With young children and a job during graduate school, work life balance was a challenge, to say the least.  But Oliver managed to not only finish his dissertation, but to feel like a peer to his professors during his defense. Listen to Oliver share his best and worst grad school moments, and how he ultimately became an associate professor at Clemson University. 


Oliver is an associate professor at Clemson University in the Mechanical Engineering department. His research focuses on the characterization of smart materials and smart structure mechanics of systems ranging from nano- to micro-scales. He received his PhD for the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2007.

Biggest Struggle

 Having a family while doing his PhD

Worst Moment

Having the professor in charge of his qualifying exam not respond and keep postponing his exam for many many months

Best Moment

His defense and feeling that he was finally a peer to professors he had looked up to.

Mindful Minutes Segment

Habit: Time management
Book: The Art of War by Sun Tzu and The Bible
Productivity Tool: Apply iPhone or iPad combined with Dragon Dictation  app
Best Advice: Be true to yourself.
Hobbies: Working out, fishing, playing golf, chasing after wife and kids
Alternative PhD study: Oceanography or Archaeology

Contact and links to resources mentioned

Email: [email protected]
Meyerhoff Scholars Program

Intro and Outro Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music - Happy Rock

With young children and a job during graduate school, work life balance was a challenge, to say the least.  But Oliver managed to not only finish his dissertation, but to feel like a peer to his professors during his defense. Listen to Oliver share his best and worst grad school moments, and how he ultimately became an associate professor at Clemson University. 


Oliver is an associate professor at Clemson University in the Mechanical Engineering department. His research focuses on the characterization of smart materials and smart structure mechanics of systems ranging from nano- to micro-scales. He received his PhD for the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2007.

Biggest Struggle

 Having a family while doing his PhD

Worst Moment

Having the professor in charge of his qualifying exam not respond and keep postponing his exam for many many months

Best Moment

His defense and feeling that he was finally a peer to professors he had looked up to.

Mindful Minutes Segment

Habit: Time management
Book: The Art of War by Sun Tzu and The Bible
Productivity Tool: Apply iPhone or iPad combined with Dragon Dictation  app
Best Advice: Be true to yourself.
Hobbies: Working out, fishing, playing golf, chasing after wife and kids
Alternative PhD study: Oceanography or Archaeology

Contact and links to resources mentioned

Email: [email protected]
Meyerhoff Scholars Program

Intro and Outro Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music - Happy Rock