Master of Engineering Thesis Project Program

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Master of EngineeringThesis Project Program

• 6.191
• Prototyping Research Results
• Charles G. Sodini, Howard E. Shrobe, Arthur C.M.
  Chen

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Motivation

• Master of Engineering
• To better prepare EECS students for the working
  environment course work and a thesis project
• 6.191 a transition process
• Help students to find a thesis project -- a
  capstone of MIT education
• Help prepare graduates for their 1st job
  experience

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MEng Thesis - Time Frame

• 6.191
• State-of-art research
• Career interest
• Project concept

• UROP/ RA / (6.192)
• Familiarize with technology
• Execute feasibility studies
• Prepare final project plan
• - System design, schedule
• Arrange for financial support

• Project Execution
• Detail design
• Coding/ build hardware
• Test, demo
• Thesis writing

Preliminary thesis proposal
Thesis, Graduation
Final thesis proposal
Fall semester Senior
Spring semester Senior
Summer
Graduate year
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6.191 Path to MEng Thesis

• Exposure to research opportunities at MIT
• Lectures by EECS faculties on their research
• Explore state-of-the-art research by teams
• Determine students interests
• Technical interests, future career opportunities
• Define a focused idea
• Understand the scope of the idea
• Prepare a short presentation
• Obtain informal research advisors approval
• Write-up preliminary thesis proposal

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Personal Reflection

• What are your favorite subjects, areas?
• What am I going to do after MEng?
• Ph.D., Professional schools, job, vacation?
• Which MIT labs do I know, which ones I like to
  know better?
• How am I going to work with others in a team
  environment?

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Some Observations

• Getting a thesis project is research and akin to
  getting a job
• Research for potential projects is a similar
  process for almost all students
• Industrial experience lack of negotiation, team
  working, and communication skills

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Educational Components

• Breath of Knowledge
• Build prototypes based on state-of-art research
• Exposure to a variety of MIT research programs
  part of your rolodex for the future
• Creativity
• Develop innovative project ideas based on MIT
  research
• Teamwork
• Understand research within MIT community
• Generate potential opportunities for thesis
  projects
• Communications Project Planning
• Team and individual presentations
• Preliminary thesis proposals

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Transition to Work

• Problem set solving ? Project synthesis
• Understand opportunities presented by advanced
  research programs
• Develop project ideas that can be completed
  within limited time
• Obtain faculty advisors approval (time )
• Communicate your idea effectively
• Present your capabilities credibly
• Akin to a job search

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6.191 Syllabus
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Some Past MEng Thesis Projects
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Who are We

• Charlie Sodini
• Research, academic, industrial experiences, etc.
• Howie Shrobe
• Art Chen

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Team Approach to Identify Opportunities

• Form small teams (3-4 per team)
• Understand research programs of various MIT
  research labs -- FASTER
• Brainstorm on possible project opportunities --
  MORE
• Limited simulation of real work experience
• How to form teams
• Collect student data name, interest, contact
  info, etc.
• Assign teams and post information on the web
• Rotate roles among team members

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Simulate Work Experience

• Directed goals
• Understand research programs of labs
• Generate possible project ideas
• Coach and monitor team outputs
• A framework for team action
• Brainstorm project ideas
• Review team outputs presentations
• Individual thesis project proposal development
• Specific work assignment
• Market proposed project and student to advisors

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Some Perspective on Team

• Objective do more in less time
• More potential thesis topics for the entire class
• Educational context
• Learn the process and nuisances of team dynamics
  positives and negatives
• Self-awareness
• How do I interact in a team
• Leadership role
• Conflict resolution

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Introduction to Team Collaboration

• To be added