Muhammad Faisal Hamid
Muhammad Faisal Hamid
Master of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Fall 2018
Muhammad Faisal Hamid is in his third and final semester of the Master of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE MEng) program. He actually worked for a few years in industry with both Schneider Electric and Neste Jacobs before joining us to pursue his professional master’s. Muhammad had always intended to return for his master’s, but wanted to gain some industry experience before deciding on a future direction. While he was able to apply much of what he’d learned, he realized that an advanced degree would allow him to specialize on power and energy systems, a passion of his.
When asked what brought him to Illinois, he shared that he was impressed with the high caliber faculty, ECE’s program rankings, and endorsements from fellow alumni of his alma mater who had chosen Illinois to pursue advanced degrees. He also shared that “peers and professors strongly encouraged me to pursue a degree at Illinois.”
He has really enjoyed his experience of the program so far, “My experience with the ECE MEng program has been wonderful. I have met so many people with different areas of interest. Similarly, I have also taken classes in areas other than my own focus area. This has really broadened my perspective of different applications in Power and Energy. Moreover, I have talked to faculty and students who are working on different research and I have had a chance to work with them as well. I believe the MEng program gives you this freedom to really try and test other focus areas and classes.”
When asked what kind of advice he has for someone thinking about pursuing an ECE MEng, he advises them to consider what their career goals are. He believes a PhD makes sense for some, “however, not everyone wants to go to academia or pursue a research position once they graduate.” A professional master’s may be a better fit for some because it takes less time to complete and “you develop the skills suited for the corporate environment.” He also has nothing but great things to say about ECE, “If you are coming to Illinois, ECE is the place to be. It really is an amazing learning experience. The people are super nice! I think it would be wrong to not mention the advisors and the administration which play a crucial part in making sure everything is smooth for you.”
Muhammad has really made the most of experience in the program so far. He spent his summer in an internship at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc (SEL) in Lakewood, CO. In his roles as a Protection Application Engineering Intern, he focused mainly on Power System Protection Relays used by various industries and utilities.
He also makes time for fun and getting to know his classmates and community. You can catch Muhammad at any MEng social events where he is always open to chatting with and meeting new people. In his downtime, he enjoys going on the trails in all of the parks in the area or heads to the ARC. He also enjoys getting out and about, “Downtown Champaign has a variety of different restaurants that offer different cuisines which I have enjoyed a lot. There is always something going on around town and it really is fun going to different festivals and events.”
In addition to focusing on his future and making time for fun and personal growth, Muhammad has emerged as a student leader in the ECE MEng. Stacy Walker, ECE MEng Advisor, appreciates how he “has been a consistent voice of advocacy for the strength of the program and the growth of the degree to best serve the students.” Stacy notes that his impact extends throughout the program because he is such a “great student with a heart for making the most positive experience for himself and all his cohort members.”
Muhammad is still firming up his professional plans but expects to work full-time in the power and energy sector once he graduates. With his positive, fun-loving attitude, his passion for power and energy systems, and his great focus, Stacy knows that Muhammad “will find great success as he heads into the professional realm.” While everyone will wish him the best, it sounds like he will certainly be missed when he enters the next exciting chapter of his story.
Interested in learning more about the professional Master of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering? Contact ECE MEng advisor Stacy Walker or visit go.ece.illinois.edu/meng. You can also join our mailing list to learn more about professional master's programs.