4

Background: Curriculum

"Technological humanist"

Prepare students for entire career and life path

Projects (Close collaboration with faculty mentor)

Humanities Project

Express creativity in nontechnical fields

Interdisciplinary Project

Society-technology interface.

Option: Global sites from London to Bangkok

Disciplinary Project (Capstone)

Obtain professional-level design experience

Integrate, apply, knowledge

Solve real-world problems

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 5

Presentation Overview

Background

Industry-University Partnership

Goals

Traditional Research Model

Collaborative Design Center

Center Overview

Operational Details

Advice

Conclusion

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 6

Industry / University Partnership: Goals

Industry

Technical

Stay current with "cutting edge" research

Explore / develop "back burner" ideas

Human Resources

Identify good engineers to hire!

University

Intellectual Mission (Research)

"Create knowledge"

Customer Service (Education)

Instruction, research relevant to needs of

student, industry constituencies

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 7

Traditional Research Model

Targeted

Support 1

graduate student

Single project

Disadvantages:

High cost

Lost opportunity

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 8

Collaborative Design Center

Consortium

Take advantage of

common interests

Free flow of

information,

contact among

members

Pooling resources

allows reduced

entry cost

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 9

Presentation Overview

Background

Industry-University Partnership

Center Overview

Organization

Benefits for Students

Benefits for Sponsors

Choices for Faculty

Operational Details

Advice

Conclusion

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 10

Center Overview

The Center for Analog and Mixed Signal IC

Design at WPI conducts graduate research and

undergraduate projects in all aspects of mixed

signal IC design.

These activities are conducted in an

environment that supports the complete "real

world" integrated circuit design process.

The Center is supported by contributions from

member companies, who help to determine the

direction of Center research.

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 11

Design Center Overview: Organization

Membership: Company pays $35,000 annual fee

Student / faculty participation:

16 students/year: 4 capstone teams, 4 MS

4 faculty involved

Advisory Board

Representatives from member companies

One-day meetings in fall, spring

Review progress, choose future projects

Direct interaction with students

Project Ideas

Proposed by companies, faculty

Sponsors select (Advisory board vote)

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 12

Benefits to Students

Better Project Quality/ Definition

Project credibility

"Customer" = Easier to motivate students

Real World Constraints

Professor not the bad guy

Compete with sponsor's competitors

Students live with real cost / budget constraint

Networking

Talk to real engineers

Better exposure in hiring process

Grad-Undergrad Interaction

"Analog lab" environment

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 13

Benefits to Corporate Sponsors

Access to graduating seniors, M.S. students

Better evaluation of engineering competence

Lab vs. interview situation

Increase pool of students with mixed signal IC

design experience

More awareness of sponsor's company among all

students in ECE

Influence direction of research

Awareness of and access to new technologies

Influence curriculum development

Networking

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 14

Benefits Choices for Faculty

Advantages Disadvantages

Better projects for Emphasis in

project-based education-research

curriculum balance?

Recruit best students MS-PhD balance?

into your program

"Real world" Too much emphasis

relevance on application?

Like winning a grant Volatility of short-

every year term company

interests!

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 15

Membership History

MEMBERS

199*-****-**** 200*-****-**** 2004

Looks like stock market !

Difficult for companies to spend money on

"recruiting" during layoffs ...

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 16

Presentation Overview

Background

Industry-University Partnership

Center Overview

Operational Details

Communication

Intellectual Property Policy

Advice

Conclusion

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 17

Communication: Fall Meeting

Poster presentations: Status of work in progress

Graduate projects

Progress: 6 months

"Critical design review"

Undergraduate projects

Progress: 1 month

Feedback / "course correction"

Determining General Research, Project Priorities

Input from members, faculty

General research direction

Specific project proposals for

recruiting students

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 18

Communication: Spring Meeting

Poster presentations: Completed work

Direct sponsor interaction with students

Assess technical, communication skills

Open to all students (recruiting)

Choosing Research/Projects for Upcoming Year

Faculty

Present proposed projects for coming year

Provide results of recruiting, student interest

Advisory Board

Vote on which projects will be carried out

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 19

Intellectual Property Policy

Research results equally available to all members

Consortium NOT for proprietary research!

Members may request nominal delay in

publication of results

Not a problem: tJOURNAL >> tCORPORATE

Ownership of discoveries, inventions, etc.

Whoever pays for patent expenses

WPI and/or subset of interested sponsors

All members entitled to non-exclusive,

royalty free license

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 20

Presentation Overview

Background

Industry-University Partnership

Center Overview

Operational Details

Advice

Starting a Center

Industry Contacts

Selling to Sponsors

Recruiting Students

Conclusion

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 21

Starting a Center

Talk to / get ideas from as many people as you can:

People at your institution doing something similar

People at other institutions doing something similar

Acknowledgment: Terri Fiez, CDADIC, OSU

Contacts at potential sponsors / member companies

Consider teaming with other faculty

Within department:

Cover several subdisciplines

From other departments:

Interdisciplinary

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 22

Starting a Center: Industry Contacts

Quantity Rules

To get 1 good idea, you need 10 bad ideas

To make 1 sale, you need to live through 10

rejections

To get 1 sponsor ...

If a potential contact isn t producing, spend time

elsewhere!

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 23

Industry Contacts: Where to get them?

Anywhere and everywhere!

Former students

Former employers/employees

Your PhD advisor's contacts

Help from colleagues in your department

People who see your publications

People who see you at ...

Conferences

Local professional society talks

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 24

Selling Your Center To Sponsors

Any contact to get you in the door

Engineering, Human Resources, anything

Work your way up corporate food chain

"This will make you look good for your boss"

Find the person in organization who can say

"This is a good idea - let s spend $35,000 on it!"

Title different depending on organization

Work your way back down corporate food chain

Whoever s actually interested in technical work

Point of (frequent) contact once work is

happening

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 25

Selling Your Center To Sponsors

"$35,000 is a lot of money"

Compare to cost of hiring process

Key: Sponsor access to students with

experience, interest in company's field

Curriculum, research less important

Cheap compared to recruiting / headhunter cost

Don't be afraid to ask for a lot of money

Sponsor's attitude:

Little money committed = low priority

Find good partners; OK if bad partner says no!

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 26

Educating Sponsors: Expectations

Be aware of industry biases / constraints

Ideal: Instant, cost-free product development

18 months = eternity

Manage sponsor expectations

Cultivating long term relationship

Not product development

Not on critical path

Example: Educational mission of capstone project

Teach design process

Time for students to brainstorm, research, ...

Not "get something done"

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 27

Recruiting Students

Two words: FREE FOOD

Student recruiting event after Fall meeting

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 28

Recruiting Students

Two words: FREE FOOD

Student recruiting event after Fall meeting

Two more words: FREE CLOTHING

Analog Lab T-shirts

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 29

Recruiting Students

Two words: FREE FOOD

Student recruiting event after Fall meeting

Two more words: FREE CLOTHING

Analog Lab T-shirts

Another two words: OPEN HOUSE

Invite students in department to presentations

See ongoing projects; cool place to work

McNeill, A Model for University-Industry Collaboration, EWME2004 30

Recruiting Students

Two words: FREE FOOD

Student recruiting event after Fall meeting

Two more words: FREE CLOTHING

Analog Lab T-shirts

Another two words: OPEN HOUSE

Invite students in department to presentations

See ongoing projects; cool place to work

Teach courses in your area with enthusiasm

Frequently mention related, high quality,