Seda McKilligan

Career Summary

I have always aspired to educate the next generation of students. My Ph.D. from the University of Michigan is an interdisciplinary degree, crossing the boundaries of many disciplines. This gave me the edge to be able to connect concepts, theories, and applications, and to communicate with people with deep disciplinary knowledge using their terminology. Today’s problems are complex, unexpected, and need an immediate response. The degree I earned at U-M gives me the agility in looking at these problems from diverse perspectives and pose solutions that cannot come from one single disciplinary background. 

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

My Ph.D. degree is unique and makes people question: Design and Science — how can that be combined? This itself makes us stand out. There aren’t that many people who are able to make unexpected connections among domains. 

Advice to Students

I’d recommend many extracurricular activities to give you yet another strength, undergraduate research assistantship positions to build your inquiry skills and connect with faculty members, and definitely any project-based learning opportunities.