Mike Siwajek

Ph.D. 1999
Vice President, R&D - Teijin Automotive Technologies

I found the graduate chemistry student environment to be very close, collaborative, and a lot of fun. It was a great mutual support group. I played on some great intramural sports teams – our softball "Space Group" team was the best and "Chem Potential" was pretty good too! I enjoyed our soccer teams, and even learned how to swear in a couple of languages. I had a great appreciation for the entire faculty but was understandably fond of the team in my concentration - Dr. Walton, Dr. Kubiak, Dr. McMillin, Dr. Rothwell, and the others in inorganic chemistry.

I was always somewhat outgoing and confident, but Purdue is where I found some "professional and academic" confidence. It was very challenging and to make it through that experience propelled me into a career.

I chose Purdue because I had some interaction with the university and Dr. Dick Walton as an undergrad along with my research advisor, who had completed his PhD at Purdue. I really liked the Walton group, the university, and the community, so it was an easy choice.

I have always been a huge advocate of Purdue. I have continued to work with the university in my career, specifically with the Composite Manufacturing & Simulation Center and Professor Pipes in Engineering. I am also the proud dad of a son who graduated from Purdue in 2020 in Materials Engineering.