Dear Prospective Graduate Student,
I often get emails from students who are interested in joining my research group to earn an M.S. or Ph.D. degree. If this describes you, first let me say: thank you for your interest. Please read the following description of what we do and how one can join my group.
There are growing efforts around the world to improve electrochemical energy storage technologies. This includes batteries for use in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and the electricity grid. I primarily work in the area of lithium-ion batteries. I train students to do computer modeling and experiments to better understand the transport processes that take place inside these batteries (see my research page and publications). This allows us to optimize and engineer better batteries. Even though there is much research in the United States to improve such batteries, we currently do not have a large industry for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries. What this means is that many U.S. companies are interested in graduates with experience in the battery field, but those graduate may end up working in other research areas. A list of my former students and their current employment is found on my main webpage.
The Department of Chemical Engineering at BYU follows an advisor-selection process that is similar to many other graduate programs in the United States. We generally accept new graduate students for Fall Semester each year. Only after a student is accepted at BYU and begins attending, is a research advisor chosen. During the first month at BYU, students interview six professors and make a list of their top three choices for advisor. Because advisors must provide financial aid to their graduate students, the department also talks to each professor to find out how many new students he or she has funding to accept. From this information the department matches an advisor to each student. Most students are able to get matched to their first choice of advisor, but it is not guaranteed. For this reason, before you choose a graduate school it is a good idea to identify more than one professor you would be happy working for. For instance, if a student is interested in my research topic, I also recommend they look at Prof. John Harb's research, as we work in similar areas. For additional details on applying to BYU, visit our graduate admissions webpage.
On average I accept one new graduate student into my research group each year. If you are passionate about electrochemical engineering and battery research (or at least think it sounds interesting and want to try it out), and are willing to work hard to become an expert in this field, then you may be a good fit for my group. If you are interested in joining my group, you are welcome to email me to let me know of your interest. However, I cannot make commitments to any student guaranteeing him or her a spot in my group. Even if I am interested in a student, I cannot influence or increase that student's chance of being admitted to the graduate program. The best I can say to you is "Apply to BYU by following the directions on the department website, get admitted, and when you arrive here I will be happy to consider you."
Best Regards,
Prof. Dean Wheeler
In 2011 I took several graduate students and my five children on a camping and hiking trip to Goblin Valley in Southern Utah