Featured Graduate Student, February 2009
Amine Chigani

Interview:

How would you describe your area of study to your grandmother?
Grandma! What I do is very simple. It's just like magic. Most electronic stuff that we have such as computers, cars, and cellphones need to be told what to do. For example, when you press the "on" button on your cellphone it should turn on. What I do is create a little genie called "software" and place it inside your cellphone behind that "on" button. When you press it, it runs very quick and tells your cellphone to turn on. So, in my lab we study and research the best ways to create various kinds of genies and we compete to create faster and more intelligent ones.

What is your primary motivation for persevering through graduate school?
A beautiful wife who keeps me in line and wants me to graduate already.

Do you think there is any value in social networking with other graduate students in non-related fields?
Absolutely Yes. Graduate work is about pursuing scholarship, which can only be achieved through understanding and appreciating a wide variety of fields and how they relate to one another. Although one's research requires intense focus on a particular area, it is equally important for graduate students to broaden their knowledge about other fields through interaction with other graduate students.

How do you think earning an advanced degree will change your role in society?
To me, an advanced graduate degree is the key to start a career in higher education where I feel passionate about working with students, faculty, and administrators to advance higher education and promote global collaboration and understanding. Many breakthroughs in software engineering have made collaboration between the four corners of the world more and more possible and I feel that working in this field combines both my interest in teaching and working with students, as well as my passion for advancing the development of more technologies that facilitate this global collaboration.

Did your past experiences in life or education help prepare you for graduate school or did you have to develop different strategies to succeed?
Graduate school is nothing like undergraduate school. Yes, when I came to Virginia Tech I didn't have problems adjusting partly because it's Virginia Tech, where everyone has a special place. However, conducting research and managing one's own time was a skill I had to learn with the help of mentors and advisors.

What is the last book you read strictly for pleasure and how long ago was it?
The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, From Edison to Google. It was about a month ago. I am currently reading: Hot, Flat and Crowded, which is changing my whole perspective on global warming.

Please describe your most meaningful academic relationship.
I know it might sound a cliche but I do have an extremely meaningful relationship with my advisor. Not only does he care about every single bit of my research, he is also respectful and considerate towards my personal and professional life.

What accomplishment (academic or other) are you most proud of?
I am proud of being able to utilize my degrees, experience, and professional connections to benefit my home country. I have initiated and engaged in talks about a collaboration program between Virginia Tech and Al Akhawayn University in Morocco. Pending legal paperwork signing, this program should be established as early as this coming summer. In addition, I look forward to working on creating more specific programs between the two institutions.

What are your aspirations upon graduation?
I will look for a tenured faculty position where I can begin establishing my research and teaching record. I will also be continuing my work in creating collaborative programs between universities in the U.S. and Morocco to benefit students from both countries.

How has getting involved in campus or community activities shaped your graduate experience?
Working with various student organizations taught me a sense of responsibility towards others and towards the community. I learned that as much as we ask from any societal entity, we have to give back an equal amount or more. Working with organizations at Tech, I learned to become a better student, a better community member, and an engaged citizen.

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Currently enrolled VT graduate students can be nominated for a variety of reasons -- academic or personal accomplishments, service to the department or the university community, or any other reason that makes them a unique and valuable member of academe. Students, faculty, or staff can submit nominations by completing a short nomination form.