Meet Michael Biggs — Featured Student for September

What is your name? Michael Biggs Where are you from? Centerville, Ohio What school do you go to? What year are you? Fifth year senior at the University of Cincinnati Do you hold any positions in your AIChE chapter or with AIChE nationally? I am the vice president of the Executive Student Committee and president of my chapter. Describe an event in your chapter that you are most proud to have been involved with. I was in charge of the committee who planned the 2013 regional conference. All the attendees enjoyed the conference. Our Friday night casino night mixer was a lot of fun and the industry representatives that were dealers enjoyed themselves. What are your plans after graduation? In what field are you most interested in having an impact? I will be graduating from a special program, so I will have an MBA as well as my BS in chemical engineering. I would like to work in a manufacturing plant and move up into management, later in my career. How do you blow off steam and keep your sanity between classes, homework and projects? I like to play sports. In the winter, I like to go skiing. During other seasons, I like playing soccer and ultimate frisbee. Playing sports allow me to relax my mind and keep my mind off everything I have going on. Which of your undergraduate classes have you most enjoyed? I enjoyed Equilibrium Processes. I took the class right after my first coop rotation, while working in a chemical plant for Momentive. I had seen distillation columns and strippers in the plant, so I enjoyed learning about them in the classroom.

How did you decide to pursue a degree in ChE? I have always enjoyed math and science, so I knew I wanted to be an engineer. After having a really good chemistry teacher in high school, I decided I wanted to do chemical engineering. Through my coop terms, I've enjoyed working in chemical plants and overseeing chemical processes. What is the best kept secret on your campus? Our chemical engineering lounge is pretty awesome. I'm not sure if people don't know about it or if they just don't go in. I always hang out there in between classes and that allows me to talk to some of my other ChemE friends. What are you most looking forward to after graduation? I'm looking forward to using all I have learned throughout school and applying it in a job. I've been working hard, so the hard work will start to pay off and flourish in to a career. Being able to take on responsibility and make an impact in a company is exciting. Also, making more money than I am now and having some time to travel is a benefit as well. What will you be most saddened to leave behind at school when you move on? I'll be sad to leave all of the people I met here as we all go our separate ways. I've also met a lot of underclassmen through AIChE and other student groups I'll leave as they continue their schooling. Do you have any advice to incoming students and underclassmen ChEs around the world? Don't be afraid to fail and be in uncomfortable situations. By putting yourself out of your comfort zone, you will learn so much about yourself. Also, you will learn more from your failures than if you didn't even try in the first place. Also, look at every situation from different angles including another person's perspective. I think we all get honed on one viewpoint and think we know best. What's your first thought when you wake up in the morning? Time to take a shower. If your initials (first/last or first/middle/last) stood for something other than your name, what would it be? Must Taste Brownies How would you like to be involved with AIChE after graduation? I would like to hold a position on the Young Professionals Board and help their group grow as I have helped the ESC.

Join us in CONGRATULATING Michael by commenting below!


ehorahan's picture

Congrats!!!! We look forward to having you join YPC!