 Lori-Ellen Rohlev
Team Leader
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos, NM
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 B.S.
- University of New Mexico
M.S.
- Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California
Ph.D.
- Electrical Engineering/Integrated Optics, University of
Colorado at Boulder |
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Electrical Engineer
and a team leader, working to develop specialized electronics
and optical applications. |
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"Develop strong
writing and speaking skills." |
 
"I took time off and worked. When I was in undergraduate school, I went
and worked at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. And that really opened a lot of
doors for me. In fact, that's why I ended up getting a job at Los Alamos
because they had seen a presentation I gave there and somebody remembered
me. And eventually I got hired here."
One of the most significant differences Lori Ellen Rohlev found between
school and work was the number of people she had to deal with. "It's a
much more individual effort when you're in school. And you don't realize
that when you come out and take a job. There's a lot of people you have to
interact with." Another difference is the sheer number of projects on
which she finds herself working at Los Alamos National Laboratory. "You go
through school and you think, `I'm following this nice, normal path, and
everything is going according to schedule. And, once I came to work, I
just started working on such a variety of projects."
As a result, Rohlev advises students to develop strong writing and
speaking skills, "especially giving presentations and speaking in front of
large groups" to help them communicate effectively. She also believes that
it is a mistake for students to become too specialized too soon. A solid
foundation helps the engineer stay flexible and rise to the demands of new
projects. "My advice would be to really concentrate on the basics getting
a basic understanding of all the electronics and optics and not go off
into too novel a field too early because your basics will just carry you
through forever."
Rohlev also urges students to take part in internships and coops. "When I
was in undergraduate school, I went and worked at the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, and that really opened a lot of doors for me. In fact, that's
why I ended up getting a job at Los Alamos. They had seen a presentation I
gave there, and somebody remembered me." Another benefit of coops is that
it enables young engineers to get to know experienced ones and for the
experienced ones to get to know the young ones and thus mentors are found.
How important are mentors? Rohlev explains, "They can offer a lot of
valuable information for you that will get you up to speed a lot quicker
than if you're trying to do everything by yourself.
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