Spotlight on Engineering Alumni: Ryan Cherniak
Name: Ryan Cherniak 
Age: 24
Education (UR and additional): B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2009; M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Tech
Current city/state of residence: Stuttgart, Germany
Job Title: Junior Management Trainee – Engineering
Employer: Robert Bosch Corporation
Community activities: Habitat for Humanity, Society of Automotive Engineers
Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?
I chose to attend the University of Rochester because of the unique curriculum structure and excellent engineering programs. I wanted to have the freedom to explore other fields of study while also focusing on engineering. I was looking for a school that could offer me a lot of course options and still have small class sizes.
What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?
Immediately after graduation, I enrolled in graduate school at Georgia Tech. I’ve always had a passion for propulsion technologies, especially internal combustion engines. I wanted to learn more about them, so I chose to go straight to graduate school. I completed my Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in fluid and thermal sciences in 2010.
What do you do now and why did you choose this career?
I am currently part of the Robert Bosch Corporation’s Management Development Program for Engineers. This program is two years long and allows me to work in four separate locations around the world while I try out different roles within the company. At the moment, I work on combustion development for high performance BMW diesel engines at our Automotive Division in Stuttgart, Germany.
What skills, tools, or knowledge from your major have been most useful to you since graduation?
The courses I took in heat transfer and thermodynamics at the U of R have been most useful to me in my career. They provide me with an excellent theoretical foundation that helps me understand the fundamentals of advanced engine designs.
How do you balance your work and personal life?
I balance my work and personal life by staying very organized and strictly separating work from my personal life. I’ve found it very helpful to work out after a long day and take that time to decompress before spending time with friends. It’s important to clear your mind, so the next time you return to work, you feel refreshed and alert.
What advice do you have for current students?
My advice is to follow your passions, and never stop learning new things. People discover new passions every day, and it’s important to explore courses at the U of R that are out of your general field of study. You all have a unique opportunity at this University which allows you that freedom. Many schools do not provide such flexibility.
